When Valley Oak League track and field coaches not named Dave Bacigalupi have nightmares, they typically dream of Oakdale High uniforms.
The varsity Lady Mustangs (7-0) extended their winning streak of conference matches to 58 on April 26, out-pointing second place Sierra 75-61 to clinch an eighth consecutive VOL title.
“We had a good week of practice where I told them how good Sierra was, and the times and distances that I showed our girls made them pretty nervous,” OHS coach Bacigalupi said. “It came down to the final few events and it says a lot about our girls that they have not yet been full strength but have had such a great year.”
The Oakdale boys fell by a one-sided 94-42 tally to Sierra to slip to 5-2 on the season. Oakdale’s frosh-soph boys dropped their first match of the season, but can clinch sole possession of the frosh-soph title by beating Sonora today, May 2.
The varsity girls kept perfection alive after four impressive wins from versatile standout, Kellie Gratigny. The junior joined Lorissa Rutledge, Justina Keith, and Kim Linder on the winning 1600 relay team and also claimed victories in the triple jump, long jump and 400.
Deziree Pennington won the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and was second in the triple jump. Domi Powell, Haley McIntyre, and Kelsey McIntyre were first, second and third respectively in the high jump while Carly Rodgers and Brooke Wong went 1-2 in the pole vault. Alyssa Flores won the discus with a season best of 103 feet, 7 inches while Me’che Brown ended second in both the 100 and 200. In boys action, Wyatt Coffey was first in the 400 and joined Joey Flores, Erick Padilla and Louie Brichetto on the winning 1600 relay team. Austin Jones won the long jump while Manny Hernandez notched a victory in the high jump. Hernandez went on to win the Sacramento Meet of Champions high jump with two 6-9 leaps (second was a tiebreaker) on April 28 at American River College.
“Manny is jumping really well,” Bacigalupi said. “He is tied for second in the state in the high jump right now.”
Kyle Peterson also won the boys division of the discus. Rogers was ninth in the pole vault while Gratigny finished 11th in the triple jump. Oakdale completes their league schedule with Sonora today at home, and opens the VOL finals on May 5 at Kimball.
