Ochoa and Camacho Power Hartnell to Fifth Place Team Finish
After an individual state title by Katelyn Strader on Friday, the Hartnell sent several potential high scoring women into their events looking for an improvement over last year's fourth place state finish. With two state runner-up finishes by sophomores Ashley Ochoa and Sofia Camacho, the Panther women were able to place fifth, one spot short of last year.
Ochoa, who prepped at Gonzales, was the sixth place finisher in the 3k steeplechase as a freshman, had dealt with an issue with her IT band and then had Peroneal Tendonitis reduding her training intensity and volume for much of the middle of the season. She returned in time to win her second consecutive conference title and then proceeded to become Hartnell's first ever repeat Norcal champion in the event. Ashley was still chasing the sub 12 minute mark heading into this year's championship final and with finally one race to focus on, she achieved the feat running 11:49.92. She becomes just the fourth Hartnell woman to run the event under 12 minutes. She would outlean Karla Galvan for second place and contribute a final 8 points to the team score in her final run as a Panther.
Sofia Camacho would make it two for two in the 1500 meters for the second consecutive year finishing as runner-up. In this year's edition, she did attempt to challenge eventual winner Hannah Hartwell of College of the Redwoods but could not overcome her in the final 300 meters. Camacho was timed in 4:38.01, her second best of the season. She finishes at Hartnell as a two-time All-American in the 1500 meters. Camacho would also place seventh in the 800 meters.
Lorraine Mankins was able to make amends for her no height in the pole vault final as freshman with a sixth place All-State finish in the pole vault. She would finish as the second best performer from Northern California clearing 3.11m/10-2.50. This was a competition that saw Norcal leader Ruby Loe of Santa Rosa JC no height.
The women's 4x100 relay team of Clodine Tabernilla, Aaliyah Carreras, Roxana Ruelas, and Daisy Macias, improved their season best to 49.23 to place seventh. The beat conference foe De Anza College, who had beaten the Panthers at Norcals, by 0.17 to conclude the season. The quartet earned All-State honors for their efforts.
Aaliyah Carreras competed in both the 100 meters and 200 meters putting together a solid double of 11.99 and 24.79. She would place seventh in the 200 meters to earn All-State and ninth in the 100 meters. Roxana Ruelas finished in ninth place in her second 400mLH final (66.41).
In the women's 1500 meters, Andrea Villegas placed ninth (4:54.37) a day removed from the 10,000 meters. She would also place ninth in the 5000 meters (19:08.13).
The 4x400 relay team of Dominique Cervantes-Samudio, Roxana Ruelas, Andrea Villegas, and Sofia Camacho placed ninth to conclude this year's state championship.