COTTONWOOD - It was a proper ending on the local stage for some decorated prep track and field athletes. Just like last year, the seniors made their mark at the Northern Section Track and Field Championships at West Valley High School on Friday. Enterprise's distance runner Domenic D'Acquisto ended his prep career the same way it began - with a double-event section title.

D'Acquisto bookended the meet, winning the the 1,600-meter race early in 4 minutes, 18.29 seconds and the 3,200-meter race late with a 9:24.88 effort to earn himself the same chance he had as a freshman by competing in both events at the CIF state meet in Clovis on Friday. "It's nice to start great and end great," D'Acquisto said. "My confidence is what has gotten to me the next level though. My teammates, the atmosphere, the coaches, the fans; all of them are the reason I got here. That and a lot of hard work."

D'Acquisto almost helped Enterprise's 1,600-meter relay team to a win the in the final event of the championships. But the senior ran the second leg in the event that took place with only one event separating them. The Hornet's anchor, senior Austin Lamkin, came up on Red Bluff's Colin Dahlberg but couldn't make up the distance to finish second in 3:27.92 while Red Bluff claimed the section event title at 3:26.53. "I watched my teammate Zach Kaylor do it a year ago and it's hard to follow in those footsteps," D'Acquisto said. "It's tough tripling at a meet like this, you wonder 'are my legs going to be there?' but you just have to forget about it and go. It's hard, just couldn't get it done." D'Acquisto had a legitimate chance at a triple-win since he was the top seed in the 800, but pulled out to focus on the races most important to him.

But D'Acquisto wasn't the only multiple event winner in the running events. Wheatland's senior speedster Derick Seward won both the 100 (11.00) and 200 (21.82) and was part of the section-winning 400-meter relay team (43.35). Red Bluff's Dahlberg, who was eligible to compete in five events, scratched the 200 after he came in second to the Seward in the 100. But his finish in the 1,600-meter relay earned him a spot at the CIF state meet in not only track but a field event as well, since he won the long jump. "It's an absolutely amazing feeling, this is the best relay team and hope we can stay strong all the way for state next week," Dahlberg said. "This is the best I've ever felt in my life."

Meanwhile, Enterprise's Lamkin finished in first in the boys 400 in 49.57, which was his career best and was the first time he went sub-50 seconds in the event. Chico's Jason Weinrich, the Bob Russell Outstanding Athlete award winner, started his day by winning the boy's high jump then came back to become the only competitor to break 40 seconds in the 300 hurdles (39.25) after taking second in the 110 hurdles in 15.36.

As for the girls, Shasta senior Lora James had to run a personal best (for the second week in a row) in the 1,600 to pull out a win in the event. James was closely challanged by Oroville's Sarah Brandt until she turned it on down the final stretch to pull out the victory in 5:10.92. James will also compete in the 1,600 relay at the state meet by anchoring the Wolves' squad that caught West Valley's anchor Corinne Hinkle on the home stretch to pull out the win. "That was the goal no matter what, we had to win," James said while trying to catch her breath. "I had to tell myself to keep going, I don't know how I ran that, I was so tired."

West Valley senior Corissa Storms wrapped up her prep career with a strong finish in the girls 3,200-meter race, taking first for her third consecutive year. But much like last year she had to earn this one. Storms kept a steady pace for most of the race but entering the last lap, she noticed that American Christian's freshman Autumn May and Pleasant Valley sophomore Melanie Hickman were alongside her. With those three battling on their last time around the track, May slowly pulled out in front but Storms' last effort on the home stretch put her in the lead for good to claim the victory in 11:36.74. "They had to make me work hard for it, I got a little too comfortable too early," Storms said. "I was scared; I wanted it so bad they really made me push myself." Although Storms won the race, she has opted out of the state meet to attend her high school graduation. May will represent the Northern Section in the meet. She finished in 11:37.03.

