Five Islanders made it to the CIF Track and Field finals at Mt. Carmel last Saturday, each with a goal, each with a hope.

Jamie Klages’ quest to make it to the state met for the third time in a row and to win the section high jump championship was successful, despite sore hip flexors sustained during a tough week at the Women’s Under 20 U.S. National Soccer Team training camp held in Carson.

Only the Top 3 San Diego Section athletes in each event or an athlete hitting the state standard in this competition advance. Jamie advanced on both criteria by winning with a jump of 5-feet, 6-inches, two inches over the state qualifying standard. Her best jump this year of 5-feet, 10.25 inches leads the section and ties her for the all-time San Diego Section best.

Adam Munns went to the state meet as a sophomore, but not as a junior. He wanted back in the big event and he was successful with a 6-foot, 5-inch effort, good for second place in the section and a trip to state. Adam and Jamie are the only two Islanders who will move on to the state meet. Adam plans to jump next year at UCSD, but Jamie will retire her track shoes after the state meet and concentrate on soccer at Nebraska.

Jake Ruzevick had an outside shot in the 1,600-meter run, but this is a very strong and very deep year for milers. Jake’s time of 4:21.9 placed him sixth in the section. Jake had a great 4-year career at Coronado, winning the Harbor League cross country championship four times and the Division cross country championship twice. In track he was the MVP Runner in the Harbor League for the past 2 years and he holds the 1,500-meter school record. Next year he will run for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.).

Reid McLean, last year’s section 300-meter hurdles champion, had a tough year with injuries and didn’t repeat his title. He came into the season with a sprained ankle and then aggravated an old hamstring injury that prevented him from reaching his potential. His time of 40.29 in the CIF finals, well off his personal best time of 38.94, placed him sixth in the section. He also placed sixth in the Division II high jump with an effort of 6 feet even. Reid just needs a break to get healthy. Next year he will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he’ll run the hurdles and perhaps compete in the multi-events (heptathlon and decathlon).

Sarah Player was in position to advance and perhaps even win her event with less than 100 meters to go in the 300-meter hurdles race, but she clipped a hurdle with her trail leg and went down. Sarah is only 15, a sophomore, and has a great future in this event. Her Harbor League winning time of 45.96 this year, broke a 21-year old school record set by Gigi English in 1984, which was 47.2 seconds. We’re looking at Junior Olympic possibilities for Sarah this summer.

Danielle Eckert’s goal was to get over 10 feet in the pole vault, and she did just that placing third in the Division II pole vault. She added 6 inches to the old CHS record of 9-feet, 6-inches set by Lisa Robbins in 2002. Danielle had previously tied the school record at the Frosh/Soph Championships, and broke it with a 9-8 vault in the CIF Prelims. After receiving her medal and stepping down from the podium voices from the crowd (mainly Jamie Klages) encouraged her to execute a standing back handspring. She earned a ‘10’ for that as well."