Oakdale’s Chappell earns respect with third in state discus

Four Sac-Joaquin Section Masters titles. Four state meets. Three state medals.

Oakdale High senior Hannah Chappell sought more, as all elite athletes do. But she wasn’t complaining as her career closed Saturday at the 98th CIF State Track and Field Championships.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “It was so good.”

How good, you ask? Chappell placed third, stretching her day’s best to 149 feet, 3 inches, on her next-to-last attempt. On a day punctuated by a major upset at the top of the podium, the Alabama-bound Chappell rolled out her trademark steadiness.

For starters, she put together her longest throws of her state-meet career despite three fouls. In order, she finished seventh, second, fifth and third at state. Her last three years brought home the medals.

Though her name was mispronounced by the public address announcer the last two days (It’s Shuh-PELL), she earned respect.

“To be this consistent and to compete for four years was something,” her father and coach Brett Chappell praised. “In California, you win these places. There are so many freaky athletes.”

Later, junior Bikram Thiara became the first Sierra High athlete in school history to medal in track and field with his sixth in the 300-meter hurdles. His come-from-behind performance, accomplished with his second personal-best in as many nights (37.82), capped an exceptional season in Sierra athletics.

Chappell, third during Friday’s prelims, opened with solid marks of 145-11 and 148-3. She stood in second place after two rounds and never dropped below third.

The shocker came from elsewhere in the 12-girl field as the temperature in Clovis climbed to 103 degrees. Elena Bruckner of Valley Christian of San Jose, the national leader (186-10), managed only 160-9 and was beaten by junior Pamela Amaechi of Lincoln of San Francisco (164-1). Bruckner bounced back to win the shot put.

Amaechi, who became the first Lincoln athlete in 22 years to bring home a state gold medal, took the lead during the fourth round. Meanwhile, Chappell, whose career best is 156-6, walked with purpose between throws and seemingly tried to dig into the ring for more traction before she launched.

“I wish a threw a little bit further,” she said. “Given everything, I knew Elena and Pamela would be hard to beat, so I got the place I wanted out of it.”

Later, Modesto Christian junior Nicole Warwick long jumped 18-9 1/4 and finished seventh, a painful five inches off the podium.

The Crusader basketball-track star was bothered by a tight hamstring and didn’t get the desired lift. She jumped a personal-best 19-1 1/2 for second last week at Section Masters.

“It’s been tight all year. No excuse,” Warwick said. “I just wasn’t getting up.”

Warwick said she will concentrate on track over basketball this summer.

“I’m going to get to the podium,” she vowed.

Thiara, for the second straight week, rallied from off the pace in the hurdles. Next-to-last midway through the turn, the Timberwolves’ two-sport star passed two runners for sixth.

“When I get to the last 100 meters, whatever is left in the tank, I empty that tank,” Thiara said. “I just estimate the end of the race and push it out.”

Lathrop’s Isaias Hunter, another Masters runner-up, showed some fight by clearing the opening high jump height of 6-4 on his final attempt. After he hit 6-6 on his second attempt, he missed three times at 6-8.

Kimball junior Deion Lightfoot Shelton continued a banner night for the Valley Oak League with his second in the cond in the 110 hurdles (13.97) behind champion Joseph Anderson of Upland (13.59).

The season’s track and field story, however, started and finished with Chappell. She received hugs from family and Oakdale coach and Athletic Director Dave Bacigalupi. One of the most decorated athletes in school history had completed her run.

“I think I’m ready to move on to the next level,” she said. “Once I go there (to Alabama), there is going to be a whole other world that I haven’t been exposed to.”

She walked away on two words.

“Roll Tide!”

This story was originally published June 4, 2016 at 10:31 PM with the headline "Oakdale’s Chappell earns respect with third in state discus."