The only event that was dominated by underclassmen was the girls 400-meter race. West Valley freshman Jenna Hinkle had the win locked up but her left knee gave out mid-stride only 10 yards from the finish line. That miscue allowed Red Bluff freshman Adrienne Hinkston to pull ahead and claim the victory, running it in 59.45. Hinkle followed in 59.61. Chico's Kody Atkins, the defending two-year 400 and 800 section champion, opted out of the 400 to focus on her best race - the 800 - where she won for the third straight year in a meet record time of 2:13.50.

Paradise's Lindsay Quigley won the 100 hurdles in 15.95 and Yreka freshman Jenna Turner took the 300 hurdles in 46.38. Etna's Emily Loogman came in second in both hurdle events, 16.34 in the 110 and 46.80 in the 300. Pleasant Valley's Gabrielle Finley and Wheatland's Miya Wilson split in the short sprints. Finley took the 100 meter in 12.64 and finished second in the 200 in 25.82. Wilson edged Finley in the 200 (25.81) and was second in the 100 (12.69).

All the event winners are eligible to compete in the CIF state meet in Clovis on Friday.

Boys track results
100 - Derick Seward, Sr., Wheatland (11.00)
200 - Derick Seward, Sr., Wheatland (21.82)
110 hurdles - Chris Nicolas, Sr., Wheatland (14.98)
300 hurdles - Jason Weinrich, Sr., Chico (39.25)
400 - Austin Lamkin, Sr., Enterprise (49.57)
800 - Dylan Chamberlen, Jr., Paradise (1:56.35)
1,600 - Domenic D'Acquisto, Sr., Enterprise (4:18.29)
3,200 - Domenic D'Acquisto, Sr., Enterprise (9:24.88)
400 relay - Wheatland (43.35)
1,600 relay - Red Bluff (3:26.53)

Girls track results
100 - Gabrielle Finley, Jr., PV (12.64)
200 - Miya Wilson, Sr., Wheatland (25.81)
100 hurdles - Lindsay Quigley, Sr., Paradise (15.95)
300 hurdles - Jenna Turner, Fre., Yreka (46.38)
400 - Adrienne Hinkston, Fre., Red Bluff (59.45)
800 - Kody Atkins, Jr., Chico (2:13.50)
1,600 - Lora James, Sr., Shasta (5:10.92)
3,200 - Corissa Storms, Sr., West Valley (11:36.74)
400 relay - Pleasant Valley (50.48)
1,600 relay - Shasta (4:03.99)







COTTOWOOD - Despite a sore left hamstring, Jovon Cunningham is getting his chance to defend his state boys triple jump title. He isn't going to state with a lot of momentum but he did win the boys triple jump at Friday's Northern Section Track and Field Championships at West Valley High School with as much effort as he could muster due to an injury. The important thing is Cunningham won his second section boys triple jump crown with a mark over five feet short of this seasonal best (& nearly seven feet short of this personal best set last year) to earn a return trip to next week's state meet to Clovis.

Cunningham is returning to Clovis, the scene from a year ago when he claimed a state individual title. In what sort of shape, he'll be in has yet to be determined. "About four weeks ago, I pulled my hamstring and I've been nursing it since," Cunningham said. "I've only been doing one jump in meets and been trying to make sure it got better." Earlier this week, Cunningham said he re-aggravated the hamstring injury. Eventually, he had to pull out of the two other events he was in: the high jump and long jump. However, he managed to leap far enough to advance and that was what counted.

And other standout seniors such as Central Valley's Bre Mackie, Shasta's Hanna Person, Red Bluff's Colin Dahlberg and Yreka's Tyler Wolf as well as rising Spartans junior Meaggan Rector are also headed to Clovis after earning section titles in field events. Cunningham and Mackie were also the meet winners of the Norm McKenzie sportsmanship award. Enterprise senior Kelsey Moynahan also added a third straight girls pole vault title, though a trip down to Clovis to state isn't in the cards since it coincides with Enterprise's graduation.

The following is a breakdown of each of the field events at the section track championships.

