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The unassuming pursuit of personal bests aided SF State’s women’s track and field team as they broke multiple school records over the span of the season thus far and placed sixth overall in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
“We had a lot of growth and improvement in a short period of time,” said head coach Kendra Reimer. “I’m very proud of them. A lot was accomplished with a young roster.”
Strong performances from a mix of veterans and up-and-comers highlighted the season for a Gators squad that collectively compiled 15 individual performances ranking in the top 10 all-time for SF State athletes. The team set seven of those marks when they hosted the CCAA championship at Cox Stadium April 30-May 2.
Seniors Hilary King and Michelle Chung concluded prolific CCAA careers with memorable outings at the conference championship. King broke SF State’s long jump record for the third time this season with a leap of 5.86 meters, placing second overall, and Chung reached the top of the podium with a discus throw of 42.98 meters.
“The season went amazing for me personally,” King said. “Breaking the school record was really the cherry on top. Everyone matured this year and I know they will break more records and take the track team to the next level and get a championship.”
A trio of sophomores – Laura Stokes, Alex Jones and Jordan Guerrero – excelled in their second-year campaigns with the Gators. Stokes and Jones were named the team’s MVPs for their performances in hurdles and shot-put respectively, while Guerrero strung together a solid season competing in the long jump and triple jump.
“We all feed off each other’s energy so when one person has a good day we all have a good day,” Stokes said. “Since our team is so small compared to others, I think we performed really well given our circumstances.”
As a team, the Gators placed at two tournaments in addition to the CCAA Championships, finishing fourth at the Chico State Twilight Invitational and eighth at the Cal State University East Bay Legacy Invitational.
Although King was the only Gator to qualify for the May 21 NCAA Division II National Championships and will be making the trip to Allendale, Michigan without any of her teammates, Coach Reimer shares her senior star’s optimism about the future of SF State track and field.
“We are already making big plans for next year,” Reimer said. “I know the girls are very excited about our future.”
