Girls track team repeats championship

Photo courtesy of Wayne Bauer

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Saint Joseph Catholic HIgh School Girls Championship Girls Track team stand on the winner's podium to accept their trophy at Brigham Young University after winning by 30 points. The team overcame injuries and scoredpersonal bests to complete their goal and win this one for Carissa Bauer.Photo courtesy of Wayne Bauer

OGDEN — Despite a lot of unfortunate injuries the girls on the Saint Joseph Catholic High School track team stuck with it and won their second straight State Championship title May 16, at Brigham Young University.

"We lost our leading distance runner Andrea Chavez to a basketball injury this year. Tauna DeHaan, Alex Shaw and Carissa Bauer also had injuries all year," said Saint Joseph track coach Joseph Loffredo. "They persevered by swimming, biking and weight training with Assistant Coach Lisa Reed to try to keep them in shape while they were rehabilitating their injuries.

"We won our region championship," said Loffredo. "Bauer won the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter, and was the anchor on our first place 4x100 relay team. But we lost the Brigham Young University Invitational to Monticello High School.

"When we got to the State meet, our leading runner and point getter for the last three years and past State Champion in four events, Bauer, pulled a hamstring the first day of the State meet in her first race," said Loffredo. "In my three years of coaching, this was the most gut-wrenching and yet the most courageous race I have witnessed as she won her heat and qualified for the finals limping in on one leg.

"After the first day, we were in fourth place 11 points behind Rich High School, and Monticello High School, after the first day," said Loffredo. "We had a team meeting and asked the girls to win this for Carissa, to put forth our best effort to win every possible point, but also putting added pressure on the girls in the competition."

Loffredo said the girls came out and performed above and beyond and won the State Championship by 30 points over Rich High School.

"We won only one event – the 4x400 meter Relay, and that was the last event of the day," said Loffredo. "Alex Shaw placed second in three events: the 3200 meters, 1600 meters, and the 800 meters. She went from fifth place in the last turn of the 800 meter to finish second.

"Tauna DeHaan scored points in four events: the 400 meter, the 800 meter, and in two relays, the 4x100 and 4x400, where she was the anchor and came back from second place to win the relay. This is the only event we won all day," said Loffredo.

"Michelle Howe and Jennifer Beaudoin placed in the hurdles and relay events," said Loffredo. "Alison Wiechmann and Jackie Bafford placed in the field events."

Some of the first year runners are Joanna Matajasik, Megan Brandt, Emily Brandt, Nelida Navarro, Rebecca Maurice, and Taylor Remkes.

Carly Minnich and Melissa Frogh are two of the most improved runners, and they turned in personal records scoring points. Michelle Howe scored points in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles and in two relay events.

"One of our four seniors, Jennifer Beaudoin, scored points in the 100 meter hurdles and in the 4x100 relay team," said Loffredo. "DeHaan came back from her injuries to score points in the 400 meters, 800 meters, 4x100, and was the anchor on the winning 4x400 meter relay team."

Loffredo said JoAnna Matajasik, Rebecca Maurice, Colleen Cilwick, Rebecca Brandt, Emily Brandt, Taylor Remkes and Nelida Navarro set personal records contributing mightily to the win. Sarah Paur, Shannon Fallon, Kelsey Minnoch, Meg Baker also contributed to a successful track year. Loffredo said all the girls are just amazing, competitive athletes. Assistant coaches Reed and Javier Chavez were instrumental in training and inspiring these athletes.

"It was truly a team effort as we won only one event, but won the State Championship by 30 points," said Loffredo. "After accepting the trophy, Chavez, the long distance coach led our team on a victory lap around the BYU track facility."