Despite the blooming flowers, balmy weather, and the longer days that come with spring, the most thrilling time for athletes is the beginning of track season. Ayala had their second track meet on February 28, showcasing a promising start to the 2026 Spring season.
Last Saturday, our athletes rose from their comfortable beds to prepare for this year’s early Tara Davis Invitational at Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, which hosted over 40 teams from California, including Ayala’s gifted long- and short-distance teams.
The sprinting events kicked off with the 100m, where Jacob He (10) led Ayala, clocking the team’s fastest time at 11.38 seconds, earning 18th place and a Personal Record (PR). Ultimately, Rocco Speaks (12) from Campbell Hall High won the event with an impressive 10.78. Samantha Widger (12) finished twelfth overall, running 12.9 seconds, while Mariah Tutt (11) from Oxnard High School won the Women’s 100m with a 12.21.
Transitioning to the 200m, Luc Coronado (11) was Ayala’s fastest finisher, featuring a time of 24.05 seconds that beat out 55 others for 19th place and a PR. Caleb Romeo (12) from Thousand Oaks High finished first with his 21.88 seconds. Widger and Milla Bumpus (10) finished 6th and 8th in the Women’s 200. Just a few places shy of Dylan Nelson’s (11) 24.93 top overall time.
Capping off the most anticipated short-distance events is the 400m, which features another strong finish from Luc Coronado for Ayala with his 53.68-second, 24th-place finish. In the end, St Pius X- St Academy’s Kenneth Pervy (12) was the event’s top finisher for 49.70 seconds. For the women, Olivia Kim (12) placed 26th overall with an individual time of 1:06 for a new PR. Ultimately, Olivia Kirk (12) from Calabasas High won the event with a remarkable time of 55.75.
There weren’t many long-distance events at this meet, but Ayala still managed to showcase their speed and dedication. Beginning with the 1600m, brothers Jack (10) and Zachary Paz (11) teamed up for first and second place with close times of 4:25 and 4:28 that brought home 2 PRs. Avery Bravo (12) was Ayala’s girls’ top finisher, doing so with a 5:46 that got her a top 10 spot. Quartz Hills’s Brooke Dabo (12) was the event’s top scorer.
Although not much longer than the previous event, Ayala’s Bryson Caganap (10) finished the mile with a 4:23 PR. Finishing just more than a second from the first-place finisher, Dorian Bening (12) from Agoura High. David Wilson (12) finished fourth with 4:24 seconds.
Going on to the field, Nathaniel Baca (12) won the Men’s High Jump and Long Jump with a 1.98m and a 6.74m PR. Hailey Place was Ayala girls’ top Long Jumper and Triple Jumper, earning a ninth and first place finish of 10.73m.
Overall, the season might just be starting, but these athletes are continuing to make positive strides, as many of them have already smashed personal records and set season bests. Ayala’s next track meet will be the Arcadia Distance Challenge this Saturday, March 7, offering an opportunity for our Long-Distance runners to flaunt their intense stamina.
