The Carson Colts track and field team concluded their season with a trip to the CIF State Championship, where they competed in sprints, mid-distance, throws and jumps. The Colts scored 15 points, placing them in 13th place at the State meet.
“These kids have been good, they’ve been a fun group,” said Carson track head coach Armit Lal.
“Everybody does what they’re supposed to do, they want to be good.”
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The girls 4x100m relay team became State Champions, running a 45.61s time. Sophomore Kaitlyn Williams ran the third leg of the 4×100 relay.
“It was pretty intense,” Williams said. “I just focus on staying calm throughout the race.”
Freshman Christina Gray ran the first leg of the 4x100m relay, she mentioned how she felt pressure competing because it is her first year at Carson.
“I just put it on the track,” Gray said. “When I get in the set position, I’m not nervous anymore.”
Gray came in seventh place in the 100m state final.
Team Captain Reign Redmond is a member of the 4x100m team who also paced the City Section championships with a 46.16s time. This marks the eighth consecutive time that the Carson girls track and field team became City Section Champions.
“Even though we have been successful, people don’t come to our school for track that much,” Redmond said. “It’s good to be a part of it to bring more light to Carson’s name.”
After coming in third at the City Section championships, senior Ta’Ahjah Fann shaved off some time for her state final heat. Her 12.08s time put her in eighth place. She is the second leg of the 4x100m relay team.
“We’ve been number one of the state and our relay basically the whole season,” Fann said. “I feel like I’m mostly improved mentally more than physically this season.”
The Boys’ track team qualified for state in the 4x100m relays and came in 19 th in the preliminaries.
Sophomore Jerald Evangelista is a member of the relay squad and the current City Section Champion in the long jump.
“We work together really well,” Evangelista said, “We’re all really close bonded and we’re like family.”
He and senior Louis Chukwu competed for the Colts in the state long jump prelims with Chukwu finishing in 30th place and Evangelista in 15th .
The student athletes have been pushing each other throughout this season. They have been dedicating their performances to the hurdles coach Joseph Sadlan who passed away earlier this year due to COVID.
“I’ve been carrying on his legacy ever since,” said freshman hurdler Jayden Rendon. “He was really big on technique, not really about how you moved or how quick you finished the race, it’s about how you went over the hurdle and got to the next one.”
Rendon qualified in the state meet after placing second in the 300m hurdles and third in the 110m hurdles at the City Section Championship. In the state preliminary heat, he came in 15th place with a 38.76s time for the 300m hurdles and came in 17 th place in the 110m hurdles with a 15.31s time.
Craig Walker runs anchor for the 4x100m team. He noted how having the right mindset is key to competing on the varsity level.
“I know what my capabilities are,” Walker said. “We are really underrated.”
Sophomore Tiffany Williams noted how encouraging and talented her teammates are.
“Honestly, we play around a lot, we get along so well,” Tiffany said. “Practice is always fun and happy.”
