At the CIF Prelims Saturday at Mt. Carmel, the Islander Track Team advanced six athletes into this weekend’s finals, also to be held at Mt. Carmel.

Leading the Islanders was Sarah Player, who won her heats in both the 100-meter dash and the 300-meter hurdles, to advance to the ‘A’ finals in both events. Her 100 meter time lowered the school record that she set earlier this year to 12.37 seconds. If that wasn’t enough, she made the ‘A’ heat in the high jump.

Eighteen athletes per event qualify out of the prelims into the finals, with the top nine marks placed in the ‘A’ heats and the balance of the contestants in the ‘B’ heat. Only the Top 3 finishers from the ‘A’ heats at the CIF finals, plus the athletes whose performance meets state-wide standards in the finals, will advance to the state meet. Athletes in the ‘B’ heats are contending for Division I and Division II (Coronado is in Division II for track and field) titles only.

Pole vaulter Danielle Eckert also advanced to the ‘A’ heat with a vault of 10 feet. For Danielle it was a very busy day and we weren’t sure she’d be able to compete at all. CIF rules specify an athlete must check-in no later than 5 minutes before their competition begins. Danielle however was also entered in the Miss Coronado competition and had an interview that prevented her from checking in on time. She also had pageant rehearsal that afternoon, which conflicted with the time slot for the pole vault. Anyway the meet director allowed me to check her in, she arrived late, cleared 10 feet to advance to the ‘A’ heat and was allowed to arrive late for the pageant rehearsal. That was a long day for her.

 Freshman Sallie Privett, although not quite making the ‘A’ heat, came close in San Diego’s competitive group of distance specialists. After posting a personal best time in the 1,600 meters of 5:13.37, she ran the 3,200 meters in a respectable time of 11:47.17 to qualify for the ’B’ heat in both events. Putting this in perspective, she was the only freshman in the county to qualify for both the 1600 and 3200.

Kyle Brown’s marks in the jumps and sprints are among the county’s best, but nagging ankle and back injuries put him off his game at the prelims. Still, he qualified for the ‘B’ heat in the 100 with a time of 11.24, as well as for the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 7.75 inches.

Ben Enowitz has been trying to break the 10-minute barrier in the 3200 all year. He finally succeeded with a time of 9:57.66 to qualify for the ‘B’ heat finals.  

Also qualifying was Neisha Scales, who set a personal-best time in the 100 with a run of 13.02 seconds to advance to the ‘B’ heat finals. Not making it to the finals, but performing well just the same, were Kenny Twomey in the 300 hurdles with a time of 43.60; freshman Adie Davies, who set a personal record in the 800 in 2:31.26; and freshman Briana Giorgione in the pole vault with a vault of 7 feet, 6 inches.”