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Mustangs Craft Strong Efforts At County Meet
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Lady Mustang runners in action shown here are Melony Jericoff passing the baton to Madison Carter during the 4x100 relay during recent competition. Marg Jackson/The Leader

In a two day span the Oakdale High School track and field team made two statements: First that they are still the best in the Valley Oak League, and second that they are top four in Stanislaus County. Thursday afternoon, March 9 Oakdale hosted Weston Ranch in the first Valley Oak League meet of the new season. Both the boys and girls dominated the Cougars having won at all four levels of competition. The varsity boys won 78-54, varsity girls won 120-14, junior varsity boys steamrolled to a 97-31 victory and the junior varsity girls shut out the Cougars 108-0. Oakdale’s next Valley Oak League meet will take place on Thursday inside The Corral against Sierra. Meet time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

The next day the Oakdale varsity teams traveled to Turlock High School for the Stanislaus County Meet. Oakdale’s girls placed third in the meet, racking up 114 total points, and the boys placed fourth, scoring 73.5 points.

At the county meet, Lady Mustang Kayden Legan made a name for herself. The speedy freshman placed third in the 1600 meters and fourth in the 3200 meters. The senior girls also put on a display for the county as Madison Abell placed third in pole vault and set a season record at eight feet. Fellow senior Mikayla Wong spring boarded for seven feet and finished in fifth. Senior Samantha Nickerson placed fourth in the high jump at four feet, ten inches and senior teammate Hannah Wesling also placed fourth tying Nickerson. Wesling’s leap set her personal record in the event. Senior Kyndall Vargas tossed for 104-10 in the discus. In the hurdles T.J. Verdegaal placed fifth in the 300 hurdles at 52.18. Sara Stevens set an early season record in the 800 meters as she sprinted to a fifth place finish at 2:29.71. Others that made an impact for the Lady Mustangs were Courtney Dickens, Marnelle Salie, Cassie England, Savannah Manning, Hallie Morton and Deonna Osmundson. Oakdale’s 4x400 relay team placed second with teammates Courtney Dickens, Marnelle Salie, Kyla Novotny and Sara Stevens, and the team of Kayla Budine, Marnelle Salie, Courtney Dickens and Kyla Novotny placed third in the 4x100 relay.

Francisco Vargas set a personal record in the 110 meter hurdles, taking first in 15.59. The senior followed up with a fifth place finish in the 300 meter hurdles. Oakdale displayed power in the shot put and discus as junior Jorge Barajas set a personal record at 47-00 to place first in the shot put. Senior Michael Everett earned third in the discus at 130-05. In the high jump, senior Justin Crescenti set a personal best at 5-10 to place fifth. Senior Jacob Peterson set a personal record in the triple jump finals placing fourth at 41-06.75. Peterson also help lead the 4x400 team to a second place finish along with Cameron Burke, Justin Crescenti and Francisco Vargas. Burke placed second in the 300 meter hurdles as well. Other Mustangs that made an impact were Will Semone, Cesar Garcia, Cade Middaugh and Nico Sarale.