SOQUEL — Aptos High’s girls track and field team won seven events and benefitted from its depth to win the team title at the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Championships at Soquel High on Monday.
Mariners senior Ella Shoemaker took first in the 100-meter hurdles (15.65 seconds) and repeated as champion in the 300 hurdles with a PR (45.79). She also teamed with Bella Hartnett, Ava Churchill, and Natasha Newcombe for first place in the 4×400 relay (4:10.32).
“I’m really, really excited,” said Shoemaker, who will compete in track for CSU San Marcos next season. “I came off an injury, so it’s really great to have a good day. I want to keep being consistent, work hard, and have a good mindset.”
Churchill repeated as champion in the triple jump (34 feet, 0.75 inches).
Other Mariners event winners included: Senior Rachel Hoops in the 1,600 (5:22.61), senior Tiana Smith in the shot put (30-0), and freshman Ellie Marta took first in the discus (93-2).
“It’s really meaningful, just being my last league meet as a senior,” said Hoops, who will compete in cross country and track at CSU Monterey Bay next season. “I was really hoping to come out here and be successful. It’s kinda like the mindset you leave high school with, how you’re feeling for those last races. I was feeling really good about that and really happy I was able to win.”
Aptos finished with 174 points for the title. Santa Cruz (129) took second, and Scotts Valley (53) was third. San Lorenzo Valley (51), Soquel (50), Mount Madonna (44), and Harbor (12) rounded out the standings.
With Soquel senior speedster Jonelle Scott sidelined by a back injury, classmate Madalyn Price got to showcase her speed and took first in both the 100 (12.75, a PR by .01) and 200 (25.95).
Price is also a national level sprinter on the beach as a lifeguard.
“I’m a little better at beach sprinting because I don’t have as good of form on the track, because it absorbs a lot of the impact when you’re on the sand,” Price said. “And I play soccer, and I kinda run like a soccer player, which is better for the sand. It’s been a big adjustment trying to run on a track, for sure. This is my second season, but it has been super fun. Definitely, they both help each other.”
Santa Cruz junior Heidi Green took first in the 800 in 2:16.19, a new PR. Ailing Scotts Valley senior Ashlyn Boothby (2:17.30) took second, and SLV junior Ruby Evans (2:27.54) was third. Green overtook Boothby on the last 100.
“My main goal was just qualify (for the Central Coast Section Semifinals),” Green said. “I know Ashlyn’s been a little injured, so my goal was just stick with her and then get the fastest time I could. We were talking before and after she said, ‘Yeah, I kinda tried to pace you.’ So I’m really thankful to her for that. Now I’m going to try and PR again at CCS.”
Boothby, a Stanford University commit who suffered a foot injury in her 800 win over Menlo-Atherton star Tatum Olesen at the CCS Top 8 Meet on April 20, had X-rays turn up negative for a fracture, but right foot still gives her pain when she runs. Not only is the injury a bummer for her, one of Santa Cruz County’s all-time greats, but her throng of fans.
At the outset of the season, she hoped to qualify for state in both the 800 and 1,600, her favorite event, but she has dropped the longer distance since suffering the injury.
“Things happen. I had to adjust, be flexible and everything. Which is OK,” she said. “It’s more important for me to be healthy in college rather than high school. I’ve already accomplished a lot in high school, and the main focus is to have fun, which I’m still doing out here thanks to my teammates.”
Scotts Valley sophomore Ava Decleve repeated as champion in the 400 (57.24), and Boothby was the first to congratulate her with a hug.
Mount Madonna freshman Kenzie Culbertson had a stellar showing. She took first in the 3,200 (12:47.32), and second in both the second in the 400 (1:00.21) and 1,600 (5:25.74).
The top two finishers in each event earned automatic berths to the Central Coast Section Semifinals, which take place at Gilroy High on Saturday at 10 a.m. Others who finished third or worse, but met at-large entry standards, will also advance.
Santa Cruz senior Lucinda Steiner took first in the long jump (16-4). Aptos sophomore Ella Boyes took second (15-7.5), and Mount Madonna senior Ona Musoll-Buendia took third (15-0.75).
Musoll-Buendia also took second in the triple jump (33-4.75), and Aptos senior Kaitlyn Murphy was third (32-7.75).
Steiner (16.35) also took second on the 100 hurdles, and SLV junior Naomi Seastrom (17.00) was third. Seastrom took second in the 300 hurdles (48.48), and Boyes (50.33) was third.
Santa Cruz freshman Joy Roberts took second in the 100 (12.82), and Cardinals sophomore Joy Hilldale (13.01) took third. Roberts also took second in the 200 (26.07), and Hartnett was third (26.17).
SLV freshman Beth Gabrielson took second in the 3,200 (12:50.88), and Aptos senior Malia Moreno was third (13:09.42).
Santa Cruz senior Ariel Ferrell took second n the shot put (27-8), and Aptos senior Ashley Matys was third (24-10).
Aptos swept the podium in the discus. Senior Ashley Matys took second in the discus (90-4), and Smith took third (90-1).
The Mariners’ Churchill took third in the 400 (1:01.30), and Santa Cruz sophomore Chloe Hood took third in the 1,600 (5:26.40),
SLV junior Orea Pollock took first in the high jump (5-0). Churchill took second (4-6), and Scotts Valley junior Soraya Westlund took third (4-6).
“I’m real excited I won because I really wanted to go to CCS,” Pollock said. “I haven’t been clearing that high of height this season, so making five feet is real exciting. I know I can clear 5-2 and maybe higher at CCS. I’m just looking forward to competing more.”
Despite dealing with a back injury, Soquel’s Scott took first in the pole vault (12-0), which was held Wednesday. Santa Cruz junior Meilia Nee took second (11-0), and Cardinals senior Ariel Ferrell was third (10-6).
Santa Cruz (Francesca Graces, Roberts, Nee, and Hilldale) won the 4×100 relay (49.82). Scotts Valley (Decleve, Diana Alivov, Jennifer Brownfield, and Violet McCutchen) won the 4×800 relay (10:09.65), which was held Thursday.
