CIF State Track and Field: A Great Day

Steve Virgen

NORWALK - Typical Sharon Day.

On the biggest stage of California high school track and field, Day, a

Costa Mesa High junior, broke through with her personal and school record

in the high jump, 5 feet, 11 inches, to win her first state championship

at the CIF State Finals at Cerritos College Saturday, in front of 10,751.

Day is the first Costa Mesa girl to win a state title in track and

field.

“I didn’t expect to win here,” Day said in a humble, yet joyous tone.

“I felt really nervous. I wasn’t nervous on the way here. But when the

competition started, it hit me. I was nervous. I don’t know why.”

Meanwhile, CdM senior Julie Allen (3,200 meters) and Estancia junior

Humberto Rojas (1,600) did not crack their personal records and finished

sixth and ninth, respectively.

Day said she was nervous, but she didn’t appear to be under stress

throughout the high jump competition. She cleared 5-3, 5-5, 5-7 and 5-9,

on her first attempts. She did not clear 5-11 on her first attempt, but

that didn’t break her confidence.

“I still knew I could do it,” Day said of her thoughts after first

attempt of 5-11. “I just needed to make a minor adjustment.”

Day cleared 5-11 on her second attempt, while seniors Chaunte Howard

(J.W. North) and Kaylene Wagner (Dos Pueblos) cleared that mark on their

third attempt. Then, the Southern Section trio opted to move the bar up

another two inches, instead of 6-0. They could not clear 6-1, so Day, who

led after 5-11 because of fewer misses, won the event, sending off

spirited cheers from a small section, that included her father and

jumping coach Eugene Day.

“She gets a personal best, a school record, and a state title. Oh man!

1-2-3, three things at once, that’s not bad,” Eugene Day said. “It was

about time, sort of. She had been milling around there, but there were

little technical things happening. But she got over it.”

Costa Mesa track and field coach George Greenwalt displayed excitement

when Day cleared 5-11.

“I was so ecstatic,” Greenwalt said. “I’m just so happy because it was

her PR and she wins the state title, and it doesn’t get any better than

that.”

Perhaps the climax of Sharon Day’s state championship came when she

stood on the winner’s podium, higher then her competitors, as her name

was announced to the crowd.

“It felt good to be up there in first place, in front of all those

people,” Day said. “I didn’t get my goal of 6-0 this year, but I’m still

happy with the state title.”

Day’s state title was also the exclamation point, so to speak, of an

awe-inspiring season for the three-sport athlete. Day was named the

Pacific Coast League Co-Most Valuable Player in soccer, as she led the

Mustangs to their first playoff win in school history. In track and

field, she won PCL titles in the 200, 400 and the high jump. Day, who was

a standout in Costa Mesa volleyball, also won her third CIF Southern

Section high jump title, in Division III May 18. She finished second in

the high jump in the Masters Meet.

Day was also named MVP for the Costa Mesa track and field girls at the

Mustangs team banquet Wednesday.

Allen, who was named PCL Athlete of the Year, received a medal for

finishing sixth in the 3,200. She set a fast pace in the first 1,600

meters, but could not maintain her lead and finished in 10:49.13. Clara

Horowitz of Head Royce (Oakland) won the race in 10:31.01. Allen’s

personal record, which is the school record, is 10:33.95.

“It’s really been a blessing to have people who are willing to help me

achieve my goals,” said Allen, who will run for Stanford in the fall. “It

can’t all be wrapped up in one race. You have to look at it on the whole

long run.”

Rojas said he experienced effects from not eating well Saturday and

nearly failed to finish the race. He finished in 4:27.73 and never

displayed the race-ending kick he has used recently. Matt Johnsrud of

Woodcreek won the race in 4:11.89.

Rojas is anxious for next year.

“I know I’m going to be here next year for sure,” Rojas said. “This

year, my goal was to make it to state and I did that, so I’m happy. Next

year, my goal is to win state.”