Boys triple jump - Cunningham fouled on his first attempt before striking the 43-11 mark on his second one. After a foul on the third one, Cunningham didn't want to risk further injuring the hamstring, so he waited out the meet to see if anyone would challenge the mark he put out. No one did. Yreka's Sarome Eng came close at 43-6 on his final attempt. Enterprise senior Todd August was third at 42-10½. "I was at 65 percent today," Cunningham said. "I was just hoping to make it through and seeing if I had jump again. I knew Eng had gone over 44 feet so it was the first time I was worried I could lose this event in quite while. "Now, it is going to be a lot of rest, ice and physical therapy and hopefully I'll be close to 100 percent by next week."

Girls triple jump - Pleasant Valley sophomore Brooke Whitburn won the event with a leap of 37-2½. Orland's Michelle Bradford was second (34-0 ) and Chico's Samantha Hall took third (33-7).

Boys discus - Chico's Taylor Lamott won in 169-5, on his last attempt. He already had it won leading up to it. Shasta's Cody Ramage was second at 152-9 followed by Wolfe (149-9) in third.

Girls discus - Hanna Person gave Shasta another girls throwing section title after winning on her second throw at 127-3. "Nerves kind of got into the way after the second throw," Person said. "I wanted to go as far as I could. I couldn't quite do that, but I'm just real excited to be going to state." West Valley senior Paige Adkins finished second after a personal-best 121-11 while Modoc's Ashley Hoy was third at 111-5 and Foothill's Grace Horan was fourth at 101-6.

Boys long jump - Dahlberg's first leap went 22-8½ and that was better than the at-large mark of 22-7, earning his way to state that mark. The only question was would anyone would join him and no one did, leaving Dahlberg as the section champion after injuries torpedoed his junior season. "I've been dreaming for this for a long time," Dahlberg said. "it's a great accomplishment. There was nothing that plagued by like last year." Modoc's Zach Goulden was second at 21-1½, a half an inch in front of Yreka' Sarome Eng and Austin Herrick who tied for third at 21-1.

Girls long jump - Whitburn claimed the long jump by a full foot at 17-7. Colusa's Caroline Meyers was second at 16-7 followed by Yreka's Alexis Yaple (16-6½). Orland's Michelle Bradford was fourth (16-2½) and Adkins was fifth (15-10¼).

Boys shot put - This time, it was Ramage and Wolfe that were the top contenders. Wolfe put down a 51-3 toss on his first attempt before Ramage moved into second at 50-10 on his second try. On the fifth attempt, Ramage took the lead at 51-4½. Wolfe promptly fouled on what would have been a big throw, but came through on his final attempt to win at 53-0½. "I wish I had the second to last throw, but everything worked out," Wolfe said. "Hopefully, I can do better at state. I want 55 or 56 feet." Ramage again had to settle for second while Gridley's Ryan Donnahoe was third at 50-5.

Girls shot put - Paige Adkins took the early lead at 37-0½, but Rector popped a 38-4½ on her second attempt. She then hung on for the win as Adkins eventually took second at 37-11 on her final attempt while Paradise's Jasmine McKay was third at 34-8. As a result, Rector wins a section title on her first visit to the meet. "I always start well, peak a bit before suddenly doing better right at the end," Rector said. "I was at JV all of last year so it was nerve-racking here, but I'm excited to win."

Boys high jump - With the departure of Cunningham, Chico's Jason Weinrich won at 6-4. Biggs' Michael Torres was second and Etna's Andy Nadig was third as both went 6-0, though Torres needed fewer attempts to do so.

Girls high jump - Mackie won her third section title, though at a modest mark of 5-0. She nearly had 5-2 on two occasions, but settled for the victory and another run at the state meet. Enterprise freshman Taylor Heener took second as she had the fewest attempts of the other three that went 4-10. Chico's Meagan Cochran was third and Yreka freshman Jenna Turner was fourth.

Boys pole vault - Six different vaulters cleared 12-6, but Sutter senior Justin Gildemeister was the last man standing at 14-0. Yreka's Dillon Dow was second at 13-3 while Mount Shasta's John Holst (12-6) was third. Also clearing 12-6 were Wheatland's Colton Sanders, Etna's Andy Nadig and Yreka's Devon McClaflin.

