ELK GROVE – Sierra junior Bikram Thiara advanced in two events from the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Track and Field trials and will be joined in the finals tonight by the Lathrop boys 4x400-meter relay at Elk Grove High.
Thiara won his heat in the 110-meter hurdles on Thursday with a personal best of 14.50 seconds and had the third-best qualifying time, while finishing second in his 300 hurdle heat and qualifying fourth (38.83).
“I felt good going over each hurdle,” Thiara said of the 110 hurdles. “Now I am going to focus on Friday and getting the top three to go to State.”The Lathrop relay team of Galven Munoz, Tremayne Willis, Tyrell Cooper and Michael Ramos was second in its heat (3:21.50) and fifth overall, improving on its qualifying time by more than six secondsRunning the second leg, Willis closed 30 meters down the home stretch.“We have really been practicing hard and coach has been pushing me on the 400,” Willis said. “I wanted to grind it out for my family and this is my family right here.”
Fresh off a 14th-place finish in the 300 hurdles, Ramos exploded in the final 100 meters from 30 meters back to come within 10 meters of first place.
“I was just trying to catch him,” Ramos said. “So we could advance to the next level.”
East Union freshman Jadyn Snaer finished ninth overall in the 100 at 12.57, with eighth place grabbing the last qualifying slot at 12.56.
“That race went by pretty fast,” Snaer said. “I really don’t remember my start but I am glad to be here with all these girls.”
Sierra junior Kyle Wesley was 15th in the 100 (11.11) and 20th in the 200 (23.01).
“It was an OK race,” Wesley said of the 100. “But I came back about the 50-meter mark.
“My time was not what I am used to and it can improve. I need to get back out there and practice.”
Manteca senior Jade Griffin missed qualifying by one place in the 200 at ninth (25.95) and finished 14th in the 100 (12.74).
“I felt happy running with really fast girls,” Griffin said. “And no matter what happened I made it this far so that is a good thing.”
East Union junior Patricia Tajii was 19th in the 100 hurdles (16.44) and 20th in the 300 hurdles with a personal record of 48.74.
“I know I came in as the underdog,” Tajii said. “I came in wanting to PR in both races but got it in one.
“I think I could have performed better but I finished the season strong. I am definitely ready to build on this year and get better for next year.”
Sierra sophomore Jasmin Correa found herself in a fast 400 heat, finishing sixth (58.77) in the heat but 12th overall, reaching her goal of running a 58-second race.
“I’m a sophomore and I feel like I accomplished a lot,” Correa said. “Even though I am running against faster girls.
“I hit a 58 and except for league throughout this whole season I have not hit a 58.
Manteca junior Juan Gomez just missed qualifying for the finals with a 10th-place finish in the 400 (50.04).
“I gave it my all,” Gomez said. “That’s important, especially in this meet.”
In just his second year of running track, Weston Ranch senior Erron Duncan did not qualify with his time of 11.20 in the 100, but he was pleased with his progress the last two seasons.
“I felt pretty good running it,” Duncan said. “It wasn’t a PR but I am just happy for the opportunity to be out here.
“Last year was my first year and I have really been improving this year. I felt good to make it this far.”
The field events Thursday were trials and finals with Lathrop senior Elijah Hunter finishing sixth in the discus (134 feet). Wesley was 19th in the triple jump (41-10).
The track finals and other half of the field events will be held today with the field events beginning at 2 p.m. and the running events at 6 p.m.
In addition to the two hurdle races, Thiara will compete in the long jump as will the Lathrop 4x400 relay team. Lathrop’s Isaias Hunter will be in the high jump and Weston Ranch’s Andrew Farley will be in the shot put.
There were no heats in the distance races Thursday so they will be run tonight. Sierra’s Jesse Hurtado and Weston Ranch’s Tomas Huerta will be in the boys 1,600.
