It could not have been any closer for the Lathrop Spartans.

Yet, close was no consolation for the Spartans after a heart-breaking 63-61 Valley Oak League girls track loss to East Union Wednesday in both programs’ season opener.

The Spartans held a late lead in the meet’s final event, but a strong finish in the 4x400  from the Lancers would provide the minimal two-point separation.

“It did come down to that last race,” Lathrop head coach Krystle Davis said. “That last leg of EUs 400 relay pulled it out.

“It was so close and I was proud of my girls.”

Taylor Baum won firsts in the 800-meters and the one and two mile events, while Lathrop’s Sheiree Vasquez took first in the 200-meters and teammate Stephanie Rock was second.

Lathrop’s boys got a victory from Karkiat Bassi in the 110-hurdles, while the East Union boys saw Nick Pulos pull out the 300-hurdles.



Sierra 94, Sonora 21 (G)

Sierra 88, Sonora 44 (B)

Sierra High’s well respected track and field program is under new guidance, but it didn’t seem to change too many of the Timberwolves’ results Wednesday in their dominance over Sonora High in its Valley Oak League opener win.

Sierra was its girls roll off to a 94-21 win and the boys won 88-44. Both clubs were littered with winners, collecting a clean sweep at the frosh level with both a boys (85-53) and girls (65-23) win.

“It was an all out team effort today,” Sierra head coach Ezequiel Ruiz said. “It was good to start off the season with a win.”

Sierra got a strong meet from Nick Valdez who won the 110 and 300-hurdles. Teammate Mason Merilles took firsts in the discus and the shot put.

The girls got a pair of wins from Sophia Vukanovich in the 400 and 800-meters, while Maria Correa won the 200-meters and took second in the 400-meters.



Manteca 92, Kimball 46 (B)

The Buffaloes VOL season opener went their way Wednesday, handling a talented Kimball team with relative ease to open league play.

Jordan Lyons raced to a first place victory in the 100-meters and assisted the 4x100-meter team to a first place finish. Joe Eavenson (discus) and Daniel Clemons (shot put) earned first place finishes for the throwers, while Carl Chandler bested the 41-foot mark to win the triple jump. He also earned a first in the high jump.

“We had a good evening and got a good early season win against a speedy Kimball team,” Manteca head coach Sean Hogan said. “They set some good early season marks.”

Manteca had clean sweeps of the top-3 places in the 800-meters and the 2-mile and nabbed the top two spots in the mile.