ELK GROVE, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team advanced both relays and two individuals at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Trials at Elk Grove High School Thursday night. The heat winners plus the next fastest times advance to the eight-lane final on Friday.

“It was good,” said Interim Head Coach Rod Jett. “Like last Wednesday, you just want to qualify, win your heat and get a good lane for the finals. Tomorrow you run as fast as you can and try to win to make it to state. There is no more holding back.”

Senior Ariane Arndt cruised to a top eight finish in the 800 meters to advance and helped both relays qualify for the finals.

“The plan was just to qualify and that is what I did,” said Arndt. “(Tomorrow) I am going to go get it. There is a lot of competition. I definitely have to get out and finish strong.”

The 4×100-meter relay posted a 47.82 in the opening race to finish second overall after winning the third heat. Kiani Reyna led off, handing to Arndt who passed to Lilly Enes and Meaghan Rogers closed out the final leg.

“The 4×100 went well,” said Reyna. “We were really close to our season best. Our handoffs were pretty good but there is still room for improvement there.”

Enes also advanced in the 400 meters, posting a 56.95 to rank fifth overall after her second-place finish in her heat. 

“My open 400 went well,” said Enes. “I was just trying to qualify. I was happy I ran that time because I was not feeling well.”

Junior Meaghan Rogers was 16th overall in the 100 meters and junior Elizabeth Hennessy was 11th in the 300m hurdles (45.80).

In the 4×400-meter relay, St. Francis, the Sac-Joaquin Section champ, posted a 3:50.71, recording the top time by more than three seconds heading into the Masters finals.

“We are really excited about tomorrow,” said Reyna. “We are going to try to get first.”

Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift (3200) and senior Chase Worthen (1600) will also compete in finals on Friday. The top three in the finals advance to the CIF State Championships June 3-4.

Arndt will look to qualify for the 800m for the third consecutive season, while Enes hopes to reach the 400 meters at the state meet for the second time in her career. Vandegrift and Worthen are seeking their first state meet appearance on the track after leading the Troubies to an eighth-place finish at the cross country state meet in the fall.

The 4×400-meter relay team finished third in 2014 with Arndt, Enes and Reyna pairing with Sydney Hunter.  The running events start at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.

St. Francis Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Trials

4×100-meter relay – 2. St. Francis (Reyna, Arndt, Enes, Rogers), 47.82.

400 Meters – 5. Lilly Enes, 56.95.

100 Meters – 16. Meaghan Rogers, 12.79.

800 Meters – 6. Ariane Arndt, 2:16.03.

300 Hurdles – 11. Elizabeth Hennessy, 45.80

4×400-meter relay – St. Francis (Reyna, Enes, Hennessy, Arndt), 3:50.71.