News From State Championships
St. Francis senior Peyton Bilo gets in a workout a few days before States. (SRN photo)
For most high school runners, simply qualifying for State Champs is the highlight of the year. A very few locals will shine on the big stage.
For the past couple of years, all eyes have been on Davis junior Fiona O’Keeffe, who has dominated the region’s distance running. This year, the pressure was on for her to take home the region’s first title in the 3200.
Alas, she was so close!
The Bee’s Joe Davidson has the story.
A little closer to home was St Francis senior Peyton Bilo, who set a PR in that same 3200 and ran the 2nd fastest time in history for the school in 10:31.67.
Read more here.
Perhaps my favorite story of the end of the year was about Rocklin’s Geoff Leonhardt.
Leonhardt was trying to “walk on” at Cal in the fall and was told he needed a 4:15 in the 1600 to qualify. Up to this time, his PR was 4:20 for the distance.
Starting as a freshman, Leonhardt was never known as one of the fastest boys–running about 6:40 for the mile that first year. Over time, he earned a reputation as a hard worker and steadily improved.
On that magical May 29th, he ran the 1600 like he was expecting to win, and win he did in 4:13.39! Alas, rumor has it Cal now says they are out of spots for walk-ons.
Oh well. Go Bears!