Gregori freshman runner emerges at MMC track finals

High school freshmen are supposed to be dropping their orange juice in the cafeteria or rolling in five minutes late for algebra class.

They’re not supposed to be outkicking seniors on the track and making a name for themselves outside the city limits.

Introducing Gregori freshman Briseida Garcia, Modesto’s next distance-running star, and the only thing she’s dropping are her times in the 800 and 1,600 meters.

“I pray every night and say, ‘I’ll do what it takes,’ ” she said.

Garcia, who celebrated her 15th birthday in December, left pursuers far behind Tuesday at the Modesto Metro Conference Championships at Modesto Junior College. She peeked over her left shoulder as she reached the first turn on the gun lap of the 1,600. No worries. She led by about 50 meters, and her time of 5 minutes, 20 seconds was about nine seconds better than the runner-up. She also coasted home in the 800, her specialty (2:18.08).

“I knew I wouldn’t be pushed today,” Garcia said. “I always feel nervous at every meet. I tell myself to relax and have a good race.”

Garcia began her running career four years ago after a middle-school teacher noticed her smooth stride. Today, she’s emerging at the right time – the beginning of the postseason. The top four in each event at the MMCs advance to the section divisional next week.

Track-niks were floored by what Garcia did at Sacramento’s Meet of Champions two weeks ago. Though she was not seriously pushed, she posted an 800 time of 2:14.28, a meet record and fifth-best all-time by a Stanislaus County product. She’s ranked fifth in the Sac-Joaquin Section and she’s already flirting with times that could get her all the way to the state meet in Clovis next month.

“She hasn’t slowed down yet,” Gregori distance coach Morgan Gallegos said. “It’s all new to her. Now she’s starting to fly.”

The league meet does not demand eye-catching times or marks. Those can wait for a week or two. All that is desired is a confidence-gaining performance that keeps the season going.

Modesto senior Kendall McNair, who reached the Section Masters finals in the 110 hurdles last year, stumbled over the fourth hurdle but still won convincingly with a 15.95.

“I felt smooth so I decided to push it. It snagged me,” said McNair, who plans to walk on at Fresno State.

Also looking forward to the rest of the month is Downey’s 4x100 relay team – football players Braxton Howze, Trevor Farris, Andrew Raspo and Tyran Daniels. The Knights, who placed eighth out of 60 teams last month at Arcadia, rushed the baton around the track in 43.54. One of their goals is to top the school record of 43.15 they set last year.

Daniels won the triple jump (42 feet, 5 inches) and Howze was victorious in the long jump (20-6 1/2 ). Later, Raspo edged his teammates with an 11.02 in the 100, which was off his 10.83 – fourth-best in the section – at the Meet of Champions.

“The most important today is the 100,” Raspo said before the race.

Modesto senior pole vaulter Zayn Largent, one of the stars of the Panthers’ boys team that won the MMC title, announced his postseason entrance with a 15-0 that drew cheers from his teammates in the bleachers.

The Gregori girls, six-time reigning MMC champions, extended their unbeaten streak to 36 this spring. Jaguars senior Danielle Drew, one of the reasons for their success, beat Modesto sophomore Destiny Tolliver to the line in the 100 (12.42). Tolliver repeated as champion in the 100 hurdles (15.73).

The day’s breakout athlete, however, was Garcia, clearly the city’s most promising middle-distance runner since Enochs grad Faith Makau (sixth in the state in the 800 in 2013). Like the rest of her peers, she’ll finish her hard training this week and taper down for what’s ahead.

“If I can just drop a second or two, I think I can make it to the state meet,” she said. “I have the speed for it.”

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Gregori freshman runner emerges at MMC track finals."