Historic win gives Hasay three-peat at 3,200

By Kenny Cress / Sports Writer
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NORWALK - Jordan Hasay took a study break, and then broke a state meet record.

“Finals are next week,” Hasay said with a smile Saturday after she held off red-hot Laurynne Chetelat to win the girls 3,200 run at the CIF State Track and Field Meet at Cerritos College. “I've been studying all day today. So this is almost like a break.”

Almost.

The Mission Prep junior and Arroyo Grande resident won the state girls 3,200 for the third straight time by nailing her last lap in an unofficial 66 seconds-plus for a 9:52.13. That was just enough to stave off Chetelat, a Davis senior who also ran under the old state record of 9:52.80 that Kim Mortensen ran in 1996. Chetelat ran 9:52.51. Hasay shattered her prior best of 10:03.07.

She edged a runner who last week lopped 10-plus seconds off her previous best, then lowered THAT time by 13.41 seconds. Chetelat “is going to Stanford,” next year, Hasay said. If the state meet is any indication, Chetelat will make the Cardinal coaches VERY happy.

Meanwhile, Hasay was thrilled with running the second-fastest U.S. girls 3,200 ever, behind Mortensen's 9:48.59. Hasay is the first girl to win the state 3,200 three consecutive times since Vicki Cook of Mission Hills Alemany (1980-82).

Julia Stamps of Santa Rosa is the only other three-time winner. She took the event in 1994 (while running for Rincon Valley Christian in Santa Rosa), ‘95 and ‘97 (both times for Santa Rosa High School).

Meanwhile, Nipomo throwers Jeanette DeWitt and Korben Boaz had nice endings to their seasons. Boaz said the pair also gave departing Nipomo head (and throws) coach Matt Soenksen the departing gift they wanted to.

“This is his last year as coach, so Jeanette and I really wanted to do something special for him,” said Boaz. They did.

DeWitt finished second in the girls discus with a personal best 160-10 on her first throw. Boaz medaled twice, with a personal best 184-8 on his initial throw in the boys discus (good for fourth place) and a 59-4 1/4 in the boys shot put (good for fifth).

Boaz will play football and throw in track and field for Cal Poly next year. He said, “(Soenksen's) always been there for me, in football too, and we really wanted to send him off on a special note.”

Soenksen said his senior throwers did.

“I'm stepping down from coaching to spend more time with my kids,” said Soenksen. “I have a son who's eight, and a daughter who's five.

“Going three-for-three as far as medaling, both of them getting PRs - you can't ask for more than that.”

DeWitt said, “I'm excited. I was really focused today, really into it from the start.

“My other throws after that weren't very good, but as they say it only takes one. This is a great way to say goodbye to the sport. Now, I just have to start my summer workouts and get ready for basketball.”

DeWitt, who will play for Sonoma State next season, struggled on her next four throws after the 160-10, but did hit 152-2 on her last one.

Boaz said, “I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed right now - two medals in the state meet.”

Boaz struggled to stay in the ring on throw number one and not foul, and he just managed to do it. Boaz laughed. “You know, coach (Soenksen) says it should be a struggle to stay in the ring every time, that if you don't, you're not giving your all.”

Hasay certainly gave it her all, and did it ever pay off for her.

She said she thought she would open a gap on Chetelat after she re-took the lead. Instead, “I was surprised that she was still with me.”

Hasay came through lap seven at an unofficial 8:46 with Chetelat lurking just behind. Chetelat was nearly on Hasay's shoulder when Hasay hit the homestretch, but she couldn't gain ground afterward.

“When I took the lead, I thought I would have the edge, because I'm a faster 1,600 runner,” said Hasay, who has a best of 4:39.13 at that

distance. “But Lauren ran her PR 1,600 - in the second half of a 3,200. Her PR had been 4:53.

“I'm really happy with the way my kick has come along,” said Hasay. She passed Babcock in the last 100 meters at Arcadia to win the 3,200 in 10:03.07 for Babcock's 10:04.03.

Hasay ran a spectacular negative split to end her long quest for a sub-10 3,200. Chetelat led at the 1,600 mark. Hasay came through just behind in 5:03-plus.

“I was very happy to see her take the lead the second lap,” Hasay said with a laugh. “I was hoping to take it out slow and be near the front, with someone else leading.”

Hasay looked around early in the race. With Chetelat and San Clemente junior Alexandra Dunne starting to box her in, “I didn't know what to do,” Hasay confessed with a chuckle. She finally settled in just behind Chetelat and went in front on the backstretch of the fifth lap.

“This is a great way to finish the 3,200 and get ready for the big shorter races,” Hasay said. She will run the 800 at the prestigious Golden West Invitational next Saturday. She's won the mile run there the last two years.

After that, it's on to Indianapolis for a 1,500 at the USATF Junior Nationals later in June. She will try to make the U.S. team there for the IAAF World Juniors meet in Poland that takes place in July.

Hasay won the USATF race in 4:16.98 last year, the third-fastest time ever by a U.S. girl at that distance. Hasay has met the “B” standard for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in the 1,500. The trials take place in Eugene, Ore. in July.

June 1, 2008