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By Administrator
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Oct. 18, 2003 |
Strong winds whipped sand into the passionate runner's faces, creating little eddies of gravel and dust on the red clay track of Kezar. The breezy match against the Burton Pumas went off without a hitch on May 21. With strength in numbers, the Cardinals pounded the Pumas into the ground and carried off a successful meet.
"It was a good meet, although the week before was better in actual times," head coach Andy Leong said.
Junior Elaine Harris was glad for the chance to compete against Burton.
"It gave us a glimpse of what our competition will be like in our upcoming meet, All-City," she said.
The track team is preparing for the All-City finals with nervous anticipation and confidence.
"We'll be able to sweep the meet as we've done before because of our high numbers," Harris said. "But on an individual basis, I think we'll be evenly matched."
Leong offered a more hopeful perspective.
Girls' track MVP Gianna Cursi
"I'm expecting we will win all divisions," Leong said. "Any less would be a disappointment."
All the hard work of the runners is paying off as the season draws to a close, culminating in the final meet at All-City. The team has had to overcome many obstacles, including a number of injuries that have not yet entirely healed. Despite the setbacks, the team is focused on its All-City agenda.
Boys' track MVP Guillome Mok
"Everyone's got something wrong, but it's the end of the season," Leong said. "You gotta suck it up."
All-City finals are 9 A.M. on Sat. May 31st at Kezar.
Senior Guillaume Mok, the boys' MVP for the '02-'03 season, has excelled in everything he does. Head coach Andy Leong commended Mok for his dedication and his work ethic.
Flying high. Sophomore Jimmy Yu soars over the sand pit to help lead
the Cardinals to victory at the same meet.
"He's our school's best quarter-miler in seven years and the section's best quarter-miler in three," Leong said.
More importantly, he inspires his teammates to practice and run harder.
"He's a role model for everyone because he's so dedicated and hard-working," sophomore Peter Cruz said.
Mok came into the season motivated to do his best. Coming off a junior year in which injuries hampered him at All-City finals, Mok has been even more determined to do well this year.
"Luckily, this season I've been running relatively healthy," Mok said. "But I haven't run my goal time yet, which is 400 meters in 49 seconds."
Junior Raymond Shew races past his opponents at
Kezar Stadium on Wed., May 21. The Lowell track team
will be competing in the All-City finals tomorrow at Kezar.
Mok's fellow runners agree wholeheartedly that he deserves this title.
"He works hard every day, runs the best he can and never complains," junior Isaac Walrath said.
Junior Gianna Cursi is the girls' MVP for track this year. She has excelled in the 400 and 200 meter and two relays, the 4x1 and the 4x2.
"She performed well time-wise," head coach Andy Leong said.
Freshman runner Frances Leong admires Cursi. "Even though she has asthma, she always pushes herself to finish to the best of her extent," she said.
Cursi is still working towards her goal of running the 400 in under a minute. "I haven't broken it yet," Cursi said. "But last week I ran a 400 in 60.6 seconds."
It looks to be only a matter of time before Cursi attains that goal. |
