Sierra hurdler Bikram Thiara.
Bikram Thiara made history Saturday night.
The Sierra junior was the first track athlete in school history to medal at the CIF State Championships. He did so in dramatic fashion, shaving more than second off his previous best in the 300-meter hurdles on the way to a sixth-place finish in 37.82 seconds at Buchanan High School’s Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis. The race had a tight pack with third to sixth place separated by just 0.62 seconds.
Known for his overwhelming kick, Thiara changed his strategy a bit and concentrated on his start.
“I was thinking of coming out fast because I wanted to go faster than prelims,” Thiara said of his previous personal best of 37.95 set Friday in the trials. “I wanted to get another PR I gave it all I had and ended up with a PR and a medal. I have always been taught to give it all at the end and that is what I did. I don’t try to save it but at the end I give it all I have.”
Being seeded seventh, Thiara ran the race from Lane 2, something he favors.
“I like the inside better,” Thiara said. “So being seeded seventh in Lane 2 was better for me.”
Thiara was in awe of the experience competing in one of the nation’s top prep track meet provides.
“It was incredible,” Thiara said. “There were great athletes everywhere. What a great experience.
“Walking onto field under the lights was the biggest moment in my track career ever. I am very thankful and honored for the opportunity to compete here.”
Sierra coach Ezequiel Ruiz knew Thiara could eclipse 38 seconds.
“He had a great race,” Ruiz said. “We were looking forward to having him compete, we knew he would be in the mix and we knew he was gong to break 38 – we just didn’t know when or where. We are just glad it was Saturday.
“The last couple of weeks we have been focusing on technique – working on the turn – and it paid off well a huge drop in time. He came out on Saturday and he went out harder and he let it ride the rest of the way. He was in eighth place off of turn and made a huge move to get into scoring position.”
Lathrop’s Isaias Hunter struggled a bit at the start of the high jump Saturday, taking three jumps to make opening height at 6 feet, 4 inches and finished ninth at 6-6.
“It was not my best,” the Spartans junior said. “I was aiming for higher. My body a little drained going two days in a row.
“While warming up at 6-4, I didn’t clear it. Once we started, I clipped the bar with my leg and that brought confidence down. I missed the second attempt and finally made it.”
It took Hunter two attempts to clear 6-6, and he failed to clear 6-8. Three competitors finished at 6-6, but the other two took seventh and eighth due to less misses.
“I was almost there,” Hunter said. “I don’t know why I was missing it.
“I am hoping for next year.”