Emma Serna and Jennifer Herrera led a balanced effort at last Friday’s Div. IV track championships. The result for the Eagle squad was an eighth-place finish in the 28-team field, while Dos Palos Bronco Marissa Merrell again dominated in the high jump.
Kern Valley of Lake Isabella ran away with the team title, garnering 110 points, followed by Liberty-Madera Ranchos (81). Fresno Christian was third, followed by Bakersfield Christian, Immanuel-Reedley, Sierra-Tollhouse, Orcutt Academy-Santa Maria, and Mission Prep-San Luis Obispo.
Serna, only a freshman, came in second in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 17.31. Madison Lane of Bakersfield Christian dominated the event with a winning time of 15.88. Serna also medaled in the 300-meter hurdles, coming in eighth with a time of 53.12. Giada Young of Fresno Christian placed first with a winning time of 48.78.
Herrera, a junior, scored points for Firebaugh with a sixth-place finish in the 100-meter dash. Her time was 13.28.
Serna and Herrera also teamed with Lisbeth Torres and Alyssa Martinez for a seventh-place finish in the 4×100 relay, which was won by San Joaquin Memorial.
Dos Palos Bronco senior Marissa Merrell continued her excellent work, winning the high jump with a leap of 5’2”, beating out second place Jen Ross of Sierra (4’10”). Merrell also placed seventh in the long jump.
The Dos Palos quartet of Fernanda Madrigal, Shyanne Bryant, Saray Jara, and Mara Torres came in fifth in the 4×800 relay, which was won by Kern Valley.
Bronco senior Jazmine Scott placed fifth in the discus with a throw of 82’8”, and she followed that up with ninth-place finish in the shot put.
Merrell and all the other top finishers will qualify for the Valley Championships, which will be held this Saturday in Clovis at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The State Championships will take place the following week at the same venue.
