Merced’s McFarland, Ambriz shine at CCC track championships

Ashanti McFarland knows this is his final shot to make a run at the state track meet. That’s why the Merced High senior was a little scared when he felt pain in his Achilles’ tendon during practice early last week.

“It’s my senior year; it’s just scary when something like that happens,” McFarland said. “It’s not like my junior year where I can just say I still have next year. This is it.”

The pain didn’t keep McFarland from competing Saturday in the Central California Conference Championships at Atwater High’s Dave Honey Stadium, where he won the 100- and 200-meter dashes to qualify for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Championships on May 18 at Elk Grove High. The top four finishes in each event Saturday qualified for the D-I meet.

McFarland was timed in 10.99 seconds in the 100 and 22.39 in the 200.

“I felt I was ready for sections last week,” said McFarland, who posted personal best times of 10.86 in the 100 and 21.81 in the 200 at the Meet of Champions on April 30 in Sacramento. “I just have to try to get back to where I was at. I’ve still got time. I think I’ll be OK.”

The athletes had to contend with wet conditions for most of the meet as a steady drizzle poured down for most of the day.

Merced teammate Daniel Ambriz knows about dealing with injuries late in the season. The Bears senior was forced to concentrate on the 1,600 meters his sophomore and junior seasons because of injuries.

Ambriz is healthy this year and has his sights set on a trip to the state meet. This time, he’s not sure on which event he wants to focus on.

Ambriz won the 800 (1:57.18) and the 1,600 (4:20.56) on Saturday. He also teamed with McFarland, John Hagerman and Cayman Allen on the 4x400 relay team that finished second.

“I’m happy qualifying in the 800 and 1,600,” Ambriz said. “It’s the first time I qualified in two events. I’m looking forward to Sections and Masters. This year, I’m focusing on time and not placing. If I can run a 4:15 (in the 1,600), I automatically qualify for state.”

It was a busy weekend for Golden Valley’s Naomi Peterson. On Friday night, as Peterson played in the Six-County Senior All-Star Classic at Modesto Junior College. Peterson left enough in the tank to win the 100 on Saturday with a time of 12.76 seconds.

“The basketball game was fun, but I’m a little sore,” Peterson said.

Peterson also teamed up with Stephanie Moore, who also played in the all-star game, Kayla Commons and Alejandra Flores to qualify second on the 4x400 relay team. Moore, Peterson, Commons and Keionnie Clemons qualified second in the 4x100 relay.

Moore also finished third in the 300 hurdles (49.89) and second in the high jump (4 feet, 9 inches).

Commons won the long jump with a leap of 16-7.

Atwater’s Brian Stokes turned in a personal-best time in the 300 hurdles with a time of 39.99 seconds. The Falcons junior feels he’s ready for the postseason.

“I’m ready to push myself,” Stokes said. “I know my coach (Seneca) Ybarra is ready to push me. Today was the CCC Championships. It’s our last league meet. I had to go after it.”

Stokes was also part of Atwater’s 4x400 relay team, which won with a time of 3:24.16. Stokes teamed with Ezequiel Gutierrez, Alex Vargas and Angelo Olmos.

Other local highlights:

▪ Merced freshman Quinn Hagerman won the 1,600 (5:24.30) and 3,200 (11:55.78).

▪ Buhach Colony freshman Karlee Hobbs won the high jump (4-9).

▪ Merced senior Julian Johnson won the 3,200 (9:43.10).

▪ Merced sophomore Ciara Colon won the 800 (2:25.24). She finished second in 3,200.

▪ Golden Valley’s Shawn Bettencourt won the 110 high hurdles (15.03). Bettencourt also teamed with Brandon Reyes, Carlentez McDaniel and Alexander Salas to win the 4x100 relay (43:14).

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 9:13 PM with the headline "Merced’s McFarland, Ambriz shine at CCC track championships."