Girls pole vault - Moynahan won her third section title at 10-0. When she elected not to attend state, West Valley junior Kayla Vasquez earned the nod with her second-place finish at 9-6. Providence Christian's Hannah Cleek was third at 9-0 while Marleigh Ostrom was fourth at 8-6.






COTTONWOOD -- The Northern Section Track and Field Championships ended with a coronation of two athletes. For one, it served as the period punctuating the end of his high school career. For the other, it was the acknowledgement of what could be the beginning of a spectacular one as well. Chico High senior Jason Weinrich and Pleasant Valley sophomore Brooke Whitburn took home the Bob Russell Awards for outstanding male and female athletes of the section meet Friday at West Valley.

Weinrich won both the 300-meter hurdles and the high jump, added a second place in the 110 hurdles and ended his day by helping the Panthers finish fourth in the 1,600 relay. Whitburn won all three events she entered, the triple jump, the long jump, and she ran a leg of the Vikings' 400 relay. Both Weinrich and Whitburn said they were caught off-guard by the awards, but no one could match their productivity Friday. "Completely surprised," Weinrich said."This is a great way to finish. First graduation, now this." Weinrich cut short his stay at Chico's Sober Grad party Thursday after graduation, but the results seemed to be worth it after taking the meet's top honor. All event winners advance to the state championship, which is next Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High in Clovis, although Weinrich declined the chance to compete in the high jump at state so he can focus on the 300 hurdles.

Whitburn's top competition came from teammate Gabrielle Finley-Vaquera. The junior won the 100 and anchored the same 400 relay team that Whitburn was on. But Finley-Vaquera was edged by .01 in the 200 by Wheatland senior Miya Wilson, who crossed the finish line in 25.81 seconds. "It would have been great if we could have shared it," Whitburn said. But Whitburn doesn't exactly plan on relinquishing the award next year as a junior. "I want to win it again," she said. With her domination in her events, Whitburn has a great chance. On her last try, she won the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 7 inches, a foot better than Colusa's Caroline Meyers, who was second. Whitburn could have had an even better mark. After fouling on multiple attempts, she erred on the side of caution. "I overcompensated" she said."I wanted to be on the board." She came up well short of hitting the board flush, and she still easily won. Whitburn dominated the triple jump even more, winning in 37-2, besting Orland senior Michelle Bradford by 3 feet, 2 inches.

Finley-Vaquera, who has been dealing with shin splints in both legs, will still represent the section at the state meet in the 100 after winning in 12.64, .05 seconds better than Wheatland's Wilson, and she'll run in the 400 relay with Whitburn, Natalie Makel and Michelle Guilbault after those four finished in 50.48.

Concentration, though, was important Friday for another Panther. Chico junior Kody Atkins skipped the 400, an event she was favored in, so she could conserve her energy for the 800. Atkins didn't set a personal best in the event, but she did set a meet record with a time of 2:13.50, easily beating Shasta's Lora James by 6.76 seconds. Enterprise's Lindsay Kirschman set the previous mark at 2:16.48 in 2006.

Weinrich started his day with winning the high jump with a personal-best of 6-4. "That's my best by a full two inches," the senior said, still smiling. He won the 300 hurdles in 39.25, and his second in the 110 hurdles came in 15.36, as Wheatland's Chris Nicolas won in 14.98.

An even more impressive personal record was set by Weinrich's teammate and fellow senior Tyler Lamott. Lamott threw the discus in 169-5, shattering his previous best of 160-5. "I thought it was pretty far, but I had no idea it was 169-5. I was ecstatic," Lamott said."I've wanted to go to state since my sophomore year." He'll get to now. His heave was 16 feet, 8 inches better than Shasta's Cody Ramage, whose best Friday was 152-9.

Paradise had a pair of state qualifiers. In the girls' 100 hurdles, Bobcats senior Lindsay Quigley won in 15.95. In the boys' 800, Paradise junior Dylan Chamberlen won in 1:56.35.