Beatty Hornets Track Coach Ellice Dunsterville knew going into Division IV state meet that the Northern track teams would be strong.
During the regional meet the Beatty girls easily captured the Southern regional title but came in sixth place to five Northern teams (49 points). The boys also had a hard time and came in fifth place (49).
Dunsterville said state went according to plan.
“The girls still finished number one in the South,” she said. “There were still many personal records for my athletes, and we enjoyed watching many records being broken in the other divisions.”
Her girls and boys scored any way they could. At state, first place finishers through eighth score points.
Sophomore Vanessa Gamboa finished fourth in the 100 meter (13.89) and also took sixth in the 200 meter (29.52).
Sophomore Jasmin Pelayo was a big point scorer for her team. She took sixth place in the 800 meter (2:45.42), fifth in the 1,600 meter (6:00.32) and fourth in the 3,200 meter (12:57.19). Although Pelayo didn’t repeat as state champion in the 3,200, she did beat her last year’s time at state of 13:00.73.
The girls 4×800 relay team composed of Alexi Gil, Anel Gamboa, Karina Villanueva and Jasmin Pelayo finished in third place (12:40.45).
Gil took fifth in the shot put (29 feet, .75 inches).
The Beatty boys team got points any way they could.
Junior Enrique Orozco helped put the boys on the board with a sixth place in the 800-meter run (2:11.10) and a fifth place in the 1,600 meter (5:02.05).
Sophomore Brandon Rebujio took sixth place in the 3,200 meter (11:45.61).
The Hornets boys relay teams scored the majority of the points for the team. The 4×100 relay composed of Luis Flores, Enrique Orozco, Michael Olson and Jhonpaul Adajar took second place (47.41). Beatty also took third in the 4×200 relay (1:40.63) composed of Adajar, Jorge Perez, Flores and Olson.
Junior Nate Russell took fourth (9-06) and freshman Rowdie White took sixth place (8-06).
Dunsterville was named the coach of the year in Division IV track.
“It was a total surprise,” she said. “I give all the credit to the kids. They really are the stars. I was just carrying on where Jerry Adcox left off at the end of his final season last year.”
She added that she was just continuing a great program that he had developed over the years.
“Why change something when it works.,” Dunsterville said. “I also have to give credit to my two assistants, Lorraine Gjefle and Richard Dunsterville (who volunteered all his time) for their great help and encouragement to the team.”