PANTHERS TRACK STRENGTH EVIDENT SO FAR

By Jay Leon Guerrero

The Guam High Panthers are looking to keep their dynasty going in the ISA Track and Field League. Guided by legendary head coach Joe Taitano, the Panthers’ goals are to scoop both boy’s and girl’s titles once again this season. 

Leading the way is multi-sport athlete Aaron Johnson. Johnson is holding the fastest times in the sprint events and is also leading the long jump.

“We’re confident right now. The team has been putting in the hard work and if we continue to work hard, we will reach the ultimate goal,” said Johnson.

Johnson has the fastest times of the season in 100m, 200m and 400m events and is leading the long jump with 6 meters. His goals are to break his personal records: under 11 seconds in the 100m, 22 seconds in the 200m and hit 49 seconds in the 400m.

The Panthers won 9 of the 10 races on the track on Thursday. Simon Sanchez Jan Almoite won the 100m hurdles with a time of 18.24 seconds. Every other race, including the relays were won by Guam High.

The Panthers finished first and second in the 800m and 1500m races with Trayton Crandell and Jaydel Rink coming in first and second in both races. Jayden Jackson won the 300m hurdles event. Nicholas Moore finished first in the 100m race, Johnson was first in the 200m and 400m races, and Sean Muller won the 3000m long distance race.

In the field events, Justine Suva won the shotput (11.07m), Jericho Villegas from Simon Sanchez High School won the discus (38.84m) and Father Duenas Friar Giovanni Palad won the javelin (36.30m).

Panther girls dominate

The Panther girls team is also looking good to three-peat. Sophomore Cirie Hawkins won both events in the hurdles, Aubrey Frank won the 3000m and 1500m distance races, Rebekah Stringham won the 800m race and Kelana Gallardo won the 400m race. In the triple jump, freshman Hayden Buck had a PR of 9.08 meters to win the event. The Panthers also won both relay events.

Any pressure to defend their championship? “We do have a target on our back, but we do good under pressure as a team,” said Johnson. “Pressure makes diamonds”.

Academy’s Santos wins sprints

The only other female to win races not wearing a Panther uniform on Thursday was Academy’s Taylor-Ann Santos. The junior won the 100m and 200m event races and is making a strong claim to win four Golds at the all-island event.

Santos also won the long jump with a distance of 4.60 meters. She finished second in the 400m event to Gallardo.

In the girls field events, Tiyan’s Zoey Indalecio scooped the shotput and discus events. Tera Mann from Academy won the javelin with a PR distance of 20.78m.

For full results, click the link below:
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/486645/results/all

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