High School State track: North Salinas’ Adams advances to the finals in the 200 and 400
CLOVIS — No statement was needed. That’s not to suggest Clara Adams didn’t serve notice that this is a business trip for the North Salinas sprinter.
Perserving some energy for Saturday’s CIF State track and field 400-meter finals, the sophomore went out hard, built a comfortable lead, then eased up a bit over the final 60 meters in winning her heat in Friday’s trials at Buchanan High in Clovis.
Later in the evening, when temperatures dipped into the mid 70’s, Adams sizzled the track in the 200 with a career best of 23.71 to win her heat with the second fastest overall time.
“I’m good and I’ve got energy,” Adams said.
Clocking a modest 54.14 seconds in the 400, Adams will go into Saturday’s final seeded No. 2 behind Madison Mosby of St. Mary’s Academy, who clocked 53.97.
“Basically, I just had to win my heat,” Adams said. “My race felt relaxed with no stress. I ran hard, but comfortable. I did everything I wanted to do. When you win your heat, you don’t have to worry about being in the finals.”
Adams, who came into the meet ranked No. 1 in the state after shaving nearly a second off her best time last week, is expected to be in Lane 4 for the finals, with Mosby in Lane 5.
Having rewritten her county record in the 400 twice this spring, Adams shattered the Central Coast Section final record last week with a mark of 53.23.
“There are so many emotions running through my head right now, all positive,” Adams said. “I feel nerves. I’m excited, anxious. This is the finals. I have a chance to win this race.”
With the 100 meters no longer a part of Adams’ resume, she blistered the track in the 200, dipping under 24 seconds for the first time in winning her heat in 23.71.
As a result, the 16-year-old will go into the finals with the second fastest time behind Keelan Wright of Chaparral, who won her heat in 23.58. Adams’ time is also the second fastest in county history, behind Monterey’s Sani Roseby’s mark of 23.52, set in 1999.
“The 200 was so exciting,” Adams said. “My start was amazing. I could feel it. I was chasing around the curve, probably in second or third. But I felt good. When I came off the curve, that’s when I started getting everybody.”
Adams, who did not make the 200 finals last year, has a chance to become just the second sprinter in county history to podium in two sprints, as Roseby was a champion in the 100 and a third place finisher in the 200 in 2000.
“I felt like I did everything right,” Adams said. “Oh, there’s still room for improvement, particularly my finish. Breaking Sani’s record is in the back of my mind. It’s possible. But I’ve got time. Right now, the focus is just on the finals.”
Believing he would need a personal best to have a shot at the finals in the 800, Carmel distance ace Mack Aldi dipped under 1:53.0 for just the second time this year, clocking 1:52.75.
“I was in a good spot,” Aldi said. “With around 300 meters, I tried to flow with the group and got boxed in the last 200. Each time I made a move, I got kicked or trapped. With 100 meters left, the gap was too much.”
A two-time state meet qualifier in the 800, Aldi finished 16th overall, as all 12 qualifiers broke 1:52.0 in the trials. Aldi’s school record mark is 1:52.50.
“I feel like I mentally checked out the last 100 after being trapped,” Aldi said. “In my head, I told myself I’m not going to qualify. I am not sure I would have qualified. But I could have run a better time. It is gnarly that all 12 were under 1:52.0.”
Not only was this Aldi’s last high school race, but a decision to run in college has not been made, as he plans to take some time off and reassess his future.
“I’m a little burnt out on running,” Aldi said. “I’ve loved what it’s done for me. It might be time to put most of this passion I’ve had the last four years into something else in my life.”
Ozzy Godoy dipped under 39 seconds for the second straight week in the 300 intermediate hurdles for Palma, clocking 38.67 to finish second in his heat.
However, as times dropped in the final two heats, the junior hurdler will use the experience as a growing tool going into next spring after finishing 14th in the state. All nine qualifiers for Saturday’s finals dipped under 38 seconds.
A Gabilan Division champion in the 300 hurdles, 110 high hurdles and pole vault, Godoy’s career mark of 38.29 in the intermediate hurdles is the third fastest time in county history.
Having erased last year’s disappointment of failing to reach the state meet in the triple jump by a half-inch, Emma Beck could not improve upon her season best of 38-2, sailing 36-11 at the state trials.
Beck, who met the automatic qualifying mark with a jump of 37-11 at the section finals last week, was the first female athlete from Salinas to advance to the state meet since DaVina Brown qualified in 2016 in the discus.
Having used a massive two-foot personal record in the shot put last week to advance to the state meet, Angela Ayozie uncorked the iron ball 37-6 Friday to finish 17th in the state for Alvarez.
A two-time state meet qualifier in the event, Ayozie unleashed the shot put 39-10 in last week’s Central Coast Section finals to finish third.
Kekoa Williams went out at 6-foot-4 in the high jump for Stevenson and won’t extend his season into Saturday’s finals.
The senior multi-sport standout advanced to the state meet with a mark of 6-6 at the CCS finals. Earlier this year, Williams set a school record with a jump of 6-8.
