She's three-for-three.
Mission College Prep sophomore and Arroyo Grande resident Jordan Hasay parlayed a 67-second first lap, a strong middle of the race and a fast finish into a winning 4:39.13 girls 1,600 meter race at the Elks San Luis Obispo County Track and Field Meet at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo Saturday.
In the effort, Hasay broke the national sophomore and National Federation national records.
The race was her first 1,600 meter event this year. Her other two 2007 races on the track have been 3,200s. Hasay set the sophomore national record at that distance at 10:04.52 at Watsonville in her season debut. She broke her own record with a 10:04.07 at the Camarillo Distance Classic six days later.
Hasay owns the eighth and ninth-fastest national all-time girls prep 3,200 times. She broke her 1,600 meet record of 4:44.93 and shattered the old California sophomore record of 4:45.02 that Alejandra Barrientos of Felton San Lorenzo Valley set in 1999. Hasay took the national lead.
After the race Saturday, Hasay said she felt a little apprehensive as she crossed the line in 67-plus that first lap. It turned out that instead of damaging her chances for the result she wanted, the quick opening lap propelled her to a big-time final time.
“I usually run well after I go out fast,” in the 1,600, said Hasay.
The last 100 meters, “I concentrated on working my arms, and that helped,” said Hasay. “For some reason I haven't been using my arms as much this year.”
Hasay was the girls co-Track MVP of the meet along with San Luis Obispo junior Tonie Williams. Williams broke her own meet record in winning the 400 in 56.19. She just missed her 2006 meet record of 25.1 in the 200 with a winning 25.23.
Williams was a 2006 CIF State Track and Field finalist in the 800, and she took that race in 2:22.19 Saturday.
Hasay seemed to labor a bit on her second and third laps, but she kept enough of her strong pace to hit the line for the last lap at 3:29-plus. Unofficially, Hasay motored through the last 100 in around 17 seconds.
“I'm very happy,” she said.
Hasay will take another crack at breaking 10 minutes for 3,200 meters at the Arcadia Invitational next Saturday. “I think I'm faster this year, and being able to run that fast for so long (for a 1,600) really gives me confidence for the 3,200.”
Hasay ran 10:07.56 at Arcadia last year, the girls age 14 record and the 12th-fastest girls national time ever then.
Arroyo Grande's varsity teams kept their unbeaten streaks alive. The Eagles' boys and girls squads haven't lost since the 1980's. Arroyo Grande's boys defeated runner-up Paso Robles 140-119. Arroyo Grande's girls beat second-place Atascadero 91-82.
Dari Saber and Taylor Castaņon helped the Arroyo Grande boys win. Saber earned the Varsity Boys Most Valuable Field Event MVP award by taking the boys shot put at 51-3 and discus at 164-9. Castaņon turned a quick last lap and won the boys 3,200 in 9:57.81.
“My personal best was the 52-3 I did last year, but this was my best this year by two feet,” Saber, a senior said after his shot put. “I haven't been putting the shot that well this year. I'm really happy with this.”
Saber's PR in the discus is 180. That put him among the top handful of state leaders going into the meet.
“It's definitely a goal of mine, to get into the state meet,” said Saber. “Last year I didn't throw well and just missed getting to,” the CIF Southern Section finals.
Saber overcame a slick new discus ring surface. Throwers slid about during warmups, and Paso Robles' Tom Nagengast actually fell. He recovered and finished second at 164-4.
Castaņon smashed his previous best time of 10:13.
“I'd been in a little slump the last two weeks, but I'm starting to bounce back,” he said.
“I couldn't have done it without Jehan (Mirzaei) and my other teammates. Even when they're not running on the track with me, they're very good supporters.” Mirzaei finished second in 9:59.99.
Arroyo Grande junior Julianne Alarcio long jumped a personal best 18-1 1/2 at the meet last year. She figured to be among the girls point leaders Saturday, but a pulled hamstring sidelined her.
Teammate Stephanie Micheli filled the void nicely. She won the 100 (13.03), was runner-up in the 200 (25.38) and ran the second leg for Arroyo Grande's winning 400 relay team.
Micheli was particularly happy with her 200 time. “Tonie's a great runner,” Micheli said. “I wasn't really running against her - I was running for time.”
Micheli pushed Williams throughout and got the time she wanted. “Coach (Dustin) Cecchi has been working with me on my start, and that's gotten stronger,” she said.
The Eagles' Victor Garcia won a competitive 110 high hurdles race in 16.57. “I just wanted to start fast and be aggressive,” he said afterward.
“My form has to improve.” How was it Saturday?
“I'll have to look at the video, but right now I'm pretty happy.”
Alarcio wasn't the only big-name girl with Injury trouble Saturday. A triceps tendon strain in her right arm has plagued Arroyo Grande senior Christine Weinreich, a state meet shot put finalist in 2006, since the start of this season.
“It's slowly getting better. That's the good thing,” said Weinreich. “I hope to be able to throw the shot put in two weeks, but (the workload) will be light.” Weinreich competed in the discus event. Stephanie Cullors of Atascadero won with a throw of 124 feet. Weinreich's place was unknown at press time.
Templeton's Diahann Williams was the Girls Varsity Field Event Athlete of the Meet. Williams won the long jump at 17-7 and the triple jump with a meet record 36-8 1/2.
San Luis Obispo's Emily Allis sweep the hurdles races. She won the 100 hurdles in 16.23 and the 300 hurdles in 45.50.
Garrett Cowan of Templeton was the Boys Frosh Soph Athlete of the Meet. He won the 1,600 in 4:32.63, the 800 in a meet record 2:01 and finished second in the 3,200. Nipomo's Hali Curry was the Girls Frosh Soph Athlete of the Meet. She won the 100 hurdles in 16.37 and the 300 hurdles in 50.60.
Hasay's day wasn't over after she ran the 1,600. She also ran the second leg for Mission Prep's 1,600 relay team which finished third.
“I was pretty tired from the long wait,” after her 1,600 race.
Her 61.7 split? “It's my PR,” she said with a laugh.
April 1, 2007