Although no one from Oakdale High School is going to the CIF state track meet this year, the school was well represented in the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet on May 28 and 29.
Participating in the SJS Masters meet were both the girls 4-by-100 team (Emily Coleman, Jaci Powell, Taya Sebring, and Kristen Hoy), the 4-by-400 team (Kim Linder, Sara Aguayo, Powell, and Hoy), and both the boys 4-by-100 team (Isaiah Borba, Nate Madsen, Nicky Batteate, and Juan Gonzalez), and 4-by-400 team (John Brunk, Batteate, Borba, and Daniel Linder).
Other participants were freshman Domi Powell in the girls high jump, Jaci Powell in the triple jump, Tyler Murdoch in the pole vault and 110 hurdles, John Brunk in the triple jump, Josh Gehring in the high jump, and Justin Armstrong in the shot put.
Jaci Powell and Murdoch had both claimed SJS Division III titles earlier in the season and again did well at the Masters, as did their teammates, but could not break into the upper echelon of athletes moving on to State Meet competition.
Oakdale track coach Dave Bacigalupi said his team had a great year, although injuries took their toll toward the end of the season.
“It was a great year, winning the Valley Oak League. We didn’t finish as well as I would have liked because of injuries. I was disappointed, because I think we were pretty good.”
Bacigalupi was also looking forward to some of his athletes coming back next year, including freshman Domi Powell, who qualified for the Masters in the high jump in her first year at the varsity level.
“I think she’s going to do well,” he said of her future track and field career.