Bianca Williams-Alonzo ’16, Alexa Bates ’17 and Elliott Brooks ’16 competed successfully in California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finals on Saturday, May 21 at Cerritos College.  Brooks finished first in the triple jump and qualified for the the Masters Meet on May 27. Brooks’s performance in the triple jump earned her entry into the Marlborough Hall of Fame. Brooks also finished third, and Bates finished eighth in the long jump event. Williams-Alonzo won the 800 meter and set a personal record of 2:09.98.  Williams-Alonzo will also compete at the Masters Meet as the second seed and has won the CIF-SS 800 meters for the past four years. 

Bates expressed satisfaction towards her performance at CIF finals.

“Although I encountered a lot of challenges and setbacks at finals, I thoroughly enjoyed pushing myself to be the best I could be in the moment,” Bates said.

Marlborough Varsity Track and Field team topped off another successful season with a second place overall finish in the Sunshine League Finals, after finishing first in the past two seasons. This result is all the more satisfying for the team because with only 16 athletes on the team, they are beating much bigger teams.

Since Marlborough has a small number of students in general, it was challenging to create a team large and diverse enough to compete in all of the events, and so most Mustangs participate in two or three events each. 

The team prides itself on its spirit and enthusiasm. Courtney Goodkin ’17 appreciates the support and spirit of the team.

“We cheer everyone on, and the support of the team, especially the new freshmen, helps us do great at each event,” Courtney Goodkin said.

According to Goodkin, practice is the key to reach personal milestones.

“What I love about track is how quickly you can improve your ability and accomplish your goals,”  Goodkin said. “ It takes a while to get back in the groove of things after not doing track for a while, but after about three one-hour practices, I was able to improve my plant and swing up for pole vaulting.”

Although the track team did well this season, more attendance would help them do better.  “I know if there was more attendance in the future, the Marlborough track team will go a long way,” Brooks said. 

Team captain Olivia Prunier Herman ’17 noted that staying dedicated to the team is integral to the success of the team and of the individual athlete.

“You need to try and stay committed to the team as much as possible. As grueling as the practices may be and as tedious as running around the track multiple times gets, as long as you keep coming and trying your personal best, you can reach your goals,” Prunier Herman said.   

Overall, it was a great season for the team and for Goodkin personally. 

“Year after year, everyone seems to get better and more driven. Being part of the the Marlborough track team is a great lesson in perseverance, and we are a great team who appreciates everyone’s effort and contributions. I’m looking forward to next year,” Goodkin said.

“What I love about track is how quickly you can improve your ability and accomplish your goals,”  Goodkin said. “It takes a while to get back in the groove of things after not doing track for a while, but after about three one-hour practices, I was able to improve my plant and swing up for pole vaulting.”

Although the track team did well this season, more attendance would help them do better.  “I know if there was more attendance in the future, the Marlborough track team will go a long way,” Ellie said. 

“What I love about track is how quickly you can improve your ability and accomplish your goals.”  — Goodkin

Team captain Herman ’17 noted that staying dedicated to the team is integral to the success of the team and of the individual athlete.

“You need to try and stay committed to the team as much as possible. As grueling as the practices may be and as tedious as running around the track multiple times gets, as long as you keep coming and trying your personal best, you can reach your goals,”  Herman said.   

Overall, it was a great season for the team and for Goodkin personally. 

“Year after year, everyone seems to get better and more driven. Being part of the the Marlborough track team is a great lesson in perseverance, and we are a great team who appreciates everyone’s effort and contributions. I’m looking forward to next year,” Goodkin said.