Eureka track girls runners-up at state

The Lady Vandals track and field team concluded their season with a Division IV state runner-up finish at the 2016 NIAA State Championships held in Carson City May 20 -21.

The boys team took home the NIAA State Academic Team Championship, an award recognizing the team with the highest overall grade point average.

Senior Megan Damele wrapped up her track and field career with three firsts and a second at the State meet adding 38 points to the team’s total of 92. Damele won the 100 at 13.27, the 400 at 1.02.45, the long jump with a jump of 16’1” and placed second in the 200 at 27.38.

Sophomore Cody Gibbs took home two seconds in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles with her times of 17.22 and 51.34. Gibbs was also a member of the first place 4×100 relay team along with senior Elsie Etchegaray, junior Jiselle Dominquez, and freshman Angelika Townsend.

Junior Katie Damele medaled in the 1600 meter with a second place at 6.00.88. Townsend also placed third in the 400 at 1.04.29.

Freshman Alia Minoletti placed in two individual events earning a third in the triple jump at 32’1” and a fifth in the high jump with her jump of 4’2”.

On the boys side there were several individual placings including two third place finishes by distance sprinter Brendan Mears. Mears, a senior, concluded his career with a third in the 800 and 1600 meters at 2.12.64 and 5.01.37.

Senior Trevor Merritt ended his track career with a third in the discus with his throw of 129’.05”, a fourth in the shot with a throw of 40’11.5” , a sixth place in the high jump at 5’6” and a sixth place as a member of the 4×400 relay team.

Senior Wyatt Gibbs also took home individual medals with a third in the high jump at 5’8”, and a fourth in the discus at 107’9”.

Freshman Garrett Todd took home a sixth place as a member of the 4×400 relay, along with teammates Gibbs, Mears, and senior Stephen Watts.

“We had a really great year,” said coach J D Damele. “We worked really hard to get into shape. We spent a lot of time on hand-offs in the relays, starts, and conditioning throughout the season.”

Damele noted that several students broke school records including Cody Gibbs in both the 100 and 300 hurdles with her personal best of 16.78 and 50.88 respectively. Katie Damele broke her own record with a 2.38.1 time in the 800 meters. And freshman Alia Minoletti is on the board for her triple jump at 32’4”.

CAPTIONS:
Brendan Mears took a third in both the 800 and 1600 meters.

L to r: Cody Gibbs, Elsie Etchegaray, Angelika Townsend, and Jiselle Dominquez the girls 4×100 relay team placed first earning them the State title

The girls team accepting their runner up trophy from left: Angelika Townsend, Alia Minoletti, Jiselle Dominquez, Angel Greely, Elsie Etchegaray, Megan Damele, Cody Gibbs, and Katie Damele.