MODESTO – Jerrica Hauck is one step closer to her dream of reaching the state meet.

At the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV-V track and field trials on Tuesday, the East Union High senior captured the girls’ pole vault with a school-record mark of 11 feet, 6 inches.

“I always look forward to jumping at Modesto Junior College,” said Hauck, who favors the conditions there including the nearby bleachers filled with people.

She beat out Carly Rodgers of Oakdale.

Rodgers’ 11-3 was a school record.

“We’ve been going against each other since we were freshmen,” Hauck said. “She’s always on my tail. But outside of competition, we’re like sisters.”

Prior to the pole vault, she anchored her 4-by-100 relay squad to a first-place heat finish and second overall. Hauck had little time between events, racing over to compete in her specialty.

Her win in the pole vault was her third straight at the trials.

“She’s peaking at the right time,” East Union coach Todd Dunaway.

Hauck sailed during the competition, opening at 9-6 and clearing the bar on her first attempt. She needed one try during her next few attempts until 11-8. By then, Hauck, who almost cleared the bar on her final attempt, was the lone competitor.

She and Joseph Daigle, who took fifth in the shot put – his 49-9 was a personal-best, according to Dunaway – are the two Lancers thus far who have qualified for next week’s Masters meet in Elk Grove.

Sierra’s Jaliya Williams and Bret Wilson are also Masters-bound.

Williams finished fifth in the triple jump by going over 43 feet while Wilson (50-4½) was fourth in the shot put.

The top six in the field events advance to the Masters.

The top three from Masters will make it to state.

“Jerrica is in the top three,” Dunaway said of his vaulter. “She’s right where she needs to be (to reach state).”