Track and Field
St. Francis Track and Field
7-Time Sac-Joaquin Section Champions
2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015
18-Time league Champions
1987, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Spring Signing Day Highlights St. Francis Students
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Twelve St. Francis seniors have committed to play a sport in college during the spring signing period that started Wednesday and were celebrated at a ceremony at the school today. Overall, 17 St. Francis student-athletes from the Class of 2017 have made commitments or signed a National Letter-of-Intent this year.
The Troubadours made commitments to schools including Duke and Stanford and several California schools from American River College to UC San Diego. The Troubies will travel as far as away as New Hampshire to play softball at Saint Anselm.
Ladd Breaks Pole Vault Mark Again at Easter Invite
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis won both meets at the Jesuit Invitational, out-scoring Monterey Trail among 14 teams 134.5-111 on the varsity side, while the Frosh/Soph team scored 113 points to lead an 11-team field.
Elizabeth Hennessy to Run for UCSD
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Elizabeth Hennessy will continue her track career next year, competing for the UC San Diego Tritons. She is one of 11 Troubadours making commitments to play or compete collegiately next fall during the spring signing period.
Big Weekend at Arcadia Invitational
ARCADIA, Calif. – Led by a school record in the 4×1600-meter relay on Friday night, the St. Francis track and field team was well represented at the Arcadia Invitational.
The 4×1600-meter relay reset the record set last season of 22:28.11 by Sophie DeBenedetti, Alana Reyna, Gabrielle Dyer and Chase Worthen. DeBenedetti paired with Kathryn Kramer, Noelle Lynch and Sydney Vandegrift to win the race in 21:11.79.
A Year Ago This Week: Arndt Earns Arcadia Athlete of the meet
ARCADIA, Calif. – St. Francis’s ariane Arndt, who graduated in 2016, was named the Arcadia Invitational Open Athlete of the Meet a year ago this week.
Vaulters Clear New Heights at Mustang Invite
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team continued to get strong performances on Saturday from their vaulting unit, winning two competitions at the Delta Mustang Invitational.
The SF pole vaulters took first in Frosh/Soph and Varsity divisions on Saturday. Senior Olivia Birmingham won varsity with vault at 9-0, while freshman Meghan Ladd won the F/S competition.
Mile, Sprints, Hurdles and Relays Highlight Second Day at Stanford
PALO ALTO, Calif. – Junior Sydney Vandegrift ran the second-fastest time in school history in the mile, finishing 12th in the mile in 5:03.08 and the Troubadours had several performances in the relays and sprints to wrap up the action at the second day of the Stanford Invitational.
“It is such a great opportunity to run with these fast girls,” said Vandegrift. “We talked about staying in a good position and being a little more ambitious.”
Vandegrift just missed the school record in the event set by Peyton Bilo in 2015 (5:02.21).
Track and Field Defeats Davis in Dual
CARMICHAEL, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team defeated Davis 75-60 on Wednesday. The Troubadours recorded several season-best performances in the meet. Senior Meaghan Rogers had personal bests in both the 100 meters (12.49) and 200 meters (26.00), finishing second and third respectively.
Kathryn Kramer and Amanda Roina were the top finishers in the 400m, placing third and fifth. Each recorded a personal-best. Alana Reyna was the top finisher in the 1600 with a personal-best time of 5:33.55.
Track and Field Competes at Macres Invite, Bronco Distance Carnival
ELK GROVE, Calif. – Senior Meagan Rogers won the 100 meters in 12.63 at the Mark Macres Invitational on Saturday hosted by Monterey Trail High School, highlighting several top times and marks for the Troubadours.
Freshman Isabella Palchek won the Frosh/Soph high jump with a clearance of 5-0, while classmate Meghan Ladd won the Frosh/Soph pole vault by extending her own freshman school record with a 9-6 clearance and also finished second in the high jump (4-8). Olivia Birmingham finished fifth in the varsity pole vault at 9-6.
Track and Field Wins Elk Grove Meet
ELK GROVE, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team defeated Elk grove 79-47 on Tuesday in a Delta League dual meet.
Senior Meaghan Rogers won the 100 meters in 12.66, while senior Aly Shebert was second in the 200m in 27.02. Sophomore Taylor Givens was the top finisher in the 400m, placing third in 1:04.30 and senior Meredith Wong was third in the 800m (2:48.70).
