East Union’s Patricia Tajii won three gold medals Saturday in the Valley Oak League Track and Field championships at Sierra High’s Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

For the second year in a row, Tajii swept the 100-meter hurdles (15.60 seconds) and 300 hurdles (47.50). The Lancers senior was joined by Nicole Robertson, Zoey Visser and Jadyn Snaer on the first-place 4x100 relay team (49.20). Robertson was second in the 100 (12.70) and long jump (15 feet, 8 ¼ inches).

“I just wanted to take the gold again,” Tajii said of the 100. “I won it as a junior and I wanted to give it my all as a senior in my last VOL. 

“It was a fun race.”

Snaer snagged two golds and a silver. In addition to the 400 relay, she won the 100 (12.30) and was second in the 200 (25.70).

“Last year I lost to Jade Griffin from Manteca,” Snaer said of the 100. “If I had to lose to someone I am glad it was her.

“But I am glad I got this win, it’s like all the work I have done has come full circle. I’m so happy.”

Sierra’s Jasmin Correa won the 200 (26.60), 400 (58.20) and along with Alexus Surnip, Raiann Prieto and Jaida Franklin was second in the 4x100 relay and was joined by Laica Marte, Jeida Lavender and Danielle Cesante to finish third in the 4x400 relay (4:20.10). 

“I haven’t been able to break 26 seconds since my freshman year (in the 200),” said Correa, a junior. “I didn’t expect to win it because I have been struggling for a while, but I was passionate to win it.”

Sierra’s Megan Oblin won the 1600 (5:13.00) and 3200 (11:53.20) with Weston Ranch’s Iris Carrillo taking second in the 1600 (5:28.50) and 3200 (11:55.50).

“I feel like I accomplished two good races today,” Oblin said. “I just wanted to go out there and feel good, not worry about times.” 

Sierra’s McKenna Albrecht won the shot put (36-6) and teammate Dulce Cruz was fourth (32-8). Albrecht was third in the discus (107-5).

Weston Ranch’s Tomas Huerta Weston Ranch won the 3200 (10:05.10) and was third in the 1600 (4:34.90).

“I feel a little tired but I think we all are,” Huerta said after the 3200. “It was a good race.”

The race stayed in a pack of six runners for six laps until Huerta and Sierra’s Arish Balasubramaniam split off with 800 meters to go. Huerta pulled away in the bell lap to win by a little more than three seconds over Balasubramaniam’s 10:08.70.

“I guess we were the strongest runners in that field,” Huerta said of him and Balasubramaniam. “I just happened to be a little stronger on that last lap.”

Sierra’s Kyle Wesley won the long jump (22-4 ½), the triple jump (42-1) and was second in the 100 (10:08) and 200 (22.40).

Sierra’s Jesse Hurtado won the 1600 (4:32.10) and was second in the 800 (2:02.10).

“I knew this is how the race (the 1600) was going to go,” Hurtado said. “Someone is always going to want to take it out quick and then it becomes a waiting game to wait for the third lap and it blows wide open.

“If you’re not prepared for that to happen then you are going to get left behind.”

Teammate Bikram Thiara won the 400 (50.20) and was second in the 110 hurdles (14.60) and 300 hurdles (39.30). Sierra’s Andry Paez won the pole vault (13-0).  

Lathrop’s Hunter Isaias Hunter won the high jump (6 feet, 4 inches) and was third in the triple jump (41-6).

“This was not my best,” Hunter said of the high jump. “But we’re getting there.

“I look to start turning things up a notch.”

The Spartans won both relay races with Tyrell Cooper, Michael Ramos, Anthony Santos and Tremayne Willis winning the 4x100 (43.10) and  Cooper, Ramos, Willis and Galven Munoz taking the 4x400 (3:28.50). Ramos was third in the 300 hurdles (40.90), Willis was third in the 100 (11.10) and 200 (22.90), Cooper was third in the 400 (51.30) and Munoz was fourth in the 400 (52.70). 

The top four places from Saturday advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division Division II-III Championships at Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks on May 17 and 19. 

Advancing from Weston Ranch are Andrew Farley (shot put, second, 49-6; 100, fourth, 11:20), Jeremiah Robancho (800, third, 2:03.30) and the 4x400 relay team of Jeremiah Richardson, Jeremiah Holman, Elijah Harper and Malik Vegatatum (third, 3:33.80) and Robert Battle (200, fourth, 23.00). 

From Sierra, Isaias Ghezae was third in the 3200 (10:19.10), Frankie Leyva was fourth in the 3200 (10:21.30) and Lionel Orhiere was fourth in the 1600 (4:35.70). East Union’s Levi Huffman was third in the pole vault (12-0), Balke Greenlee was fourth in the triple jump (41-3) and Lathrop’s Benjamin Lindsey was fourth in the discus (122-4). 

In the girls division, from Sierra Jaida Franklin (100, fourth, 12.90), Marte (400, fourth, 1:02.50), Surnip (100 hurdles, fourth, 16:60; fourth, triple jump, 32-0 ¼) and Julia Recker (300 hurdles, 49.60, fourth) advanced. 

East Union’s Ellena Markham (3200, 12:24.20, third; 1600, 5:30.10, fourth), Kelly Higginson (800, 2:28.60, fourth) and Michaela Pangburn (high jump, 4-6, fourth) qualified as did Lathrop’s  

Virly Santos (100 hurdles, 15.70, second; 300 hurdles, 49.10, second), Zakiyaa Nelson (100, third, 12.90; 200 meters, fourth, 27.40), Erielle De La Cruz (third, long jump, 15-5 ½) and 4x100 relay team of Jasmine Harrison, Myani Thornton, Alessandra Giordano and Nelson (51.10, fourth).

The Manteca 4x400 relay team of Abigail Arias, Yasmeen Ramirez, Olga Perez and Julia Moreno (4:36.90, fourth) also advanced.