GALT, CA (MPG) - The Liberty Ranch Hawks descended on Pittsburg on March 15 to compete in the highly anticipated 12th Annual Eddie Hart Invitational, facing fierce competition from 56 other high schools across the Bay Area and beyond. 

Despite a challenging season that saw many practices washed out due to rain, new head coach MarQuan De Bise expressed his delight with the team’s performances.

“It’s exciting to see so many athletes stepping up, especially our freshmen and sophomores who are showing tremendous promise by competing at varsity speeds,” remarked Coach De Bise, who is optimistic about the personal records expected to unfold throughout the season.

The Hawks boasted several notable finishes across both the men’s and women’s events, highlighting their competitiveness and depth. Among the outstanding individual performances, Jose Lara secured second place in the JV 400m with a personal record of 54.51 seconds. Kyle Oltmanns also shone, finishing second in the varsity 1600m with an impressive time of 4:31.17, showcasing his talent as one of the team’s standout distance runners.

Relay and hurdle events proved to be a strong point for the Hawks, with Joseph Brown earning a commendable third place in the 300m hurdles (40.88 PR) and Larry Lucas following closely in 5th (42.33 SR). Lucas also competed vigorously in the 110m hurdles, finishing 6th in the varsity category with a time of 16.28 seconds.

On the women’s side, Kimberly Rodriguez left her mark by placing second in the frosh/soph 400m with an excellent time of 1:03.77, in addition to securing the top spot in the 800m frosh/soph with a personal best of 2:49.27.

The men’s events had their share of top finishes as well. Camren Hudson shone in the long jump with a leap of 20’7” to finish fifth, while Daimien Lee achieved a personal record in the triple jump with a distance of 36’4.”

In the sprinting events, several Hawks put forth impressive times. Wyatt Corriea, competing in the frosh/soph 100m, clocked a personal best of 12.50 seconds, while Michael Lamson registered a strong performance in the varsity 400m with a finish of 56.83 seconds.

The women’s sprinting team also demonstrated its strength, with Ellie Rausser finishing the varsity 200m in 30.54 seconds.

Gwen Lindberg finished the varsity 300m hurdles with a personal record of 57.43 seconds.

In field events, Kylin Keeler made significant contributions in shot put and discus, with a personal record of 75’7.5” in discus. 

Kaeli Vang showcased her prowess in both long jump and triple jump events, completing the latter with a jump of 31’2” (SR).

As the Hawks transition from this invitational, they eagerly prepare for the Dublin Distance Fiesta, set for March 21-22, before launching into their first Sierra Valley race at Galt High School on March 26. 

With the promise of personal records and competitive spirit on display, the Liberty Ranch Track and Field team is poised for a memorable season ahead.