In the hurdles, sophomore Serena Shimada won the 100m hurdles in 16.60 and senior Elizabeth Hennessy claimed the 300m hurdles in a season-best 45.79.
Track and Field Competes at Husky, Dublin Events
ELK GROVE, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team competed at two events on Saturday, including the Husky Invitational and the Dublin Distance Fiesta.
Senior Elizabeth Hennessy posted a season-best 45.85 in the 300m hurdles to finish second and was ninth in the 100m hurdles (16.84). Meaghan Rogers was fourth in the 200m in 26.79.
Track Posts Top Early Performances at Holy Spikes
CARMICHAEL, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team swept the running events and took the high and long jump and pole vault events before darkness ended the annual Holy Spikes meet with Christian Brothers and Cristo Rey at the Jesuit track Wednesday.
Alumnae Post Top Performances at NCAA West Regional
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis alumnae Lauren LaRocco ‘14 and Peyton Bilo ‘15 had successful returns to Sacramento at the NCAA West Regional on Friday morning.
“It was really fun because there were people lining the course everywhere,” said Portland junior Lauren LaRocco. “I was really surprised by the turnout and I felt like I had a lot of support running in my hometown.”
Arndt Named SUBWAY Student-Athlete of the Semester
FOLSOM, Calif. – Ariane Arndt was named the SUBWAY Student-Athlete of the Semester for the spring semester at St. Francis High School. Arndt joins tennis player Avery Spector, who earned the award for the fall, as the 2015-16 recipients.
Subway restaurants and the CIF have teamed to reward student-athletes all over California who have shown initiative, improvement and sportsmanlike conduct in their athletic programs throughout the year. Each student-athlete chosen received a $25 SUBWAY cash card and a certificate.
4×100m Relay Opens State Meet with School Record
CLOVIS, Calif. – The St. Francis 4×100-meter relay team opened the meet with a school-record 47.52, finishing fourth in their heat and 11th overall. The top eight qualified for Saturday’s final.
“It is crazy,” said junior anchor leg Meaghan Rogers. “I did not think I was going to be at this meet this year. The relay team has been doing pretty well all season. It is a pretty good end to the season.”
The team was ranked 18th in the state coming into the meet after winning the SJS Masters title in a then school-record 47.58.
Track Team Heads to State Meet with High Hopes
CLOVIS, Calif. – St. Francis will be represented in four events at this weekend’s CIF State Track and Field Championships Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High School. Headlining the group is the 4×400-meter relay team, consisting of seniors Ariane Arndt (Folsom), Lilly Enes (Sacramento) and Kiani Reyna (Sacramento) and junior Elizabeth Hennessy (Auburn).
Alumna LaRocco Qualifies for NCAA Track and Field Meet
Alumna Lauren LaRocco ’14, a sophomore at the University of Portland, qualified for the NCAA Track and Field Championships, finishing sixth at the NCAA West Regional on Friday in 34:25.40 in the 10,000 meters.
Track and Field Sets Stage for Masters Finals
ELK GROVE, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team advanced both relays and two individuals at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Trials at Elk Grove High School Thursday night. The heat winners plus the next fastest times advance to the eight-lane final on Friday.
“It was good,” said Interim Head Coach Rod Jett. “Like last Wednesday, you just want to qualify, win your heat and get a good lane for the finals. Tomorrow you run as fast as you can and try to win to make it to state. There is no more holding back.”
Alumna Dyer Received Jim Shea Award at Santa Clara Banquet
Santa Clara’s Camille Dyer ’12 was awarded the Jim Shea Award at the annual Red and White Celebration at Malley Center on the Santa Clara campus on May 22.
The award recognizes one male or female student-athlete who has courageously led his or her team through selfless actions and been a leader in the campus community. Jim Shea was the first Santa Clara student-athlete whose life was cut short while serving in the Vietnam War.
Senior Cerezo-Rangel to Throw for Sonoma State
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior thrower Juliana Cerezo-Rangel will compete for the Sonoma State Seawolves next year. A two-sport letter winner at St. Francis, she will continue her career collegiately after first picking up the sport just two years ago.
“To be able to excel in a sport, make it to college and have the opportunity to compete in college is a really good opportunity to have it,” said Cerezo-Rangel, who will major in sociology at the school located in Rohnert Park, Calif., located just 88 miles from Sacramento. “I am really glad to have it.”