Literally running away from the rest of the Valley Oak League teams for the 11th straight season, the Oakdale varsity girls track and field team dominated East Union 105-25 for their 83rd consecutive dual meet victory. Oakdale went to East Union on Thursday, April 7 along with the boys varsity team, the Mustang boys winning 94-31. The junior varsity boys tied 68-68 and the junior varsity girls took a tough loss, 82-26.

The busy week continued for all four units when they made their way to Turlock for the Hughson Invitational on Saturday, April 9. Nineteen schools from the surrounding area made their way to Turlock High School for the annual event. Oakdale made a strong statement as the school finished in first place overall with a combined 154 points between both varsity and junior varsity boys, 54 points ahead of second place Modesto.

Oakdale’s varsity girls placed second finishing with a score of 55 total points, just 10 points behind host Hughson. Sophomore Cassie England took first place in the long jump (16-03.50) and in the triple jump (33-06.50) to help Oakdale. Also having notable performances were senior Melody Johnson, who took second in the 300 meter hurdles (51.88); sophomore Kayla Budine who placed third in both triple (32-07.00) and long jump (14-10.50); junior Kyla Novotny for her top 10 finishes in the 100 and 200 meters and junior Kristin Aguilar, who finished eighth in the one mile finals (6.08.62). The girls worked well as a unit as they claimed second in the 4x100 meter relay as Melody Johnson, Madison Carter, Kyla Novotny and Courtney Dickens finished at 53.65.

The boys varsity team tied for seventh place with 25 points. Junior Justin Crescenti earned a hard fought third place finish (2:06.51) in the 800 meters varsity boys final. Senior Josh Gorman placed sixth in the one mile finals (4:48.89). Working together for a third place 4x400 meter relay finish were Jose de la Cruz, Gorman, Crescenti and Kyle Brown (3:40.19).

Oakdale’s junior varsity boys were led by sophomore Cameron Cherry. Cherry and fellow sophomore teammate Makai Harris finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 100 meters finals for Oakdale. The duo of Cherry and Harris were also a part of the 4x100 team that finished first along with teammates Carson Frazee and Zac Campbell. Cherry blazed his way to a third place finish in the 200 meters (24.69). Campbell also had a big assist for the junior varsity boys first place team finish with 74 points, as the sophomore placed first in the 300 meter hurdles (44.98). Sophomore Russell Pabalan ran his way to a second place finish in the one mile (4:56.72). Sophomore Daniel Prado took first in the two mile run (10:47.00).

Oakdale hosts Lathrop on Thursday, April 14 in their next Valley Oak League meet, with action scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.