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The St. Mary’s High track team continued its leisurely stroll through the Alameda-Contra Costa Athletic League schedule on Thursday afternoon, taking first place in 10 of 14 events on both the boys’ and girls’ sides to win the respective meets, 123-43 and 128-53, over its closest competition, El Cerrito. The Panthers’ effort also yielded comfortable victories over Albany and Salesian at the quad-meet. 

Danielle Stokes keyed a diverse effort on the girls’ side, taking first in the 110m hurdles and long jump events, and picking up an additional five points with a third in the 100m. Representing the mid-distance contingent for St. Mary’s, Bridget Duffy took first in the 800m, outrunning her nearest competitor by a gaping 15 seconds. The Panthers also managed a one-woman sweep in the field events, as thrower Kamaiya Warren posted a 39-6.5 and 131-4 to win the shotput and discus, respectively. 

“We feel good about the way this team’s running,” St. Mary’s head coach Jay Lawson said. “With the training we’ve done recently, the kids are running better than we anticipated.” 

Though El Cerrito managed to kick off the boys events with a first place in the 100m by Joe Onyenegecha, St. Mary’s swept the Gauchos in every other track event, including the 4x100 – the meet’s only relay. Chris Dunbar and James Ross posted victories in the 400m and 1600m, while Solomon Welch and Trestin George completed a Panther 1-2 sweep in the long jump. St. Mary’s also dominated the hurdles, as Halihl Guy left his league-mates in the dust in both the 110m and 300m hurdles. 

“The competition was OK, but I’m just trying to get my time down,” said Guy, who won the 300m hurdles – his best event – by nearly three seconds. “I think (the team’s) getting closer.” 

“Now the focus is trying to look sharp, win our league,” the coach added. “The goal of this team is to win the NCS championship for both the boys and girls.” 

Though Thursday’s league win was hardly in question, considering the Panthers’ status as NCS championship contenders, this Saturday’s Meet of Champions in Sacramento promises to be a distinctly different experience. Featuring Northern California’s top track powers, the meet is designed to prepare the state’s most competitive squads for the postseason, beginning at the end of this month. 

“The Sacramento Meet of Champions is a good-quality track meet,” Lawson said. “It’s the best nine (in Northern California) in every event, so it should be a great tune-up.”