Local Runners Headed to Track Championship

Following up their successful appearence at the Region 15 Junior Olympic Championship in Escondido on June 24-26, local runners Ashley Gomez, Sarah Troescher and Eryn Blakely have qualified to run in the USA Track & Field Junior Olympic Championship.

The girls, all members of the San Gabriel Valley High Performance Track Club, will compete in the meet held at Wichita State University’s Cessna Stadium in Wichita, KS, July 26 through 31.

The top five finishers in each final race of each age category at the Region 15 Championships qualify to move on to the Junior Olympic Championship.

Sarah Troescher, an eighth grader at l in Sierra Madre, qualified in the 400 Meters (Youth Girls) with a time of 1:01.84. 

Eryn Blakely, a Junior at , Sierra Madre, qualified in the 800 Meters (Intermediate Girls) with a time of 2:24.81.

A sixth grader at St. Luke’s School in Temple City, Ashley Gomez qualified for the 800 Meters (Midget Girls) with a time of 2:30.87.

Now, the girls' hard work wil continue as they practice under the guidance of their coaches at SGV High Performance, a USATF Region 15 (So. Cal) sanctioned youth track club formed in 2007. 

Head Coach Keisha Marvin is a former UCLA All-American and world class hurdler. Assistant Coach Zalika Davis-Heart is a former UCLA middle distance stand out and Fila 2000 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 800 Meters. 

Together, Coach K and Coach Z bring many years of experience to the track club and to the team members.

The three students athletes will be training between now and July 24 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the track.