YC's Williams caps prep career with pair of track state titles

MESA - Yuma Catholic's Katelyn Williams likes to think of her track events in musical terms.

Some are like long, smooth ballads. Others have a quick beat perfect for jamming out.

And some are so fast it's nearly impossible to keep up with the tune.

Williams hit enough of the right notes on Friday and Saturday to capture two state titles in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs and medals in two other races at the 2A State Track and Field Championships at John D. Riggs Stadium on the campus of Mesa Community College.

"It's sort of a relief that all of this is over," said Williams, a senior. "I got to have fun for the last time. This is a closing to my four years, and I get to start fresh next year in college. I'm really excited for it actually."

Williams led the Yuma Catholic girls team to a sixth-place finish with 42 points. The boys wound up fifth with 40 points, but left the meet on a sour note after their 1,600 relay team was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"I guess I'm too optimistic," YC coach Ralph Farr said. "I thought we'd get close to 10 more points in the girls and another 20 to 30 in the boys, but some factors came up.

Williams won her first race of the weekend on Friday with a time of 12 minutes, 25.05 seconds in the 3,200. Her other state championship came in her first event on Saturday, taking the 1,600 in 5:39.19. 

"I just stayed on the inside lane," she said of the 1,600. "I knew I had a couple more races today and first (place) was enough."

Her last two events, however, were her toughest. Williams had never run the 400 until this year but still finished fourth (1:03.20). She ended her weekend with a third-place time in the 800 (2:28.14).

"I actually got a better place than I thought I would," Williams said of her 400 finish. "I kind of wanted to do all open events, but the 400 is just a little fast for me. The 800, I don't think I had the energy."

Williams' wins were Yuma Catholic's only individual state titles of the weekend. The boys 1,600 relay team had a first-place finish in its grasp when anchor Roderick Ford crossed the finish line, but the team was disqualified because Ford threw the baton after the race.

The points YC missed out on not only hurt the Shamrocks, but made an impact on the 2A team title. The disqualification put Northwest Christian's relay team in first and earned them enough points to beat Valley Christian in the team competition, 107-106.

"Whether you get first or second or third or fourth or last, you don't throw the baton," said Farr, who had to make an appeal on Friday just to get the team into Saturday's final. "I can't argue that. I guess we weren't meant to win that race, but they're all juniors, so maybe the third time will be the charm next year."

Among those on the 1,600 team was Ernie Samaniego, who still finished with a solid day in his other two events. He and Keith Miranda-Smith both put up points for YC in the hurdle events. The two were side-by-side in lanes and strides for most of the 300 hurdles, but neither could catch Canyon State's Gersham Sharp. Samaniego took second (41.78) while Miranda-Smith hit the final hurdle and tumbled across the finish line to stay in third (41.97).

"This guy pushes me every day in practice," Samaniego said of his teammate. "The reason I run so hard is him because it's a challenge every day, and I think that's why we're pretty good. I thought it was going to be me and him in first and second."

In the 110 hurdles. Miranda-Smith had the second-best qualifying time, but finished third (16.12). Samaniego was sixth (16.67).

"He was leading the 110 too and got caught," Farr said. "Considering he's a senior and hadn't done track since his freshman year I'm very proud of what he's accomplished."

Eddie Harris' mark of of 19 feet, 9.75 inches was seventh best and earned him the first of his two medals. The second came in the triple jump as he leaped a personal best (41-3) and took fourth. Ford finished seventh in the 200 (23.32), Raul Centeno was fourth in the 400 (52.99) and the 400 relay team took sixth (45.07).

On the girls side, Jessyce Eagle placed seventh in the 100 hurdles with her best time of the year at 17.98. Alexandra Rosado gave the Shamrocks three points with a sixth place mark in the discus (90 feet, 5 inches), her best throw of the season. The girls 1,600 relay team was sixth and the 3,200 relay team finished fifth (10:58.21) on Friday.