Hodges leads the way for San Marcos at D-3 Prelims

Elysia Hodges qualified in two individual events and helped the San Marcos 4×400 relay team to the best time of the day at the CIF-SS Division 3 track and field prelims at a windy Estancia High.

The San Marcos team of Hodges, Kaylin Koopmans, Marie Brashears and Hannah McDaniel clocked a season-best 3:53.78 to win it heat. Harvard Westlake, which was the top seeded team entering the prelims, ran 3:56 to easily win its heat.

“We both ran alone,” San Marcos coach Marilyn Hantgin said. “They have a very good team. It should be a really good race next. It’ll be great to see how we run against them.”

The Royals and Wolverines will meet at the CIF Divisional Finals at Cerritos College next Saturday.

San Marcos also qualified for the finals in the 4×100 relay with a time of 48.96.

Hodges clocked 34.60 to win her heat and rank third overall in the 300 hurdles. She then ran the 200 and qualified with a time of 25.08.

Hantgin said her senior will concentrate on the 300 hurdles and relay at the divisional finals.

Marie Brashears fought through the windy conditions and clocked 2:19.30 to win her heat and qualify in the 800 meters.

Hannah McDaniel moved on in the high jump at 5-2.

On the boys side, Shane Rowan qualified for the finals in the triple jump with a mark of 44-11. The 4×400 relay team finished sixth overall to make the finals with a time of 3:24.33. The 4×100 team fell shot by a couple tenths of a second, said Hantgin.