Trojan track team ready to take on the Sonoma County League

After competing in several invitationals and nearing closer towards league meets, the 2016 Petaluma High school track and field team, led by veteran coach Doug Johnson, looks to make a big push for the Sonoma County League title.

The Trojan girls, always strong, were successful in claiming the league pennant last year, while the boys finished second. However, this year’s Trojan squad is augmented by a whopping 50 freshman athletes, many of whom show strong potential.

Sophomore sensations Jack and Will Dunbar will be leading the team this year, and distance coach Cole Yungert has to be excited for year two with the duo who have already achieved sub-4:30 and 2:00 times in the 1600 and 800 races.

Senior Eden Yashar and junior PJ Lynch will also be counted on to rack in points for the Trojans, along with very talented runners Madison Parrett (senior), Sophie Hospodar (junior), and freshman Camille Flynn on the girls distance team.

For the sprints, coach Jeff Stanley will be looking for seniors Ty Pearson and Eamon McMahon to dominate in the short events and hurdles, with Pearson posting a remarkable 42.5 in the 300 hurdles and 16.4 in the 100 highs. McMahon holds the fastest time in the SCL so far with 11.5 in the 100. He, along with junior Mitchell Baker and sophomore Brendan O’Neill are being counted on to carry their success into league competition.

The Trojans’ 4x100 relay took first-place finish in the Castleberry Invitational in a time of 45.55. Senior Nora Lindsay looks to win races in both hurdles on the girls side, and with Camille Leoni and Savannah Coen pushing for the fastest times on the team in the 100 and 200, the Lady Trojans look like a strong candidate to repeat for the title.

O’Neill leads the jumpers this year with an impressive 19.5 long jump. He will be accompanied by teammates Jesse Johnson (senior) in the high jump and Kylie McCorkle (sophomore) in the girls long and triple jumps to compete in the field events. Carter Luis and Sallye Hollingshead will be heading the pole vaulting bunch this year after Katya Williges and Dan Curran’s graduation.

Ten-year veteran throwing coach Reggie Pearson will be relying on his cast of outstanding linemen from the Trojan football team to compete for the top throws in the SCL.

In addition to Travis Plank’s 41-5 shot put and Jorge Becerra’s 107-5 in the discus, the seniors look to mentor junior Justen Santa and others to compete at a high level for the Trojans. Claire Peirce leads the girl’s throwers with competitive marks in the discus and shot put.

Petaluma’s first SCL dual meet will be at home against Piner and Healdsburg on April 20 at 4 p.m.

(Eamon McMahon is a senior at Petaluma High School and a member of the Trojan track team.)