By Ray Conner
Kern Valley’s girls track team made it three straight league titles after defeating Cal City 98-15.
It was another lopsided victory for the Lady Broncs as they won 12 events. They followed that up with nine athletes coming in the runner up spot. They finished off with seven third-place finishes. As a team they swept five events. Kern Valley swept the both the 100m and 300m hurdles. They also jumped their way to the sweep in the long jump, triple jump and high jump. This collection of Lady Broncs secured an undefeated league season to claim the HDL championship.
Jayda Bushling led the team as she won four events. She took first in the 100m (12.34), the 200m (27.87), the long jump (15’ 2”), and the triple jump (31’ 1”). Aspen Hacker crossed the finish line three times. She would win the 400m (1:05.87), the 800m (2:26.87), and the 1600m (5:41.77). Mitra Kiosef won two events to help the team. She would come in first in the 100m hurdles (20.43) and the 300m hurdles (1:02.05). Jessie Bunting won the high jump with a leap of 4’ 8”, while Marissa Tate claimed the discus with a toss of 80’ 2.5”. The 12 winner was the 4 x 100m relay team of Maddie Beaton, Emily Blankenshio, Ashley Denys, and Scarlett Weber. As a team they finished with a time of 56.99.
Weber and Kyla Hacker each finished second in two events. Weber was second in the 100m (13.46) and the 200m (28.37). Hacker crossed the line in second in both the 800m (3:34) and the 1600m (6:18.48). Ella Mauer joined the second party as she took the runner up spot in the 100m hurdles (20.54). M. Kiosef was second in the long jump (13’ 11”), while Beaton was second in the triple jump (26’ 10”). Blankenship secured second in the high jump (4’ 4”), while Denys was second in the shot put (25’).
Abby Phillips claimed a pair of third-place finishes in the 100m (21.67) and 300m hurdles (1:05.84). K. Hacker was third in the 400m (1:11.37), while Weber was third in the long jump (12’ 9”). Hazel Kiosef took third in the triple jump (24’ 3”), while Beaton was third in the high jump (4’ 2”). Rowan Hathaway tosses the discus 57’ 7” to take score the third spot.
Fourth place finishes went to Denys in the 100m (14.05), Blankenship in the 400m (1:16.27), Mauer in the triple jump (23’ 2”), Hathaway in the shot put (22’ 9.5”), and Scarlet Russell in the discus (52’ 7”).
Other Kern Valley athletes to earn finishes were Savannah Walker-fifth in the 400m (1:41.81) and Mikaela Richey-fifth in the shot put (21’ 5”). Richey came in sixth in the discus (51’ 4”). Seventh place went to Elizabeth Davis in the 100m (15.52) and Isabelle Valdez in the discus 38’ 2”). Valdez also was eighth in the shot put (18’ 2”). Quenya Mariano came in eighth in the 100m (16.43).
Head coach Brent Mixon said, “The Lady Broncs accomplished what they set out to do. They went a perfect 6-0 in league for their third straight year. They have worked hard to get where they are. This is an amazing group of young ladies.”
He would continue by saying, “Now that they have accomplished their first goal, it is time to get as many as possible eligible for the Division IV Championships that will be held on May 10 at Caruthers. Athletes have two more opportunities to qualify. The first being the Thunderbird Classic and the second being the HDL Finals on May 2.
Two days later, 10 Lady Broncs competed in the Thunderbird Classic in Delano. Recovering from the earlier meet, Kern Valley was able to perform well. As a team they set eight PR’s during this meet.
Two Lady Broncs were able to come home with a first-place finish. A. Hacker won the 3200m (12:15.15) and Bunting won the high jump (5’). A. Hacker took second in the 1600m (5:06.96) PR and was 12th in the 400m (1:03.90). Taking third place was Beaton in the high jump (4’ 8”) PR.
Other athletes to compete in the invitational were Bushling: second in the 100m (12.50), fourth in the long jump (14’ 9”), ninth in the 400m (1:03.46) PR, and 13th in the 100m hurdles (18.99) PR. M. Kiosef: 12th in the 300m hurdles (55.79) PR, 18th in the 100m hurdles (20.34) PR. K. Hacker: 15th in the 300m hurdles (59.31) PR, 26th in the 400m (1:09.53) PR. Blankenship: fifth in the high jump (4’ 4”). Tate: 16th in the discus (74’ 6”). Hathaway: 29th in both the shot put (23’ 3”) and the discus (65’ 5”). Rounding out the day for the Lady Broncs, Valdez came in 41st in the shot put with a heave of 19’ 3”.
Mixon commented, “This was our last invitational of the year and the kids put up some good numbers. We had eight PR’s amongst 10 Lady Broncs that went. This late in the season that is pretty amazing to get that many PR’s. The team has worked hard to put themselves in position to do well at the HDL Finals.
