California State Meet
The Southern
Section Masters meet set the tone for the biggest meet of
the year for the Braves. It was in that meet where the Braves
would take the first step into the California elite. Joe Cowan
qualified in the 300 Intermediate Hurdles by placing 4th in
a time of 38.51, while the 4x4 team finished a disappointing
4th place and lost to Serra League rival Santa Margarita. Nonetheless
the tone was set and the Braves would refocus their goals
going into the state meet.
It was the next week on a Friday night where the Brave would
take their next step. In the State preliminaries Joe Cowan
won his hurdle heat, posting a school record time of 38.07
to advance into the finals. The relay team had a very strong
run as they beat Long Beach Poly to place first in their heat
with a finishing time of 3:16.05. Cowan would enter the finals
as the 3rd seed while the relay team would enter as the 5th
seed.
Saturday had arrived and all could feel that something special
in the air that only the California State Meet can conjure
up. All the athletes running before an estimated crowd of 10,000
plus put on a magnificent show. Through it all the Braves were
focusing towards the goals they set for themselves at the beginning
of the season. The crowd was in a roar all day, but Bosco fans
were in anticipation for their boys to run. Finally, the first
Bosco race of the day featuring Joe Cowan in the hurdles. As
the gun went off so did the nine athletes all hoping to secure
a place on the medal stand. Cowan did not have his best start,
but as he's done all year he started to roll a few hurdles
into the race. Coming out of the turn one could sense that
he was going to have a burst, running as far back as 6th place.
It was over the last three hurdles however where he started
to propel himself stronger. His power brought him into fourth
place and that is where he finished. His time of 38.37 was
not a new PR, but his place was secured on the All State team.
Running against all Seniors Joe was one of only two Juniors
in the race, making him one of the top returnees in the State
come 2003!
The excitement had just begun as the sun started to set over
Falcon Stadium. The introductions to the boys 4x400 relay team
had begun and the crowd was in a buzz. The Braves were poised
and ready to fulfill their goals - a top 6 All State placing,
a win over Santa Margarita and a time below 3:15.0. Josh Bradford
set his blocks and at the official's command he took his mark.
At the gun it was Long Beach Poly blazing out into an early
lead. It was Bradford however who had the best turn into the
homestretch. The two teams battled all the way to the hand
off with Josh gaining the slight edge 48.6 to 48.7. Garrett
Schott got the baton and didn't hold back. Joining Bosco and
Poly was Taft High School. Schott lead into and out of the
turn, but the crowd went into a buzz when the Poly runner made
a move out of the turn to pass Schott. An even bigger buzz
was heard when Schott didn't relent and went with the yellow
clad runner. At the hand off it was four teams in the mix -
with Dominguez now included. Schott handed off to Matt Young
after a 48.8 split. Matt couldn't overcome very fast #3 legs
from the the other three schools and fell back a bit. It's
not to say
that he didn't step up though, because he did big time. His PR split of 50.1
kept the Braves in a very comfortable 4th place and set the tone for a very
ready Joe Cowan. After creating some distance between his team and the 5th
place team, Young got the baton to Cowan. One could sense that Cowan was primed
for a big leg here - and oh boy did he deliver. It was apparent to most that
the Braves would end up in 4th place - the other teams had a very comfortable
lead. All that was left was the race against the clock. The Braves won that
race. Cowan blazed around the track for the fastestsplit of the day if not
the fastest split run in California all year. 46.8 for the Junior as he brought
his team home to a 4th place finish in 3:14.53. Their time places them 4th
in the State on the year and in the top 15 in the Nation! With all their goals
met on this day all that was left was to celebrate. It had been a long season
for the Braves who in the end completed what they set out to do. Congratulations
goes out to these four outstanding individuals as they shocked the State and
earned the respect of many.
Great Job Boys - Your fans appreciate you!
|
