CLOVIS, Calif. – Senior Peyton Bilo finished 14th in the prelims of the 1600 meters Friday night, posting a time of 4:56.46. She was sixth in her heat and just two spots out of the final. The top four finishers in each heat and next four fastest times advanced.

“I felt pretty good,” said Bilo after her race. “It went out slower than I expected. When the girls turned it on with 700 to go, I did not feel like I had as strong of a kick in me as them. Compared to my individual performances, I had a good kick but those girls can just whip out a sub-70 last lap.”

Assistant coach Mason Myers liked the race by his pupil.

“I think Peyton ran a pretty conservative race,” said Myers. “She ran within her skill level and came thru at 2:30 at the half. (For the race) she was just a couple of tenths of a second off her PR. It was an excellent performance. Even though she did not make it onto the finals, she can focus on the 3200 tomorrow night.”

Great Oak’s Destiny Collins posted the top time with a 4:47.26. Tesoro’s Amanda Gehrich clocked a time of 4:50.18.

 “It was great to be in a race with them,” said Bilo, who will run at Cal Poly next season. “The experience was awesome. It was fun. It feels great. I came in (seeded) 19th coming in so it was good to upset a little bit and do better than I thought.”

Bilo appreciated the experience and her state meet is not done. She will run in the finals of the 3200 on Saturday night.

“It is really exciting,” said Bilo. “I can’t wait to race under the lights tomorrow and all the great girls in the final. Just being here is so fun with all the fans cheering. It is kinda surreal because I am living a really good dream.”