San Marcos sophomore Erica Schroeder ran her fastest 800 meters to win the title at the CIF Masters Meet Friday evening at Cerritos College and qualify for the State Meet.
Erica Schroeder ran her fastest 800 to win the CIF Masters title.
Schroeder put on blistering kick over the last 200 meters and won in 2:09.85. The time beat her previous best and school record of 2:10.11, which she ran at the Arcadia Invitational in April. The State Meet qualifying standard was 2:12.15.
“I’m really happy with it,” she told Fox Sports Zone of her time. “(Qualifying for state) was my goal from the beginning of the season. The competition was really good today and it pulled me through.”
Bianca Tinoco of Golden Valley finished second in 2:10.59 and Cassie Durgy of Huntington Beach was second in 2:10.84. Seven runners met the qualifying standard.
Watch video of meet. Schroeder’s race is at 1:25 mark: Click Masters Meet video replay
Running in lane 7, Schroeder moved from the back of the pack to the front as the runners came out of the back stretch on the second lap.
“We were out a little slower than expected,” she said of the first 400 meters.”
She took the lead as she entered the curve.
“I started to feel a lot of people put on their kick on the last 200,” she said. “You have to give everything you got.”
That’s when Schroeder is at her best. Starting her kick earlier than the rest, she pulled away from the field and became San Marcos’ first Masters champion in several years.
She’ll be running at the State Meet at Clovis West High next weekend.
Also qualifying for the State Meet was Santa Ynez’ Jackie Chandler in the girls 400. She put on a strong kick over the last 60 meters and finished second in 54.58, edged out by Taylor Smith of Roosevelt, who won in 54.46.
San Marcos pole vaulter Matt Turk cleared 14-9 but it wasn’t enough to qualify for state. Steven French of Cabrillo qualified at 15-3.
The Royals’ Adilene Aldapa fell short of qualifying in the 3200. She finished ninth in 10:43.22. The qualifying standard was 10:36. Also from San Marcos, Cameron Shinn went 43-10.25 in the triple jump, and the qualifying standard was 46-11. Veronica Toral threw 37-10.50 in the girls shot put. The qualifying mark was 41-8.
Chrisshnay Brown of Lompoc booked a spot at the State Meet in the discus, finishing third with a throw of 137-07.
Erica Schroeder is an amazing athlete and wonderful young lady. With her talent the sky’s the limit. She comes from some elite bloodlines and mom & dad are also quality people. ???? Go Erica Go!!!