Lauryn Chavez | Staff Writer

Johnson had multiple athletes placing in this year’s Area Meet on April 17-18. There are multiple students from Johnson qualifying for regionals in 4×1, 4×2, triple jump, 1600 meter, 3200 meter, 400 meter, 200 meter, and the 100 meter hurdles categories.

“The area meet is to help break down the numbers to regionals. The top 4 from district go to Area, and then compete with another district in Area, and the top 4 from those two districts go on to regional, and then from there all the Area meets come together to regional and only top two will go to state. Only 9 will go to state. It is the best of the best at state and so it’s really the top 8-9 kids that will compete at state in those 4 regions,” Track and Field coach, Nancy Almaraz said.

Almaraz explains the significance of the Area meet and breaks down how competition will be after the Area meet. Our girls Track and Field athletes qualified for regionals in many categories.

“We have our spring relay which is Jazmine Johnson, Lauren Tucker, Tekiyah Grovner, and Ira Frazier. That’s our 4×1. And our 4×2 is Victoria Okanlawon, Lauren Tucker, Tekiyah Grovner, and Serenity Parker. Those two relays we qualify along with Lauren Tucker in triple jump, she won the triple jump and has probably the best jump in the region right now so it’s a really a good opportunity, along with Victoria who placed second in the triple jump, and then Ira Frazier placed fourth in the triple jump. So those three are  qualifying for regionals. As well as Sabrina Goenz who qualified in the 1600 meter and the 3200 meter. Kayleigh Colyonie is also qualifying for the 3200. We have Mercy Ogwan qualifying in the 400 meter. We have Fran Baldwin in the 100 hurdles and we also have Tekiyah Grovenor in the 200,” Almaraz said.

Many of the Track and Field Athletes qualify for multiple regional events including Lauren Tucker, Tekiyah Grovner, Ira Frazier, and Victoria Okanlawon. The boys are also qualifying for regionals in multiple categories.

“A couple guys I also coach is Victor Zuniga, he qualified the 800 and 1600 and Ethan Cooper in the 1600 and 3200. Also for the boys was Dylan Dehoyos in the long jump and triple jump, and in the 4×1 we have Trey Sans, Wooly, Kahrill, and Ty Reisner, and also  two qualifying in the 400 meter is Colton Lee and John Kinu Baker in the 800 meter,” coach Almaraz said.

On the boys end of the spectrum most of the athletes qualify for more than one regional event. Overall Johnson dominated many events at the Area Meet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    “Area went really well, the girls were 2nd meet runner up and did a really good job and drew a lot of points and competed well. Regionals will be very interesting, only top two go to state so when you bring all the Area teams together it’s going to be really competitive and we have an opportunity, and if everything goes well and they compete well and get some good jumps it should be a good regional,” coach Almaraz said.