Hoover High’s track and field team made history on Thursday, clinching a momentous win against long-standing rivals, Glendale.
Hoover’s varsity girls’ team won, 70-57, and the varsity boys’ squad won, 71-56. The victory marked the first time in 24 years in the schools’ rivalry that Hoover emerged on top at the track, igniting celebrations among athletes, coaches, and supporters.
Hoover’s athletes’ hard work paid off as they dominated key events and secured crucial points to lock in their place in school history.
Hoover’s track stars rose to the occasion, running stellar times across the board.
“I was totally surprised by the total points more than the performance of our athletes. The stats showed us losing to GHS by 19 points. Race after race, jump after jump and throw after throw, we took them on and beat them,” said Hoover Coach Jack Sallakian.
Hoover’s new assistant coach Leya Buchanan had full confidence in her team.
“I wasn’t surprised with the results because in our last couple practices everyone put in great work, I knew everyone was prepared to compete,” she said.
One of the most notable prepared to compete was the Hoover’s distance division.
Emma Canal secured 18 points from her 1600 (5:36), 3200 (12:26) and 4×400 meter relay first-place finishes and her 800 meter (2:29) second-place spot.
“I’m really surprised that we pulled a win considering how competitive both teams’ athletes are and how we haven’t won for over 20 years,” said Canal.
Katherine Coppersmith won all four of her events, taking the 400 and 200 meters, long jump (15-1) and 4×400 meter relay, scoring a total of 20 points for the team.
Between Canal and Coppersmith, the two of them secured more than half the total points earned for girls’ varsity. Coppersmith ran a personal record in the 400-meter race at 61.48 seconds.
“I’m really proud of our team camaraderie and how supportive everyone is of each other’s successes and losses,” Coppersmith said. “We all really came together to put our best foot forward to win the BGD bowl and it was really rewarding. I can’t wait to see what myself and the team achieve for the rest of the season.”
Sidney Pullen, a first-year track star, came in second in all her races, including running a personal record in the 200 meters (13.48) and 100 meters (28.70).
“The meet was really fun and it was nice PRing. It was super exciting when they announced us as the winners and then we got to take a victory lap,” said Pullen.
Hoover’s Breann Pimenta, Kristan Cannon and Zoe Guillot-Denoyelle all took gold from the meet as well.
Pimenta ran a 13.27 second 100 meter, making it her personal record, in addition to another 4×400 relay win. Guillot-Denoyelle came in first in the 300-meter hurdles (54.02) and high jump (4-06) and third in 100 meter hurdles (21.93). Cannon won the shot put (29-00) and got third in long jump (14-10).
Gunner Sumner, Hoover’s star sophomore, did exceptionally well. Sumner got second right behind her teammate Canal in the 3200 meter (12:41), third in the 1600 (5:53) and 800 (2:43) meter races.
This is not only an accomplishment for the athletes but also a testament to positive coaching.
“I was so speechless and teary-eyed. I couldn’t stop looking at all the athletes and seeing how happy they were,” says Sallakian.
Added Buchanan: “I felt so proud, I was honored that I helped create history with the team. I felt like everyone trusted my coaching and their training which brought out the exceptional performances.”
As for the boys, Zakhary Van Patten brought his A-game, scoring points for the Tornadoes to clutch the win.
Van Patten won the 400 meter (53.73) and 4×100 and placed second in the 200 meter (23.88). Javon Lyon got first place in the triple jump (37-11) and second in the 4×100 relay and long jump (18-05).
The 3200 meter (12:07), 1600 (5:14) were all left in the dust as Antonio Thompson went for gold. Thompson got second in the 800 meter (2:20), behind first place Charles Martinito (2:18) who also helped the Tornados team finish first in the 4×400.
Anderson Thombs knocked out the throwing events by placing first in shot put (39-05) and discus (101-10).
As for the future, “the rest of the season must be planned carefully” says Sallakian,
“We shouldn’t over train our athletes. Those who have a chance of making it to CIF will train strong for another two weeks while those who aren’t will start to taper down their training in the next week.”
