Jump starting the FC Track and Field season, the distance team competes in the Buchanan Distance Classic, Feb 23.

Track and Field includes a variety of events, from field events like the long jump and discus to races like 100 meter hurdles, 100 and 400 meters, and the 4×4 relay, where each of four athletes runs 400 meters. The Buchanan Distance Classic is a meet that focuses only on the distance races, which are the 800, 1600 and 3200 meters. The FC track team competed in the 800 and 1600 meters.

The 800-meter race is two laps around the track with a waterfall start. About 30 athletes from different high schools raced at Buchanan. Freshman Blake Bay ran in the varsity boys race, getting a personal record time of 2:08.93. Sophomore Matt Tacchino and Freshman Jeremiah Valorosi ran in the Frosh/Soph division of the 800 meters. Both competed for the first time for FCS. Tacchino ran 2:34:93, and Valorosi ran 2:21:13.

Junior Laina Penland, Sophomore Bayley Wong, and Freshman Kayla Castro also competed in the 800 meters. Penland ran a 45-second personal record time of 2:42:73. Castro finished with 2:52:06, and Wong finished with a 3:06.14. This was an important meet, helping the team record starting marks for the season.

For 1600-meter races – also known as the mile – everyone runs four laps with about five different heats and 25-30 athletes per heat. In the Frosh/Soph race, Valorosi bested his middle school time by 10 seconds at 5:02.05. His goal is to break the five-minute threshold for the mile this season. Bay ran a time of 4:38.53 in the Varsity race. On the girl’s side, Wong finished with a time of 7:03.67.

Support the Track & Field team at their next meet at Central Valley Christian in Visalia, March 9.

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Gallery • 6 Photos

Giada Gilmore Young

Laina Penland, '25, speeds up for her last lap around the track for the 800 meters, Feb 23.