St. Francis Qualifies in Four Events for CIF State Track Meet

ELK GROVE, Calif. – Senior Ariane Arndt and sophomore Sydney Vandegrift and both relays qualified for the CIF State Track and Field Championships Friday night at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters meet at Elk Grove High School.

“It was a good day,” said Interim Head Coach Rod Jett. “We got the school record in the 4x100 and were real close in the 4x400. The most important thing was they advanced to state. I am very impressed and pleased with how they ran today.”

The 4x100-meter relay set a school record in the opening race, clocking a 47.58. They broke the mark of 47.61 set in 2014 by the three seniors (Reyna, Arndt, and Enes) with alumna Sydney Hunter.

“It feels so good,” said Kiani Reyna, who will run at the state meet for the third time. “Last year we did not have the season we expected so to come back stronger is amazing.”

The current team of Reyna, Ariane Arndt, Lilly Enes and junior Meaghan Rogers finished second overall to Sheldon (47.41), earning a berth to the state meet as one of the top three finishers.

“I am happy I was able to be on the relay this year,” said Rogers, who will run at her first state meet. “It is great to be with these girls who are graduating. I am going to miss them. We have made it this far so I am excited to go to state.”

Arndt qualified in the 800 meters for the third consecutive season. After winning the 800m at the last two Masters, she finished second on Friday in 2:13.46 to advance to Clovis.

“I hope to make it to finals next week because I have yet to do that (in two previous seasons),” said Arndt. “That is my goal. I am really looking forward to next weekend. It is what we have been working towards all season. It is great to see everything come together.”

Vandegrift punched her first ticket to the state meet in track, finishing second in the 3200m in a personal-best 10:42.19.

“I am beyond excited,” said Vandegrift. “I never thought when I started this season that I would be going to state. I did not really know what state was but now that I am going I am really honored to be part of it because the girls are so fast.”

“We are very proud of Sydney,” said assistant coach Aaron Rios. “We felt she would qualify and she had to go out and run her race. She comes out and does her job every day.”

The 4x400-meter relay provided the final highlight of the night, qualifying second overall in 3:45.49, the second-fastest time in school history and second-best time in the state. Vacaville won the race in 3:44.59.

“I have a great team and coaches to support me,” said Arndt, who will run in her fourth state meet. “Obviously, I wanted to win tonight but based on the times and competition everyone ran season PR’s. All the splits were real fast and I was really happy. We are really happy with our time. We are so close to our school record (3:45.02). We are going to get it next week. Vacaville is No. 1 and it is fun to race with people you know.”

Junior Elizabeth Hennessy ran the third leg on Friday night and will make her first state appearance.

“I am really excited for next week,” said Hennessy, who was a Masters qualifier in the 300m hurdles. “Going there as a freshman as an alternate and seeing the meet makes me more comfortable with it all. I am really good friends with this team and Ariane and all the girls have been there to support me. I think it is going to be a really fun experience.”

Senior Lilly Enes took the baton after the opening leg from Reyna.

“Fresno is always really exciting and I am so happy we are going back,” said Enes. “We are ranked really high and we are going to try to get first. I really hope we podium again. Ever since sophomore year that has been my dream.”

In other races, Enes finished seventh in the 400m in 56.75 and senior Chase Worthen finished her career as a Troubie with a 16th-place finish in the 1600 in 5:19.11.

Track qualifying events start at 5 p.m. on Friday.

Sac-Joaquin Section Masters (Top 3 Advance to State)

4x100-meter relay - 2. St. Francis (Reyna, Arndt, Enes, Rogers), 47.58.

1600 Meters – 16 Chase Worthen, 5:19.11.

400 Meters – 5. Lilly Enes, 56.75.

800 Meters – 6. Ariane Arndt, 2:13.46.

3200 Meters – 2. Sydney Vandegrift, 10:42.19.

4x400-meter relay – 2. St. Francis (Reyna, Enes, Hennessy, Arndt), 3:45.49.

Recent State Championship History

2013 – 4x100m Relay (Adams, Arndt, Reyna, Hunter), 6th in heat, 50.00; 4x400-meter relay (Arndt, Reyna, Hunter, Schnabel), 2nd in heat, 3;52.46.

2014 – 4x100m Relay (Reyna, Hunter, Enes, Schnabel), 5th in heat, 48.83; 400m – Lilly Enes, 4th in heat, 57.15; 800m – Ariane Arndt, 7th in heat, 2:16.18; 3200m – Lauren LaRocco, 5th, 10:23.10;  4x400m Relay (Arndt, Reyna, Enes, Hunter), 1st in heat, 3:47.91; 4x400m Relay (Arndt, Reyna, Enes, Hunter), 3^rd in final, 3:45.02.

2015 – 800 Meters – Ariane Arndt, 7th in heat, 2:11.06; 3200 – Peyton Bilo, 12^th  in final, 10:31.67.