Like a family, Trojans support each other

 HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD

• By Scott Niendorf
  Record Correspondent

  Posted Apr. 5, 2015 at 12:01 AM

  STOCKTON – For Lincoln, the track is where their extended family meets to prepare for competition.The Trojans came together, along with nearly two dozen area schools, at the Delta Mustang Invitational Saturday to finish with mixed success.Brentwood-Liberty High won the varsity girls meet with 34 points, followed by Lincoln with 24, Oakdale with 21, Reno-Carson  with 19.5 and East Union in fifth with 12.In the boys competition, Reno-Carson was first (33), followed by Modesto-Downey (17), Oakdale (16), Brentwood-Liberty (14), and Lincoln and Lathrop finished tied in fifth (12).Lincoln freshman Jessica Brewer shined for the Trojans’ girls, winning the 110-meter hurdles (16.06 seconds) ahead of Lathrop’s Sophia Serrano (16.88) and Lincoln’s Morgan Williams (16.89).“It’s just fun to get out there and run,” said Brewer, who also ran a leg on the the winning 400 relay with Taylor Riley, Arden Giambruno and Jaala Downes. “I don’t think about racing the other runners. I’m always racing against the clock. Our team spends so much time together, we are like family. When (a teammate) does well, we are proud of them.”Downes also won the 100 meters (12.50) and teammate Alexus Kelly won the triple jump (34 feet, 1 inch) ahead of Stagg’s Jasmine Pharms (33-0).Pharms won the girls shot put (41-8.5) ahead of East Union’s Mariah Watson (34-5.5). Watson was first in the discus (109-3).High jumpers Mary Ashaolu of McNair and Breeana Grigsby of Lincoln took second (5-2) and third (4-10), respectively, behind Carson’s Madison Preston (5-4).“It’s very important that we all contribute (points) in each of our events,” Grigsby said. “Everyone cheers for each other.”While several Trojans competed in Stockton, Lincoln coach Nick Steele pointed out several members of his squad competed Saturday at the Stanford Invitational.“We have a good, solid team this year,” Steele said. “We have good depth, especially in the sprints, with a lot of young kids coming up in the program.”In the boys competition, James Garcia of Stagg won the 3200 meters (10 minutes, 06.95 seconds), and Lincoln’s Zach McKeever won the 1,600 meters (4:34.68).The Delta Kings’ 400 relay squad of Joseph Cunningham, Michael Thompson, Hassani Zachary and Daniel Jimenez were victorious (3:42.36).Franklin’s Jovon Woods won the long jump (20-8), while Lincoln senior Simon McKensie took second in the 110 hurdles just ahead of Franklin’s Damion Pursley.