Enochs' Seymour out of State final; Oakdale’s Chappell, MC's Warwick in

The platter barely quivered as it powered through the 102-degree heat, unleashed by an athlete not intimidated by this lofty stage.

Oakdale High School senior Hannah Chappell, the four-time Sac-Joaquin Section Masters discus champion, did what she does best. That is, she delivered what was needed.

Chappell threw 151 feet, 9 inches – third-best during Friday’s preliminary round – and easily advanced to Saturday’s finals at the 98th CIF State Track and Field Championships.

Her opening 148-11 worked like a pressure-release valve and assured her top-12 finish to reach the finals. Then she improved on her third and final attempt, the longest she has ever thrown in four years of competition at the state meet.

“It felt really good. I was just trying to get a good throw in there to move on to tomorrow. That was really the whole goal,” Chappell said. “I was just trying to calm my nerves and get a throw in.”

Chappell accented a list of four Stanislaus District state finalists, including Modesto Christian’s Nicole Warwick in the long jump, Sierra’s Bikram Thiara in the 300-meter hurdles and Lathrop’s Isaias Hunter in the high jump.

Eight from the district began the sweltering day and only slightly cooler evening at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Trials day asks for only one thing – a good enough performance, without expending too much energy, for a berth in the finals. Chappell passed that test as a freshman after two poor efforts. Forced to produce on her final attempt, she succeeded.

From there, she’s finished seventh, second and fifth at state.

“After I was done, I was talking to one of the freshmen and how we have our good and bad days,” she said. “I told her about being down to my last throw. You just have to do what you gotta do.”

Chappell admitted to a heavier case of nerves during last week’s Masters. The anxiety level should increase Saturday. She’s an underdog to finish in the top three, and her best (156-6) trails the favored Elena Bruckner of San Jose’s Valley Christian by about 30 feet.

Bruckner threw a comfortable 165-6 to lead everyone. Lincoln of Stockton’s Pamela Amaechi was next at 153-0. A 133-9 was the distance required to reach the finals.

“I’m excited,” Chappell said. “It’s the last time I’ll ever compete for Oakdale. I’m really excited.”

Enochs junior Claire Seymour, the Section Masters champion in the 400, ended a special season. She finished fifth in her heat (56.10 seconds) and failed to make the top nine for the final. An ill-timed cramp in her right calf not help.

“I get them in my sleep all the time but I’ve never had it when I’m running,” Seymour said. “I pushed through. I said, ‘Claire, you need to finish this stupid thing.’”

Seymour, the only runner to not use starting blocks, vows to return.

“Being the only runner from Modesto makes it neat, too,” she said. “I’m definitely going to push myself to get back next year.”

Warwick thought her second trip to Clovis finished like the first – without a spot in the finals. Instead, she was pleasantly surprised that her opening leap of 18-6 1/4 held up for ninth place. The top 12 advanced.

“There were three girls over 20 (feet) and a bunch of 19s. I was shocked that I made it,” Warwick said. “Winning is a little bit out there, but since I’m here, I might as well do something.”

Hunter, a Lathrop junior, cleared 6-6 on his second try to move into the finals. He tied for ninth overall.

Thiara, a Sierra junior, lowered his personal best to 38.05 en route to a strong third in his heat of the 300 hurdles. Seeded ninth, he finished seventh overall. His determined finish last week at Masters – he overtook five runners to place third – resonates more than ever.

“If I didn’t have a good race, I knew I wouldn’t qualify,” Thiara said. “I had two fast guys in my race, and I just tried to stay with them.”

Downey junior high jumper Anne Stuart discovered first-hand the state meet’s degree of difficulty. She missed all three tries at the opening height of 5-3, her P.R. to place third last week at Masters.

One of the hardluck stories belonged to Merced senior Daniel Ambriz in the 800. He took fourth in his heat (1:54.54) for 13th overall. Alas, only 12 move on. Ambriz missed a finals berth by 46 hundredths of a second.

Buhach Colony freshman Morgan Johnson posted her best on her first try, a 126-11, and placed 19th in the field of 25.

This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Enochs' Seymour out of State final; Oakdale’s Chappell, MC's Warwick in."