SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis junior Ariane Arndt will run in the 800 meters at the CIF State Track and Field Championships Friday night. It will be her second consecutive appearance at the state meet in the 800m.

“I learned that it is just another race,” said Arndt. “I try to treat it like any other race even though there is a big crowd. I just want to perform my best.”

Arndt was seventh in her heat last season (2:16.18) and did not advance to the finals. The junior from Folsom has posted a big season in her signature event. She won the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters title for the second consecutive season, clocking a time of 2:14.25 last week to qualify for the meet. She ran a personal-best 2:10.05 to win the Arcadia Invitational earlier this season, a time that ranks as the fifth best in the state entering the meet.

“I think it is mostly mental,” said Arndt about having a good performance. “I have to get my mind ready to run. With a lot of big competition, I know I will be able to draft off and follow them.”

Arndt will run Friday night in the prelims. There will be three (3) heats in the 800 meters with 12 advancing from the prelims to the finals. The first three (3) places in each of the three (3) heats will automatically advance as well as the remaining three (3) fastest times.

“I just have to run two great races,” said Arndt.