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Qualifying over, Taylor set for big show
Casa runner has shifted her focus from 3,200 to 1,600,
likes her chances to medal in today's final

By DEWEY FORGET
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

NORWALK -- Last year as a freshman, Casa Grande's Jacque Taylor was wowing the high school
track world with her times in the 3,200 meters. Her fourth-place finish at the state meet
was a shocker.

Perhaps the Redwood Empire had spawned another outstanding distance runner in the mold of
Julia Stamps and Sara Bei. But, this is a different year and time.

Now Taylor says the 1,600 is her best event. And who could argue with her? She went out and
made her point at the 90th CIF state track and field championships on Friday, running 4:57.14,
a pedestrian time for her, but fast enough to qualify for tonight's finals at Cerritos College.

"My race this year is really the 1,600," she said moments after finishing sixth in the first
of two heats, and seventh overall. "The 1,600 is really my specialty. That race comes first.
I am going to run the 3,200 because I qualified, but I really want the 1,600. I feel I'm
strong enough to run both."

Taylor ran mid-pack through 400 meters, well positioned and away from any potential trouble.
At the 800 mark, still running smoothly and well within herself, she began to gradually move
forward while separating herself from a large trailing group. Her strategy to lag behind and
make a late move seemed well conceived but in the end was flawed.

"I felt with Christine (Babcock) in the heat they would go out fast to keep up with her and
then they would come back, but they didn't," Taylor explained.

Babcock, who is one of the favorites in the 3,200 tonight, and one of the premier distance
runners in the country, ran 4:53.67 to win the heat. The Woodbridge senior held off
Livermore's Diana George, who finished second in 4:54.06.

Taylor appeared to be closing ground on the front runners nearing the finish. "I still had a
kick left," she said.

And what about her chances to medal tonight in what figures to be one of the most competitive
races of the meet? Most everyone in her camp feels she has a big race coming.

"I like the track. Running on it makes me happy," she said. "I like the colors, they are
blue and grey."

So there you have it. Good colors, a huge venue, and a supremely confident and relaxed
athlete. A medal race could be in the works. Taylor is looking for a companion piece to go
along with that 3,200 medal in her trophy case.

In the girls' second 1,600 heat, Maria Carrillo's sophomore Lauren Curtin, making her first
appearance at state, finished 11th in 5:09.82, well behind her personal-best of 4:55.11
that she ran at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions.

"I was really, really nervous. Maybe I thought about it too much. I haven't been to a big
meet like this," said an obviously disappointed Curtin. "I was happy to come to state, it
was fun. Hopefully, I will get back next year and do better."

Sterling Lockert, seeded 17th in the boys' 1,600, ran 4:22.7 to finish 18th.

"I didn't have it, I wasn't in it," said the Petaluma junior. "The pack went out, I got boxed
in and I just couldn't go. I didn't have the race in me today."

Carrillo's Julie Krickl, who burst onto the high jump scene with a monumental personal-best
5-5 jump to take second at the MOC, couldn't duplicate that effort at state. She was unable
to clear the opening 5-2 height.

Still, when considering her previous best before the MOC was 5-2, making state was a major
achievement and certainly leaves everyone wondering just how high the Maria Carrillo sophomore
can go.

Troy Baker of Santa Rosa fouled on his three shot put attempts. Colin Quirke (Los Gatos)
threw 63-6 to win the event. Blake Poole (Esperanza) was second with a 60-9¾ toss.

Cardinal Newman's Austin Davis, needed a big-time personal-best to qualify in the discus.
His top effort of 159-7 fell some 15 feet short. He finished 14th. Joe Durling of El Molino
was 18th with a toss of 152-8 and Sonoma's Patrick Sammons threw 146-5 for 21st.

Joe Withers, the Empire's only entrant in the boys 800, ran 1:57.29 and was well back of
winner Charles Jock (San Diego). He finished 21st. Rancho Cotate high jumper Matt Egelhoff
missed qualifying by a scant two inches, clearing the bar at 6-5. Seven jumpers cleared 6-7,
and six jumpers made it over the 6-5 barrier. Egelhoff was eliminated on number of misses.

Corrine Rich, Montgomery's top chance for a state medal and holder of the Empire's all-time
best throw in the discus, opted to skip state to attend her graduation ceremonies.

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