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Meet of Champions: Empire athletes vie for state berths By RICH RUPPRECHT Press Democrat Staff Writer Published: Thursday, May 28, 2009 The best high school track and field athletes talk about the extra adrenaline pumping through their bodies during the biggest meets, like the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Cal’s Edward Stadium today and Saturday. There’s only one bigger meet than the MOC, next weekend’s state meet at Clovis. In order to get there, athletes must be at their best at the MOC. “Yeah, I do get excited for meets like this,” said Casa Grande junior Jacque Taylor, the top seed in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Taylor, who finished second in the 1,600 at state last year, has been in enough big meets to have learned the best way to prepare. “I try not to think too much about the races,” Taylor said. “Before races, I like to be by myself.” Taylor, usually smiling before, during and after races, is a postrace favorite of media and photographers. She also plans on running a leg on Casa’s 4x400 relay team. Prelims for the relay and 1,600 are today; finals are Saturday. There is just one 3,200, late Saturday afternoon. “A lot of getting ready for a meet like this is mental, not physical,” said Windsor senior Mike Tracy, the top-rated high jumper at the MOC, who has jumped 6 feet, 9 inches. Tracy said he usually can detect a boost of adrenaline for a meet like the MOC. Before the race, he said he likes to step back and visualize clearing the high-jump bar. “I try and be consistent in my buildup and commit it to memory,” he said. Tracy has watched video of his winning 6-9 leap at the Woody Wilson Invitational at Davis to guide him to a goal of a 6-10 jump. Tracy also likes the idea of the MOC being held at Cal, where he’ll attend school and high jump next season. Santa Rosa senior Troy Baker says he believes he handles big meets better than last season. Baker, the top-seeded shot putter, wants to make state because there’s no way he can’t improve on last year’s performance at Cerritos. Baker, admittedly overwhelmed with the competition at state last year, forgot his uniform and then fouled three consecutive times. “He’s matured quite a bit since then,” said Santa Rosa coach Doug Courtemarche. “I know what to expect,” Baker said of the MOC. “State scared me last year.” Baker, won last week’s Redwood Empire meet shot put with a personal best 53 feet, 10 inches. He will also compete in the discus and his younger brother Travis will also compete in both. Petaluma’s superb distance runner, senior Sterling Lockert, has decided to concentrate on the 3,200 and won’t run the 1,600 this weekend, even though he’d rank as the top seed in the 1,600. Petaluma coach Jim Lynch said he and Lockert have scouted the field and feel the 1,600, while not loaded with top runners from NorCal, is loaded in Southern California, with at least two runners with 4:07 times. Lockert will be the second seed in the 3,200, behind Novato junior Erik Olson, whose best time of 8:55.19 ranks second in the nation this year. Lockert stayed fairly close to Olson last week. “He’s as focused and excited as I’ve seen him in four years,” Lynch said of Lockert, heading into the two biggest meets of the season. Santa Rosa 1,600 runner Rory McLeod is also a No.1 seed in his event at the MOC, and Devin Lockert of Petaluma has the top time in the 800; No.2 seeds include Petaluma’s Sean Sullivan (200 meters) and Ursuline pole vaulter Michelle Stone; and No.3 seeds include Maria Carillo’s Jeremy Thompson (300 intermediate hurdles), Santa Rosa’s Reesey Byers (3200), Fort Bragg’s Logan Baumgartner (high jump) and Fort Bragg’s Oleg Ryabokorovka (long jump). The top four finishers advance to the state meet. Most events have trials today, but not all. Finals today include the boys’ high jump, triple jump and discus and girls’ pole vault, triple jump and shot put. The first event today is the boys’ discus at 10 a.m. The MOC begins at 10 a.m. with the girls’ discuss; finals in all track events begin with the boys’ 400 relay at 1:30 p.m. You can reach Staff Writer Rich Rupprecht at 521-5275 or rich.rupprecht@pressdemocrat.com.
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