Running strong in Oregon

Warriors earn three 2nd place finishes at the Prefontaine

Junior Jennifer Goacher of Del Norte High School takes part in a relay event at home last month. On Saturday, several Warriors, including Goacher, had strong showings at the 11th annual Prefontaine Rotary Invitational Track and Field Meet in Coos Bay, Ore. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Participating against more than 30 schools at the 11th annual Prefontaine Rotary Invitational Track and Field Meet on Saturday in Coos Bay, Ore., the Warriors had several strong showings.

This included a major contribution from a recent transfer student.

Competing in only his third meet for Del Norte after transferring, junior Brice Royal took second place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.28 seconds. He also took third place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.74 seconds.

Senior Brandon Kakitsuka had another strong day on the track.

He took second in the 400-meter dash, finishing with a time of 51.52 seconds. He also took fourth place in the 100 meters with a time of 11.75 seconds.

For the girls, junior Jennifer Goacher  performed well. She took second in the 200 meters with a time of 27.25 seconds and came in ninth in the 100 meters.

“They did well,” head coach Robyn Parker said. “They definitely rose up to the level of competition.”

Royal recently arrived in Crescent City from Taft, located near Bakersfield, and has been a welcome addition to the Warriors.

“He’s a very good athlete and is very fast, “Parker said

Royal said the coaches and his new teammates have welcomed him and he has enjoyed his time so far as a Warrior, doing what he can to contribute.

He said that it was nice to go out and have a good showing in an event like the Prefontaine.

“It was awesome,” Royal said. “I got to run against some great athletes.”

Goacher said that it was a great feeling to take second in the 200 on Saturday.

“It was nice,” he said. “I had a good start to my run.”

She said she liked the challenge of going up against top competition and knew she had to step it up to do well.

“I like the competition,” Goacher said. “It made me run faster.”

Other solid performances by the Warriors included a third place finish by Nicole Fugate in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 49.45 seconds and fourth place in the 100-meter hurdles.

Kylee Bruder finished in seventh in the high jump and eighth in the pole vault.

Morgan Laney took fourth place in the shot put.

On Friday, Del Norte wil compete at an event in Yreka.