Track and field: Yates shoulders throwing

Relay runners? Check. High and triple jumpers? Check. Hurdlers? Check. Throwers? Although many people don’t know it, check.

Oftentimes, the throwers on the girls’ track team get overlooked because there is only one of them this year—junior Baylee Yates. As the only thrower for the girls, the burden of competition falls solely on her shoulders.

“I like it [because] you get a lot of one-on-one coaching,” said Yates, who participates in the shot-put and discus events. However, sometimes she feels like it is up to her to keep up the high standards of the girl’s track team.

“Sometimes [there is pressure], because I’m the only one who can get point for that section,” she said. Despite the great pressure on her, she still manages to perform well.

“I got into throwing because my freshman basketball coach encouraged me to try out for it,” said Yates. Her favorite part about throwing, she says, is striving to beat her own personal record. She placed sixth at the West Valley meet on March 23 in Shot-put varsity, throwing 9.61m.

As for the rest of the girls’ track team, seniors Katie Nast and Kiersten Dolbec competed in the prestigious Arcadia Invitational on April 11. At a meet most track and field athletes would be happy just to qualify for, Dolbec placed an impressive third in the high jump with a jump of 5’6”. Nast placed 21st in the 3200m run with a time of 11.30.75. Results like these at such an important meet could be indicators of successful end-of-season finishes.

At the St. Francis Invitational on April 4, the Falcon girls did well in the 4x400m relay, placing third. The team included seniors Ashley Cole and Katie Marsh, as well as juniors Sarah Guy and Karen Wai. Cole also participated in the long jump where she placed 15th, and in the triple jump where she came in tenth. Overall, the meet went well for Saratoga, who placed 27th overall out of 45.

Nast also placed eleventh in the 3000m at the Stanford Invitational, which took place March 27 and 28. Freshman Crystal Yen placed fifth in the 100m hurdles at Stanford Invite.

At the West Valley Relays on March 23, Nast and Wai both placed in the top ten in 1500m at third and sixth, respectively. Yen placed third in the 100m hurdles. The Falcons placed second in the 4x100m relay and placed a well-deserved first in the 4x400m relay.

With important races like CCS Top 8 tonight coming up, the girls are looking for a powerful end to the track season.