Sports
Track and Field: Meet Amador's State Qualifiers
Amador qualified five athletes for the State meet
Amador Valley is sending five athletes to the CIF State Track and Field Finals, which will be held on Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High School in Clovis (Fresno). Here they are:
HAKEEM DYSON
Event: 110 meter high hurdles / 1600 meter boys relay
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Year: Senior
Experience: 3 years
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Top finishes (2010): Champion (EBAL), 2nd (NCS), 3rd (NCS Meet of Champions)
Other sports: Football (wide receiver)
College: Undecided (Fresno St., Chico St.)
Quote: "I ran at Hart Middle School and when I got to Amador, my dad said I should try three sports," Dyson said. "Obviously, the basketball didn't work out, but I stuck with football and track and now I'm going to the state finals."
Goal for State Finals: Amador Valley record time in both events
Bio: Dyson competes for a father-daughter coach combo at Amador: Dyson is a speedy wide receiver for Rick Sira's varsity football team and a standout sprinter on Carlee Sira Graham's track squad. Dyson began sprinting as a freshman to keep in shape during the football off-season. But during his sophomore year, Dyson left the track team. "I was stuck in the football thing and took a year off." Dyson explained. "But watching track on TV and the Olympics made me realize I wanted to get back out there and run." Since his recommitment, Dyson has developed into one of Amador's premiere sprinters and hurdlers. He sprinted to the 2010 EBAL 110 meter high hurdles title with a time of 14.56 seconds and will compete twice at the state finals (110 meter high hurdles, 1600 meter boys relay).
SCOTT ESPARZA
Event: Shot Put
Year: Senior
Experience: 4 years
Top finishes (2010): Champion (EBAL), 2nd (NCS), 3rd (NCS Meet of Champions)
Goal for State Finals: Amador Valley record distance in event
College: UC Berkeley
Quote: "Shot put combines Olympic weightlifting and hurdling," Esparza said. "It requires a lot of strength, but also athleticism."
Bio: Esparza played offensive line on Amador's freshman football team in 2006. Offensive line coach Travis Nutter competed as a hammer thrower at Cal and encouraged Esparza to begin throwing. Esparza shifted his focus away from football and began training with Amador throw coach Ron Romero for the shot put, discuss and hammer events. Esparza took the 2010 EBAL shot put title with a throw of 55-feet, eight-inches and earned a scholarship to throw at UC Berkeley next season. "It's the school I've always been in love with." Esparza said. "My dad went to Cal and I signed with them as soon as I could."
1600 METER BOYS RELAY
Top finishes (2010): 2nd (EBAL), 2nd (NCS), 4th (Meet of Champions)
Goal for State Finals: Amador Valley record time in event
NICK BAYLEY
Year: Sophomore
Position: Anchor leg
Quote: "I don't feel too much pressure being the anchor because I'm used to chasing people down," Bayley explained. "In my individual events, I usually start slow and finish strong."
Bio: Bayley is final runner in the relay but relishes the opportunity to close ground late in a race. Amador coach Carlee Sira Graham described Bayley's most dramatic comeback: "At Meet of Champions, they were in sixth place coming into Nick's lap, and on the final stretch, Nick chased them down and reached into the finish for fourth place, which was the final qualifying spot." Bayley said the goal this weekend is improvement. "There are a lot of fast teams, but we want to run faster than we did at Meet of Champions and beat the Amador record."
ANTHONY HARRIS
Year: Senior
College: CSU Stanislaus
Position: first leg
Quote: "This is my squad," Harris laughed. "Not because I'm in charge but because I was on this relay last year and now I'm back with these new guys."
Bio: Harris is the only returning runner from Amador's 1600 meter boys relay in 2009 and he uses that experience as the leadoff runner. Harris also played three years of football at Amador but is now focused on sprinting. "The power lifting and strength I learned in football helps me to sprint a full lap around the track." Harris explained. Next season, Harris will sprint at CSU Stanislaus.
HAKEEM DYSON
Year: Senior
College: Undecided (Fresno St., Chico St.)
Position: second leg
Quote: "There is great camaraderie on this team," Dyson said about his relay teammates. "We have gotten really close this year."
Bio: Dyson will compete in both the individual 110-meter high hurdles and 1600 meter relay events at the State Finals. Dyson praised his teammates, especially the underclassmen, for stepping up this season. He also explained the difference between running individual events, compared to relay/team events. "When I'm running with this team, I can rely on these guys. When I run alone, I'm just alone out there."
JOSH SLATON
Year: Freshman
Position: third leg
Quote: "We always have fun on this relay, win or lose," Slaton said. "That's important because it helps keep us all loose before races."
Bio: He's just a freshman, but Slaton fired out of the gate with impressive finishes in the 400-meter individual events early this season. His times impressed the upperclassmen and earned a spot on this relay. Slaton says there has been no teasing from his teammates and he looks forward to leading Amador's 4 x 400 meter relay as an upperclassman in years to come.
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DanvillePatch: SRV sends seven to state
SanRamonPatch: Cal sends five; its entire girls distance team
WalnutCreekPatch: Two Las Lomas pole vaulters headed to state
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