Modesto’s Gregori caps another perfect MMC season in girls track

Gregori High School’s girls track and field team kept its perfect record intact Wednesday, cruising to a victory over Downey in its final Modesto Metro Conference dual meet of the season. Not to be outdone, the Jaguars’ boys team completed its first perfect varsity season.

Official score was not kept at the meet as Downey rested the majority of its athletes in preparation for Tuesday’s Modesto Metro Conference meet at Modesto Junior College. Field events will begin at 1 p.m. and track events get underway at 3.

Gregori’s girls are undefeated in league matches for the school’s five-year history, and this year’s team had every intention of continuing the streak.

But, surely, there had to be a little doubt.

“No,” senior jumper/sprinter Brianna Swan quickly replied. “I have confidence in our team, both in our athletic abilities and in our attitude. I think that’s what mainly pushes us forward.”

Swan placed first in the triple jump, second in the long jump and ran a leg on the victorious 400-meter relay squad (54.70 seconds). She also would have competed in the 1,600 relay, but the Knights didn’t field a team.

The 4x400 relay team helped pull out the closest meet of the season for the Jags when they faced Modesto. The Panthers, like Gregori, wear down opponents with sheer numbers. The meet and the streak hinged on the final event, with Swan, Sophia Eldredge, Kimmy Pascua and Kaci Kuykendall pulling out the victory.

“We think about (the streak) all the time, at every meet,” Swan said. “We don’t want to let down our coaches.”

With another perfect season in the books, Swan can pass the baton to the class of 2016 to keep the streak sprinting along.

“I would be disappointed if they lost next year,” said Swan, who will attend UCLA in the fall. “But not half as bad as I would if I had some control over that.”

Teigan MacDonald was a double winner for Gregori, taking the pole vault and long jump, as was Torey Maravilla, who won the 800 and 1,600. On the boys side, Jeremy Hart took first in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 8:53 PM with the headline "Modesto’s Gregori caps another perfect MMC season in girls track."