Terra Linda Captures MCAL Boys Track Championship

Daniel Bailey led Terra Linda High to a team title with three individual wins and Krissy Williams set a school record in the 100 meters en route to a victory to highlight the Trojans’ performance in the Marin County Athletic League Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Novato High.

The Terra Linda boys easily outclassed the competition with 113 points, 39 more than runner-up Tam. San Rafael finished seventh with 32 points.

Redwood won the girls competition with 113 1/3 points. Terra Linda took sixth with 23 points. San Rafael was eighth with 18 points.

“I knew the guys had a really good chance,” Terra Linda coach Warren Lanier gushed. “It’s a whole team effort. They’re really an amazing squad. We didn’t cancel a single practice in all that rain. I think it showed.”

Bailey not only was the Trojans’ big winner, but he also was involved in one of the day’s most exciting races. He rallied from behind over the final two hurdles to win the 300 hurdles, edging Marin Catholic’s Mark Wilson.

“That’s just the beginning of what he can do,” Lanier said of the senior. “Our hurdlers have carried us all season.”

Bailey set personal bests in sweeping the hurdles titles, winning the 100 in 15.76 and 300 in 41.63. He also captured the high jump at 6-0.

The Trojans also got a pair of firsts from Mauricio Cornejo in the shot put (55-3) and discus (161-0), a 1-2 sweep in the 400 from Daniel Fortenko (51.17) and Sean Walton (51.31) and a first-place effort from the 4x100 relay team of Michael Lee, Walton, Fortenko, Daniel Del Barrio (43.82).

Terra Linda also took third in the 4x400 relay (3:35.42).

Fortenko and Walton weren’t done after the 400 and relay. Fortenko added a third in the 200 (23.33); Walton took sixth in the 200 (23.67).

Del Barrio added a sixth in the long jump (19-5 ½) and a fifth in the triple jump (38-11 ½), while Lee was third in the 100 (11.19) and fifth in the 200 (23.50).

The top six in each event qualified for this week’s North Coast Section Redwood Empire Championships at Rancho Cotate.

Also earning invitations among the Terra Linda boys were Roberto Alverez (third in the 100 hurdles, 16.49), Ellis Tran (fourth in the 300 hurdles, 43.44) and Bayer Doolittle (sixth in the discus, 110-04).

Williams ran a 12.44 – the all-time best for a Terra Linda girls sprinter – while finishing second to Tam’s Lilla McMillan in the 100. She also placed fourth in the 200 (26.39) and anchored the Trojans to two fifth-place finishes in the relays.

“Wonderful performances,” Lanier said of the junior’s efforts in the 100 and 200. “Lilla from Tam is a rare talent. It’s a good person to be catching.”

Williams teamed with Britteny Edmonson, Veronica Champine and Kate Granlund for a 51.59 in the 4x100. She ran with Erica Morelli, Granlund and Robin Gammill in the 4x400, clocking 4:22.86.

Champine also earned the trip north this week in the long jump (sixth, 15-3 ½) and 100 hurdles (fourth, 17.68). Lilliya Parkman had a fifth in the 100 hurdles (17.89).

Lanier also congratulated Granlund for clearing 7-6 in the pole vault.

“We haven’t bought a new pole vault pit at Terra Linda in 40 years,” the coach noted. “Give her all the credit.”

As expected, everyone watched San Rafael’s Gabby Murray win the girls pole vault. Her winning height was 10-6.

She’ll be joined this week at the Redwood Empire meet by teammate Paige Roberts, who cleared 5-0 to place second in the high jump.

Four San Rafael boys and one relay team qualifed to advance, led by Trevor Ehlenbach, who won the 800 (1:56.55) and placed second in the 1,600 (4:22.32).

Also going to Rancho Cotate this week will be Jose Ordonez (fifth in the 400, 52.97), Dylan Harris (sixth in the 800, 2:02.81; fourth in the 1,600, 4:25.65) and Cameron Bronstein (fourth in the 3,200, 9:52.66).

The Bulldogs’ 4x400 relay team placed fourth in 3:36.56.

See more sports photos of San Rafael and Terra Linda high schools on our Facebook page.