Batson Readies For NCAA Track Post-Season

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Alabama sprinter Diondre Batson continues to inch his times faster and faster as he prepares for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field post-season.

Last weekend at a meet at Mississippi State University, the former Laguna Creek and American River College sprinter bested his fastest time in the 100-meter dash this season to win that event. With a barely-legal tailwind of 2.0 meters per second, Batson clocked a time of 10.04, which is tied for third in school history with Emmit King's 1983 run in Zurich, Switzerland.

That is Batson’s personal best time, along with being the best time this year amongst all collegiate sprinters.

The post-season begins for him and his Alabama teammates May 15 at the SEC Championships in Lexington, KY.

Batson won the NCAA Indoor Track championship at the 200 meters earlier this year.

H.S. Track Teams Prep For Conference/League Meets

The area high school tracksters are preparing for their respective league trials this week. On Saturday, the Delta River League will host its trials at Oak Ridge High School. The Delta Valley Conference’s set of trials is Wednesday, May 14, at Monterey Trail High School

The qualifiers will then advance to the league championships on Friday, May 16, at the same sites. 

[Read a NASCAR feature on Elk Grove driver Kyle Larson]

In getting ready for those meets, virtually all local schools participated last Saturday in the Sacramento Meet of Champions at American River College. More than 160 high schools sent their track teams with several locals doing quite well against the high quality competition.

Monterey Trail’s freshman Camryn Cook won the girls’ 400 meters. Teammate Jahmar Sexton was seventh in the 400 meters and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles.

The Mustangs’ boys’ 4x400 meter relay team won their event.

Tiara Webb had a strong showing with a fourth in the long jump and sixth in the triple jump.

From Pleasant Grove, Grace Hepworth won the 300-meter hurdles and was second in the 100-meter hurdles. Teammate Imani Thomas finished fourth in the girls’ 200 meters and 19^th in the 400 meters.  Christopher Uzoma was seventh in the boys’ 400 meters.

Joseph Connor was seventh in the 110-meter hurdles, tenth in the 300-meter hurdles.

Mia Daniels finished sixth in the long jump.

In the 4x100 meters relay, the Eagles’ girls’ squad was fourth and the boys were fifth.

Franklin’s Chinyere Dike was third in the 100 meters.  The Wildcat girls’ 4x100 meter relay team was second and then they placed third in the 4x400 meters.

Jasmine Smith of Elk Grove was third in the 200 meters and fourth in the 400 meters. Isabella Dobson finished seventh in the 1600 meters and 14^th in the 3200 meter run.

The Herds’ girls’ 4x400 meter team was fourth.

Sheldon’s Cameron Stone placed fourth in the 400 meters.

Granite Bay Takes Section D-I Golf Championship

The Franklin boys’ golf squad took eighth place Monday at the Sac-Joaquin Section’s Division I championship in Fairfield.

The Wildcats combined stroke score of 463 was 84 strokes behind the first-place Granite Bay team.

Franklin was paced by Alex Dunning’s 86. Tyus Goring fired an 87.

Local individuals competing included Laguna Creek’s Tim Fortier (83) and  Elk Grove’s Mike Salewsky (82).

None of the local golfers will advance to next Monday’s Section Masters Meet at the Reserve at Spanos Park.

Granite Bay, Jesuit, Oak Ridge and Davis will advance their entire teams to the Masters because of their performances on Monday.

Nevada Union’s Logan Lowe shot a 71 for the best score of the day.

Spencer Levin Update

The Elk Grove-based PGA Tour player has had it rough the past three months. He's missed the cut in seven of the last nine events he's entered. However, at the Waste Management Open recently he finished in a tie for 29th.