ELK GROVE, Calif. – Junior Ariane Arndt and senior Sydney Hunter both advanced in their signature events and 4×100-meter relay reached the finals at the Sac-Joaquin Section Master’s meet, setting up an exciting Friday night. The top three in each event advance to the CIF State Championships June 5-6 in Fresno.

Arndt won her heat of the 800m in 2:15.98 to advance to Friday’s final. She had the second-best time behind Kendall Derry of Bella Vista and her season-best clocked at the Arcadia Invitational ranks among the top-10 in the nation.

“Today I was just trying to qualify, get out and give it a good kick at the end,” said Arndt, who scratched from the 400 meters to focus on the 800 and relays.

Hunter advanced to the final in both her individual events. She qualified for the 400m with a time of 56.18, the second-best time in her heat and seventh overall entering Friday.  She ran a season-best 55.88 at the section trials last week.  

“Today I definitely wanted to run to qualify so I can give everything tomorrow and give the best I can,” said Hunter. “I have wanted to make it to state for so long and it would be great to make it a reality. I need to get out faster tomorrow.”

She also finished third in her heat of the 200 meters and sixth overall, clocking a 25.38 just behind her season-best of 25.31. She will run both events on Friday.

The 4×100m relay (Kiani Reyna, Arndt, Lilly Enes and Hunter) started the meet with a season-best time of 48.00, easily reaching the finals with the second-best time. The foursome was second overall last season (47.61) to advance to the state meet.

Sophomore Elizabeth Hennessy just missed making the finals in the 300m hurdles, clocking a 46.15 to finish third in her heat and ninth overall.

“To be a sophomore and place ninth and just miss is pretty spectacular,” said Associate Head Coach Joe Poggi. 

Nicole Spring was 11th in the triple jump with a best jump of 32-5.5. The 4×400-meter relay team scratched to close the meet.

St. Francis will have finalists in five running events on Friday, while junior Nicole Spring will compete in the long jump. Seniors Peyton Bilo and Miranda Myers will compete in both distance events, while junior Chase Worthen will join them in the 1600m. Running events start at 6 p.m.