Hilmar’s Olson, Buhach Colony’s Eastman advance to state

Dani Olson wasn’t sure if she could celebrate.

The finish in the 100-meter hurdles at Friday’s Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet at Elk Grove High was too close to tell for the Hilmar High senior. She knew she either finished third or fourth.

Third place meant a berth in next week’s CIF State Meet in Clovis. Fourth place meant her high school career was over.

“I didn’t want to get excited yet,” Olson said. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up until I knew.”

When one of the meet officials told her she placed third, Olson broke down and cried.

“I was in disbelief,” Olson said. “I didn’t think it could happen. It didn’t seem real. It still hasn’t set in yet.”

Olson crossed the finish line in 15.16 seconds. She finished behind Vacaville teammates Jurnee Woodward (13.95) and Nia Vance (15.15).

Olson joined Buhach Colony senior Stephon Eastman as the only two Merced-area athletes to qualify for state.

For Eastman, it will be a moment he won’t soon forget.

He was down to his final attempt in the high jump, needing to clear 6 feet, 7 inches to advance to state.

Eastman was so nervous that he struggled to set his feet before he started his approach, but he managed to clear the bar and save his season.

“It was stressful just knowing this could be my last jump,” Eastman said. “My heart was pumping. As soon as I cleared the bar and landed, I looked up to see the bar was still there. It was such a relief. I couldn’t have been happier.”

Making the moment even more special was that he was able to share it with his father, Jeff, a Buhach Colony assistant coach.

“He’s been my only coach since I was 5 years old,” Eastman said. “He’s coached me even if I was at schools he wasn’t at. It was pretty great sharing that moment with my dad. I think he was at a loss for words too. He congratulated me and told me he knew I could do it.”

If Eastman thought he was nervous, imagine dad, who could only watch.

“It’s really hard to explain what it was like,” Jeff Eastman said. “My mind just went blank and I prayed. When he cleared it, it was the best feeling I’ve felt in a long time. As a coach and a father, you’re always asking yourself if you’re doing everything right. It was just a great sigh of relief. I didn’t want to leave here feeling like I cheated him.”

Eastman officially finished fourth, but 6-7 was the automatic qualifying height for the state meet in the high jump. Oakmont’s Isaiah Holmes won the event at 6-10.

“It feels amazing because it was one of the goals I had for the whole season. High jump has always been one of my things, but it’s never clicked for me like it did this season.”

Merced junior Daniel Ambriz just missed qualifying for state with a fourth-place finish in the 1,600. He still came away with a personal best of 4:16.62.

“I’m not too disappointed,” Ambriz said. “I feel happy I set a (personal record). I’m glad it’s over. I can take a break and get ready for cross country.”

Buhach Colony’s Barbara Coward finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 130 feet, but she needed a mark of 132-8 to advance to state.

“My technique was off,” Coward said. “I wasn’t rotating enough.”

As a senior, Coward was hoping to qualify for state for the first time. Her track career isn’t over because she is headed to UC Irvine on a scholarship next year with her twin sister, Brandy.

“I feel there are bigger things ahead of me,” she said. “I can’t be too down about this situation.”

Merced junior Denise Bates finished sixth in the discus with a career best mark of 124-3.

“I like that I (got a personal record),” Bates said. “I think it’s the competition. It helps me. I had a lot of adrenaline. I was hoping to make it to state, but I’m happy with my performance.”

Merced freshman Ciarra Colon finished 15th in the 1,600 with a time of 5:24.15. Atwater’s Alex Vargas placed ninth in the 800 with a time of 1:56.34.

This story was originally published May 29, 2015 at 9:16 PM with the headline "Hilmar’s Olson, Buhach Colony’s Eastman advance to state."