CHICO, CA - For most other spring sports, Wednesday's weather didn't provide the most ideal environment for competition. As the Pleasant Valley High track and field team took on the Panthers' brand new facility at Chico High, though, Vikings hurdler Jamarquez Abrams described the conditions in a way typically reserved for the perfect bowl of porridge.
Not too hot, not too cold, but just right.
Abrams won all four events he competed in as the Pleasant Valley boys team beat Chico 78-48 Wednesday in a dual meet at Chico High. For the girls, the Vikings just edged out Chico with a final tally of 65-61.
Abrams opened his day by winning the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 5 inches. He then proceeded to win the 110-meter hurdles in 15.3 seconds, the 100 meters in 11.5 and the 300 hurdles in 41.7, despite calling the latter his worst event of the day.
Four wins, even by dual meet standards, is an impressive feat for any athlete. When asked how he maintains focus between events, Abrams' answer was simple yet solid.
"I just want to win," Abrams said. "It feels good winning a race. That's what I look forward to every time out there."
Abrams was part of a large group of winning Vikings. Kyle Johnson won the 1,600 meters in 4:39.7, Matt Jenkins won the triple jump with a jump of 38-4 and Ryan Keables won the high jump with a mark of 5-10, Both Vikings relays teams won, albeit the 1,600-meter relay squad running unopposed, with Brendon Wells winning the 200 in 23.2
Chico, meanwhile, was represented in a number of events. Eriberto Hernandes won the shot put with a throw of 38-11, and Gerardo Montes won the discus with a toss of 116-10. Foster Davis won the 400 meters at 52.7 and distance runner Jack Emanuel, who ran in only the 400 and 800 in preparation for an invitational on Friday, won the 800 in 2:04.4.
On the girls' side, Panther Nahkia Clements followed a similar plan to Emanuel, though she jumped into a heat of the 300 hurdles just for fun. Clements won the 800 in 2:38.6 and took second in the 400. The contrast between those shorter, faster races and her usual longer distances were drastic, Clements said
"It's really different," Clements said. "In the 400 you're sprinting and on that last 100, your legs get really tired. You have to pump your arms more than in distance."
Four other Panthers won events Wednesday, with Britta Bundy winning the 400 in 1:04.6., Molly Lance taking the high jump at 4-4, Mazie St. Cin wining the triple jump at 28-53/4 and Abigail Edwards winning the 3,200 in 13:30.4.
For Pleasant Valley, Alexa Hitchko won the 100 hurdles in 17.3 and the 300 hurdles in 51.5, Michelle Flint won the shot and discus at 32-21/2 and 97-83/4 and Courtney Kermen won the 100 in 13 and 200 in 26.5. Other Vikings to win included Hannah Pembroke with a mark of 14-11 in the long jump, Hailey Askew in the 1,600 in 5:29.08 and the 400-meter relay team in 51.7.
As the season moves along, both Chico and Pleasant Valley have an abundance of goals for the remainder of the year. For Clements, those goals are specific. She said she wants to break 2:30 in the 800 and 5:40 in the 1,600.
For Abrams, the goal is two-fold. He wants to set a personal record every time he races. And he wants to race deep into the season.
"I've definitely one a lot more training," Abrams said. "I feel like I have it in me to win sections this year."
