The Homer Mariner Track and Field team took to the Dome in Anchorage last Friday and Saturday for The Big C Relays.
In the midst of many great individual and team performances, Junior Tayla Cabana took second place out of six athletes in the girl’s pentathlon as the only Mariner to compete in the event.
“She is a very versatile athlete,” said Homer Head Coach Bill Steyer as he pointed out her placing in each event. Cabana placed fourth in the high jump and 800 meter race, third in the 300 meter hurdles, second in the 100 meter dash and first place in shot-put, throwing more than 28 feet. Cabana will find herself on some of the relay teams in future meets but focused her attention solely in the pentathlon last weekend for solid results.
In other individual events, senior Sam Reinert had an impressive ninth place finish in the high jump with a height of five feet eight inches. Sophomore Connor Seay also clinched a ninth place finish in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 45.02 seconds. Junior Pedro Ochoa made his track debut in distance events, placing 15th in both the 800 and 3,200 meter runs, setting his own standard which Steyer believes will continue to improve with more on-track experience. Senior Mark McGregor missed qualifying for finals in the 110 meter hurdles by less than half a second as he placed seventh with a time of 17.41 seconds.
“Stellar performances by our 4×800 relay team,” said Steyer. “It was pretty impressive and they came in eighth place.”
Junior Cassidy Soistman, with help from freshman Barae Hirsch, Aziza Shemet Pitcher, and anchor Aurora Waclawski finished with a time of 10:43.54, rounding out the weekends highlights.
With the first meet jitters out of the way, the Mariners will have a week of training before hosting the Homer Invite April 19 and April 20, previously an annual event brought back to the community due to the new track after a five-year hiatus.
