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Running, Throwing Competition Hosted At Riverbank
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Girls running from schools all over the Central Valley get in position to start the 1600-meter race during the April 19 Distance Carnival on the Riverbank High School track. The event is named in honor of RHS track star German Fernandez, who set Trans-Valley League and state records during his tenure there.
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Riverbank’s Kacie Figueroa pulls down the fourth leg on a girls relay race at the RHS all-weather track on Friday, April 19. It was part of the annual German Fernandez Distance Carnival, held along with the Ron Hebert Thrower’s Challenge each year toward the end of the regular season.
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Cecilia Leon pushes off during the frosh/soph shot put at the Ron Hebert Thrower’s Challenge at Riverbank High School. She won the event, while winning and setting a personal record in the discus as well.

Riverbank High Track and Field coach Monte Wood had a busy few days this past week. It ended with the annual 2019 Distance Carnival and Thrower’s Challenge, staged on the RHS all-weather track on Friday, April 19.

The Challenge pits jumpers and throwers, shot put and discus athletes against each other, along with those of other schools in the Central Valley, while the Carnival features runners in events except the hurdles and dashes normally found at a regular meet.

The Challenge is held in honor of the late Ron Hebert, a former RHS coach, while the Carnival honors Bruin alumni German Fernandez. He set Trans-Valley League and State records during his time at RHS. He also went on to compete in college and on the U.S. Olympic team.

Coach Wood reported that lots of personal records, PRs, were set by his athletes.

“It was a little hectic at times, but we got it in and the Riverbank athletes performed very well,” he said.

Wood also said he had lots of help to pull it off.

“Thank you to all the alumni, parents, coaches, and athletes who made it possible. It was a total team effort. That is the Bruin way.”

He listed examples of the results the hard work created.

Early in the day, at the Throwers Challenge, “Isaac Andalon was second in the shot put, third in the discus (with a huge PR of 131’1”), and then anchored the second place 4x800 relay team. Not too many kids out there can place in both throws and then run an 800-meter,” Wood reported.

Also, Mikayla Macias took second in the varsity girls shot put and Marissa Castellanos was third. Marissa came back and took a second in the varsity girls discus.

“Cecilia Leon won the frosh/soph girls discus and shot put. She set a big PR of 101’3” in the discus,” Wood noted.

That evening, in the Distance Carnival, Adan Salgado was third in the 800 meters.

“Aimee Rosales placed second in the frosh/soph version of the 800. Her time of 2:46 was a 9-second PR,” he noted.

She also was a member of the second place 4x800 relay team. The other team members were Jocelyn Ayala, Julia Kovneva, and Marissa Cruz.

Other standouts were Adan Salgado, who was part of the frosh/soph championship 4x800 relay team that included Isaiah Bargas, Nick Mangiapane, and Alec Rios, according to the coach.

Numerous PRs were set, Wood said.

“That is the design of the meet. We give out Personal Record medals to all kids who set a record. Many competitors don’t ever get a chance to medal, and they work just as hard as most kids,” Wood added.

The next meet will be on Monday, April 29, as the freshmen and sophomores compete in the TVL Frosh/Soph Championships at Hughson High School, while the TVL Championship will be run at Ripon High School on Thursday, May 2.