This weekend was a big one for track and field athletes in the county. There was the Beach Cities Invitational at Huntington Beach, which featured some of the best boys and girls from across the county.
Then down in San Diego at the Mt. Carmel Invitational, Bethan Knights made some headlines across the state — and the nation.
Simi Valley’s Sarah Baxter hasn’t been beat in a 3,200-meter race in her high school career.
Knights pushed Baxter to the limits on Saturday, and produced a result that’s not seen very often.
Both girls raced to a stand still, and the result was too close to call at the finish line. It was deemed both girls ran a 10:07.52.
The time ties the girls for the best mark in the state, and puts Knights at second all time in the county, ahead of Marina’s Laura Hollander, who ran a time of 10:10.51 in 2012 and behind Woodbridge’s Christina Babcock, who ran a 10:04.03 in 2008.
The time of 10:07.52 is the fastest time in the nation for the 3,200, according to Northwood coach Louie Muniz.
“I’ve never beaten (Baxter) before.This just blew away my expectations. I was looking for something around 10:20 but I wasn’t prepared for a 10:07,” Knights told U-T San Diego.
While Knights made history in San Diego, some San Clemente athletes were holding their own at the Texas Relays.
Kelsey Benoit, who is one of the top shot put athletes in California, finsihed second among high school boys with a throw of 60 feet, five inches.
Benoit’s teammate, Rocky Fenton, finished fourth in the discus with a clearance of 177 feet.
