WALNUT - When Serra's boys track and field team won three sprint relays during a two-day haul April 5-6 at the Arcadia Invitational, the Cavaliers knew the task would be even more difficult to duplicate in one day at the 55th Mt. San Antonio College Relays.
But Serra demonstrated it was up for the challenge Saturday at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, winning the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays in less than seven hours, highlighting an impressive day for local athletes.
Lloyd Siscard, Ronny Hall, Malik Roberson and Darrell Fuery won the 4x100 in 40.97, the sixth-fastest time in the country this year, then followed with the No. 2 mark of 1:25.63 in the 4x200 with a lineup of Hall, Fuery, Roberson and Adoree Jackson.
"It just comes down to a lot of positivity," Jackson said. "We just had to put our individual performances behind us and focus on the relays. Some people don't think track is a team sport, but this just proves it. We wanted to be able to accomplish something special together."
Jackson was second in the long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 7 inches, Hall placed second in the 400 (47.82) and Siscard clipped the second-to-last hurdle and finished fourth in the 300 hurdles (38.64).
But when it came to executing crisp baton passes and running efficient relay legs, Serra was at its best.
"We're making progress," said Roberson, who ran 10.72 to win the seeded 100. "We're getting better each week, but we're still focusing on the
Siscard, Hall, Fuery and Jackson capped the meet by clocking 3:15.12 in the 4x400, good for No. 7 in the U.S. this year.
"We've worked too hard not to bring it home," Fuery said. "We owe a lot to our coaches. They helped make this possible."
Redondo's Kayla Ferron, part of the Sea Hawks' national-leading 4x800 relay and No. 2 distance medley relay, secured an important individual victory by clocking 2:12.67 in the 800, with teammates Cara Ulizio (2:14.07) and Amber Gore (2:14.67) taking fifth and sixth and Bishop Montgomery's Danielle Shanahan (2:17.97) finishing 10th.
"When there was 150 left, (La Quinta's Megan Huebner) got past me and I kind of freaked out, but I was determined to stay with her and give it everything I have and finish the race," Ferron said. "I've learned that if you just try your best and really push yourself, good things will come to you.
"I had run 2:12 on a relay leg, so I felt like anything around that would be good, so I'm happy with it. Being able to finish like that felt really good."