The Los Alamitos HS Track & Field Team capped off what is being called a historic season with solid performances at the CIF State Track Meet this past weekend in Clovis CA.
The 4x100m relay team of juniors Ashley Willingham and Anijah Green plus seniors Kenna and Sara Limp started the Friday Prelims by qualifying 6th for the Finals. In Saturday night’s finals, the team raced to a photo finish against the Rio Mesa team which included USA No. 2 ranked sprinter Zaria Francis and the team was placed 7th (47.297) just 0.002 from a medal.
In the 400m, junior Ashley Willingham was off her personal best times and missed qualifying thru by 0.07 to finish the meet in 12th place. Junior Thomas Heib, Los Al’s sole state qualifier for the boy’s team, qualified for finals with a 3rd place finish in his preliminary heat and then came up 0.06 short of a medal and placed 7th in the finals.
In the distances, senior Katie Izzo, who has run the 3200m only seven times in her career (all this season, each a school record) launched a strong kick with 600m to go to break away from a chase pack and move into 3rd position. A final kick by Marissa Williams of Palisades pushed Izzo back to 4th but her time of 10:21.67 lowered her school record by 11 seconds and moved her to Orange County No. 7 all-time. Event winner, Destiny Collins of Great Oak won in a USA No. 1 time of 9:53.79.
The Griffin’s 4x400m relay of seniors Sarah Pisani, Brianna Taylor, Sara Limp and junior Ashley Willingham had their work cut out in the highly competitive qualifying heats on Friday. After receiving the baton in 8th place, Texas Tech bound senior Sara Limp impressed the crowd as she passed five teams while running a 54.6 split on the third leg. Willingham then held off the Redondo Beach team as she ran a 54.3 anchor leg. The relay’s prelim time of 3:48.97 lowered their school record and moved them to Orange County No. 3 all-time and qualified them for Saturday’s final where they medaled in 6th place (3:49.29).
“This season has been a wonderful experience.” Head Coach Nathan Howard said. “The talent level and dedication has never been better. Thank you to my assistant coaches who have put in the hard work and are with the athletes day in and day out to make sure they are ready. This team is truly a wonderful group and will always hold a special place in my heart. To continually do what they have done is something special that will be hard to replicate.”
In total during the 2015 season, the Griffins broke fifteen school records, generated eight Orange County All-Time Top 10 performances, seven California 2015 Top 10 performances and a USA # 4 and # 1 ranking.
Summary of Los Al Track & Field’s Record Breaking 2015 Season:
- Varsity Girls – Sunset League Champions, Orange County Champions
- Varsity Boys – Sunset League Champions
- JV Boys – Sunset League Champions
- F/S Girls – Sunset League Champions
- Andrew Carty (12) – B-400m (48.25) LAHS Record, California # 19
- Thomas Heib (11) – B-800m (1:51.49) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 15, CA # 4, USA # 29
- Katie Izzo (12) – G-800m (2:10.45) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 20, CA # 17; G-1600m (4:55.27) LAHS Record, California # 24; G-3200m (10:21.67 LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 7, CA # 8, USA # 22
- Sara Limp (12) – G-100m (11.88w; 11.94 wind legal) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 3, CA # 17; G-200m (23.95w; 24.18 wind legal) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 2, CA # 9
- Ashley Willingham (11) G-400m (54.89) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 3, CA # 9
- Boys 4x200m Relay (1:29.13) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 16, CA # 11 – Manuel Gomez (12), Holden Edmondson (11), Andrew Carty (12), Brandon Douglas (12)
- Boys 1600m Sprint Medley Relay (3:27.64) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 5, CA # 1, USA # 4 – Brandon Douglas (12), Manuel Gomez (12), Andrew Carty (12), Thomas Heib (11)
- Girls 4x100m Relay (46.91) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 3, CA # 12, USA # 47 – Ashley Willingham (11), Anijah Green (11), Kenna Limp (12), Sara Limp (12)
- Girls 4x200m Relay (1:40.42) LAHS Record, CA # 6 – Ashley Willingham (11), Brianna Taylor (12), Kenna Limp (12), Sara Limp (12)
- Girls 4x400m Relay (3:48.97) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 3, CA # 11, USA # 48 – Sarah Pisani (12), Brianna Taylor (12), Sara Limp (12), Ashley Willingham (11)
- Girls 4x800m Relay (9:32.18) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 14, CA # 16 – Bronsyn Ledgard (9), Ashley Willingham (11), Nicole Bliss (10), Katie Izzo (12)
Girls 1600m Sprint Medley Relay (3:58.63) LAHS Record, OC All-Time # 1, CA # 1, USA # 1 – Anijah Green (11), Sara Limp (12), Ashley Willingham (11), Katie Izzo (12)
Los Al records fall at Masters
School records continued to be lowered as the Los Alamitos High Track & Field team competed in the CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet at Cerritos College recently.
Leading the way for the Griffins in the meet and qualifying for CIF State Meet in Clovis:
- Junior Thomas Heib: 800m Champion; seeded 3rd for State (1:51.49 *New School Record)
- Junior Ashley Willingham: placed 4th in the 400m; seeded 7th for State (54.89 *New School Record)
- Senior Katie Izzo: placed 5th in 3200m; seeded 12th for State (10:32.92 *New School Record)
The Boys 800m produced dramatic finish. Heib ran a controlled first 400m allowing Copeland Laris from Long Beach Wilson to take an early lead. He then began his chase and over the next 200m closed the gap. As Heib and Laris rounded the curve with only 150m to go, Heib began a strong kick that opened up a three meter gap that would ensure him the victory.
Additionally, the 4x100m relay team of juniors Ashley Willingham and Anijah Green plus seniors Kenna and Sara Limp placed 6th (47.12) and is seeded 8th for the State Meet. The Griffin’s 4x400m relay of seniors Sarah Pisani, Sara Limp, Brianna Taylor and junior Ashley Willingham placed 6th (3:50.25) and is seeded in a tie for 9th for the State Meet.