The Modesto Junior College Pirates women’s track and field team made school history recently, claiming their first-ever CCCAA State Championship with a dominant performance in San Mateo. Led by Head Coach Brian Beeman, an Escalon High School alum, and Coach Demitrius Snaer, the Pirates tallied an impressive 91.50 points; 16 ahead of runner-up Riverside City College, who finished with 75. The breakthrough victory marked a new era for the program, showcasing a deep, balanced roster and standout individual performances.
For the team, it was freshman sprint phenom Shaylan Roy-Williams (Turlock High School) emerging as a triple state champion earning her the State Track Athlete of the Meet, winning the 100 meters (11.47), 200 meters (24.01), and the long jump (19’ 7”). Roy-Williams also ran a key leg on the 4x100 relay team alongside Kylie Davis (Denair High School), Jada Orona (Downey High School), and Savannah Brown (Oakdale High School), finishing with a time of 48.19. In the heptathlon, sophomore Kylie Nunes (Oakdale High School) earned the title of State Field Athlete of the Meet with 4,588 points, claiming the top podium spot while teammate Julia Pedretti (Modesto High School) secured third with 4,014. Nunes also added points in five other events, including a third place in the 100 hurdles (14.37), third in the 100 meters (11.91), fourth in the javelin (129’ 2”), sixth place finish in the long jump (17' 9.75") and helped the 4x400 team (Ava Torres, Shaylan Roy-Williams, Jada Orona, Kylie Nunes) to a fifth-place finish.
Nunes, a 2023 OHS grad, has signed with Cal Berkeley and put together a phenomenal season. Her achievements include: State champion in the Heptathlon, NorCal champion in the Heptathlon, State Field Athlete of the Year, NorCal Field Athlete of the Year.
At MJC, she is the school record holder in the Heptathlon - 5102 (40-year-old record); 100 hurdles - 13.87 (40-year-old record); 4x100 and 4x400.
She is also in the all-time top 10 in the 100 - 11.67 (3rd); 200 - 24.06 (3rd); Javelin - 137'1" (5th); and long jump - 18'7" (8th).
Nunes scored 31 points at the state meet and 47 points at the NorCal championships.
“The Pirates’ depth was on full display across the field events,” Beeman said of the teamwork leading to the historic victory.
Julia Pedretti contributed crucial points in three disciplines, finishing fifth in the discus (42.83m/140’ 6”), eighth in the shot put (38’ 6¾”), and placing in the heptathlon. Freshmen Claire Pierce (Patterson High School) and Jade Thommes (Ripon High School) earned crucial points in the pole vault finishing sixth and seventh respectfully. Kylie Davis contributed big points with a fifth-place finish in the long jump (17' 11") and sixth place finish in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.93. The multi-event athletes and jumpers, the coach said, consistently chipped away at the leaderboard to keep Modesto ahead of the pack.
“I can’t say enough about this group of young ladies and our coaching staff. A bunch of small town, 209 ladies putting their names on the map. An absolutely incredible experience,” Beeman said. “The entire team contributing throughout the entire postseason put us in the place to go for the title. The support from parents, family, friends, our athletic trainers, it takes a village. Truly remarkable group of young ladies. They are State Champions!”
The Pirates were the first Northern California team to win since 2012 and the first women’s team from the Central Valley to win. They are the second women’s program at MJC to win a State title. The state championship capped a season of three-peat Big 8 conference champs and back-to-back NorCal champs. All team members are local athletes from the 209 representing Oakdale, Ripon, Patterson, Modesto, Turlock and Denair.
With young stars like Roy-Williams and veterans like Nunes and a strong coaching foundation, the Pirates have not only earned their place in the record books, noted Beeman, they’ve also “laid the groundwork for a new legacy” in California community college track and field.
Honors for the team include: Kylie Nunes four-time All-American, two-time All-State; Shay Roy-Williams four-time All-American, one-time All-State; Julia Pedretti one-time All-American, one-time All-State; Kylie Davis one-time All-American, two-time All-State; Jada Orona one-time All-American, one-time All-State; Savannah Brown one-time All-American; Claire Pierce one-time All-State; Ava Torres one-time All-State.
