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For the first time in recent memory both the Stanford and Arcadia invitational track meets were held on the same weekend. Representatives from both San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley set personal, and school records in multiple events at the prestigious events
Stanford Invitational
Scotts Valley High School junior Vanessa Fraser won the 3000 meter and the 1600 meter runs at the Stanford Invitational Track Meet in Palo Alto on April 6-7. Fraser turned in the second best time in the nation this season in the 3000 meters, racing to a time of 9 minutes, 48.77 second. Mary Cain of Bronxville, New York ran the top time, 9:32.20 on March 31.
Then to turn heads even more, Fraser pulled away from the competition in the 1600 meters and won the race handily in 4:59.53.
“I do better when I am in the lead,” Fraser told the Community Sports Network after the race. “I feel in control of the pace. It was a lot slower than I expected. I thought we were going faster but I was able to make up for (the slow first lap) a little bit in the middle of the race.”
The second place finisher, Jackie Choucair from Hockaday, Texas finished in 5:02.29.
On the boys side, Alex Benko cleared 12 feet, 7.5 inches to take 19th in pole vault.
Arcadia Invitational
In what has become the largest and most prestigious invitation meet in the nation, San Lorenzo Valley High School had a number of runners finish in the top 20 in their events.
With temperatures soaring to the mid-90s sophomore Anna Maxwell finished 6th in the 3200 meters with a time of 10:25.33.
The boys distance medley team of Johnny Cooper, Landis MacMillan, Cody Johnson and Nick Hicks broke the school record in the relay with a time of 10:27.51, finishing 18th overall at the meet. Johnson also ran a season best at 1:55.22 in the 800 meters good enough for fifth place in his heat.
“Cody is way ahead of schedule right now,” said Cougar Coach Rob Collins. “To be just a second off his state time from last year this early in the season has us really excited.”
Hicks competed in the 3200 and finished in 9:29:07
The girls 4×800 meter team consisting of Claire MacMillan, Jessica Germany, Jen Housek and Abby Sherman ran just two seconds shy of a school record, finishing in 9:39.03. They took 12th place.
