It took 107 years, but for the first time since the inception of the North Coast Section (NCS) Track and Field Meet of Champions (MOC) in 1915, one school has captured league and section titles in both Cross Country and Track and Field in the same season.
This remarkable milestone was accomplished on Saturday, May 21st at Gaels Stadium, as the Dublin Boys came away with the top overall score of 121 points, while their closest competitor (Pittsburg) had 39 points. It was reminiscent of the Gaels’ dominating showing in the NCS Cross Country Championships in the fall when the Boys had the top 5 finishers (and 6 of the top 7). In both instances, Dublin’s championship performances at NCS followed East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) titles as well. Even for Dublin’s storied running programs and its legacy of success, this weekend’s historic feat is an accomplishment at a whole new level of excellence.
In addition, it was also a great MOC for the Girls team, as they finished with 46 points and were narrowly defeated by Campolindo who tallied 57 points. The Girls also claimed 2nd place in the NCS Tri-Valley meet last weekend as well as the EBAL Meet on May 7th at Gaels Stadium. This season also saw the Girls Cross Country team qualify for its first CIF State Meet in the history of the program.
Anish Kasam provided the main highlights on Day 2 of the MOC, as he took 1st place in both the 110m Hurdles (14.39) and the 300m Hurdles (39.25). Adam Moore was Dublin’s other performer with two 1st place finishes on Saturday, winning both the 100m Unified Division (with Tristan Oliver) and the Long Jump Unified Division (with Ethan Perez).
Boys Pole Vaulter Khaliq Muhammad also made a name for himself by taking 1st place with a jump of 15’7. Muhammad’s mark is currently the highest of any high school freshman in the entire country, making both him and his sister Jathiyah (who has the highest mark in the state and 5th highest in the country among high school students). two of the most sought after college recruits in the country. With continued improvement, both of them will be in contention for positions on the U.S. National team in the future.
Dublin had two other 1st place finishes on Saturday, and that was in the final running event of the MOC which was the 4x400m Relay. Brandon Burns, Alexander Franco, Takehiro Masubuchi, and Manogya Yara all punched their ticket to the CIF State Meet with a time of 3:20.82. Franco also qualified in the 400m by finishing in 3rd place at 49.92. The Gaels’ other 1st place performance came in the 100m Unified Division as Rachel Okwudiafor-Johnson and Nyla Williams teamed up to win the event.
Leila Champion also had a great day on the track, earning a bid to the CIF State Meet in the 100m with a time of 12.30, while also qualifying in the 200m despite her 4th place finish. Cross Country sensation Daniel Trampe also had a great day, jumping out to a strong start in the 3200m and then holding off a spirited challenge down the stretch to finish in 2nd place and earn a spot in the CIF State Meet with a time of 9:14.62. Tyler Trinh also qualified for the CIF State Meet with a 3rd place finish in the Boys Pole Vault.
In total, a Dublin High School record of 16 student-athletes qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation State Meet the weekend of May 27-28 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis on the campus of Buchanan High School. The qualifiers are as follows:
Boys Pole Vault – Khaliq Muhammad (#1 among high school freshmen in the US) and Tyler Trinh
Girls Pole Vault – Jathiyah Muhammad (set NCS MOC record and has #1 mark in the state)
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Girls Triple Jump – Aiza Sarwar (1st) and Michelle Chen
Boys 110 Hurdles – Anish Kasam (1st)
Boys 300 Hurdles – Anish Kasam (1st)
Girls 100 – Leila Champion
Girls 200 – Leila Champion
Boys 3200 – Daniel Trampe
Boys 400 – Alexander Franco
Boys 4×400 – Brandon Burns, Alexander Franco, Takehiro Masubuchi, Manogya Yara (1st)
*Alternate – Manyu Yara
Boys 100 Unified – Adam Moore/Tristan Oliver (1st)
Girls 100 Unified – Rachel Okwudiafor-Johnson/Nyla Williams (1st)
