Gordon grabs state title

Three local athletes - senior Jett Gordon and junior Jake Arnold of Marina High, and senior Cassie Durgy of Huntington Beach, went north last weekend to compete at the 2016 CIF State Track and Field Championships.

Gordon won a State title and both Arnold and Durgy turned in top finishes at the two-day event held Friday and Saturday at Clovis Buchanan High.

In his final trip to the competition, Gordon captured his first State championship in the boys’ pole vault. He won the event Saturday with a vault of 16 feet, 8 inches on his third attempt.

He entered the championships as the event’s top seed and held on to that spot.

Gordon finished runner-up to the State title in the vault at last year’s championships.

“Last year, I felt that I came into State with more pressure,” Gordon said. “A lot of that weight I added myself. This year, I just wanted to do what I love doing and have fun out there. The biggest thing that helped me was that I went into the meet with a clear mind.

“There definitely was that thought in my head that my last jump, trying to clear 17-4 on my third attempt, would be my last jump as a high school kid. At that height, I already knew that I had won the title but at that moment, I wanted to keep my head clear. My goal was to jump 17-7 - that would have been great, and even though I didn’t clear 17-4, it was a great day and great way to end my high school career.”

“Saturday was a great day for Marina High School,” Marina Coach Carlos Castellanos said. “Jake and Jett did a great job representing themselves, Marina and the city of Huntington Beach.”

Arnold took seventh place in the boys’ shotput with a throw of 57-3/4.

“Overall, I think Jake and Jett did a great job,” Castellanos said. “It’s tough competing on back-to-back days with some heat and the event time-change can definitely throw athletes off, but they stayed focused and did a great job.”

Arnold owns the Marina records for shotput (59-6) and discus throw (168-9). He was the No. 9 seed in the boys’ shotput at the State meet.

“Jake did a great job at Clovis,” Castellanos said. “It’s been a big season for him because, when you think about it, he did not compete at CIF last year in shotput and the following year, improved to compete at State finals? You don’t see that happen too often. It just shows how much hard work he put in this year phenomenal job by a great athlete.”

Marina finished tied for 13th place in the boys’ team standings. Vista Murrieta won the boys’ team State title.

Huntington Beach finished tied for 59th place in the girls’ team standings. Los Angeles Carson won the girls’ State title.

Gordon, who said he will continue vaulting and attend Golden West College next year, won both the CIF Southern Section Division 2 and CIF Masters Meet pole vaulting titles in consecutive weekends late last month. He set the Marina record in the boys’ pole vault with a 17-2 mark at the CIF-SS Division 2 finals May 21.

He said he will compete at the upcoming USA Track and Field Junior Nationals June 24 through 26 at Buchanan High.

“Jett is the most decorated track and field athlete Marina has ever had, and the team and the school are proud of him,” Castellanos said.

Cassie Durgy’s outstanding high school career was capped with a sixth-place State finish Saturday in the girls’ 800-meter run. She came on strong down the stretch and finished in a time of 2 minutes 9.03 seconds.

“She battled back after being under the weather for a few weeks and earned a spot on the podium,” Huntington Coach Kareen Shackelford said.

Shackelford called Durgy a “tough competitor” who will “inspire others in the future.”

Durgy was making her third appearance at the State meet. She finished ninth in the 800 meters as a sophomore, but was disqualified at the start of last year’s race.

“It was definitely a great feeling that I was able to compete this year,” Durgy said with a laugh, in reference for her DQ start last year. “I performed to the best of my abilities. I felt my best the first night and was pleased with how I did Saturday.

Durgy, who will attend and compete next school year at UCLA, holds Huntington Beach school records for the girls’ 400 meters (56.90), 800 meters (2:08.85), 1,600 meters (4:56.83) and one mile (4:55.52).

“It was definitely bittersweet to have my high school career come to an end,” she said. “My parents [Rob and Ruth] have supported me through everything. They were there, and Kareen [Shackelford] was there, and it was so great to have their support once again. I know my mom was crying before I ran my race.

“I’m looking forward to starting the next chapter in my life and my running career at UCLA. I’m looking forward to being a part of the Bruin Family.”