(Temecula, California) Starting at 12:00 pm on Thursday, May 4, 2017, the Southwestern League Championships kicked off their pole vault meet with a venue change and blistering heat. The venue changed from Temecula Valley High School to Great Oak High School due to issues with the venue and safety of the meet. With the venue change came a 12:00 pm start so that the multi athletes could transfer back to Temecula Valley to finish their events. Some shuffling around occurred and a bit of time management changes happened, but the area athletes that had multiple events made the adjustments and jumped onward.
Out of the nine girls that have moved on to CIF Prelims six of those girls are active members of Vaulter Club, and the other three are past vaulters from the club. So the day was a big day all around for the club and the area kids.
The biggest highlight came from Alexandria Gray (Junior) from Chaparral High School and
her League Championship Jump of 12’4″ to win the Southwestern League Finals. In doing so, she also broke the League record that stood for 13 years. Temecula Valley held the record of 12′ until Thursday and Gray had her sights on passing it up. Gray went flawless to 11’10 and had one miss at 12’4″. After that clearance, Gray had three attempts at 12’10 and barely missed each bar attempt. Peaking at the end of the year is crucial for Alexandria Gray, and she knows it! Next comes CIF Prelims round two for Gray, where she’ll jump against some of the best around.
Coming in Second place was Katrina Meier (Junior) with a finishing jump of 11’4″ on her third attempt for Vista Murrieta High School. This was such a clutch situation as the miss could have placed her in 3rd place overall. On her very last attempt, she pulled herself together and cleared the bar for her team and setting her off to the CIF Prelims for the second year in a row.
Kaelyn McCann (Freshmen) won her Ambassador League Championships with a jump of 8’10” and a new personal record break. McCann pole vaults for Lindfield Christian High School and pulled through to make her CIF qualifying mark of 8’10” to move on to the next round of CIF for her Division. Great jumping from this Freshman and bigger heights to come. She along with many other have pulled through when it counts the most.
Casey Bostock (Sophomore) from Vista Murrieta High School, tied her personal record and won the Frosh / Soph Division of the league and became the Champion of that meet. She jumped 9’6″ and showed everyone what a true competitor she is when push comes to shove. She was challenged by her teammates and others to be the best and she prevailed. Good job Casey!
Charisma Davis (Junior) from Temecula Valley, had a double PR to 10’10” on the day and qualified to jump at CIF Prelims along with Nicole Silverlake (Sophomore) Chaparral High School and Tamara Bader (Sophomore) Vista Murrieta High School who both jumped 10’4″ to qualify. All of these young ladies are right on the verge of putting some huge jumps during the post season.
On to CIF Prelims Qualifying height 10’4″
Alexandria Gray 12’4″
Katrina Meier 11’4″
Charisma Davis 10’10”
Nicole Silverlake 10’4″
Tamara Bader 10’4″
On to CIF Prelims Qualifying height 8’10”
Kaelyn McCann 8’10”
Please stay tuned as the results from next week are determined on Saturday. Please, if you have the Saturday off and want to come and cheer these ladies on, it would mean the world to us and our club! Good luck ladies!
Coach Doug and Derek