ELK GROVE, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team recorded a team effort throughout the meet Friday night and posted a comeback win to claim their third straight Sac-Joaquin Section title. The Troubadours are the first Division I team to win three consecutive titles since West won three straight from 2003-05.

“It is an amazing night for the history of St. Francis,” said Head Coach Randall Fairchild. “It was a well-rounded team effort and everyone contributed.”

St. Francis, the 2015 Delta League co-champions, also won three straight titles from 2002-04 in Division III. It was the seventh track and field section title in school history and 90th overall for the school, the top mark among girls programs in the section.

“This one means so much for me,” said senior Sydney Hunter. “We really had to work and so many people stepped up. For this team with a lot of close friends to win together is really cool.”

Junior Ariane Arndt was the work horse on the night, winning two individual titles and running on both second-place relays to help the team to 36 points. But, her night was almost was in jeopardy after arriving at the meet without her shoes. She borrowed a teammate’s kicks to run in the first relay and 400 meters.

“Most unprepared athlete of the year award goes to me,” joked Arndt.

She took the equipment adjustment in stride and clocked a personal-best, school record and Division I section record time of 55.39 to win the 400 meters.

“I was really excited to run because it was my last 400 of the year,” said Arndt, who will concentrate on the 800 the rest of the year. “I wanted to give everything I had this time. I usually run a little conservative so I have something left for the 800. But I decided to kill it in the 400 and see what I have left for the 800. Sydney (Hunter) was starting next me and she gets out really fast so I just tried to stay with her.”

Arndt took the lead over the final 200 meters and posted her record-breaking time. She came back 20 minutes later to win the 800 meters, a distance she has been winning at all season while posting one of the top times in the country. Down the back stretch of the first lap, she took the lead with a quick outside move and led the pack the rest of the way.

Hunter, who broke the 400m record on Wednesday night, finished sixth in 56.99. She also finished 11th in the 200 meters to advance to next week’s Masters meet. The top 12 in each event will compete in Masters in the final step towards qualifying for the state meet.

Senior Peyton Bilo posted two second-place finishes in the 1600 and 3200 meter races behind Davis’ Foina O’Keeffe. Bilo clocked a 4:57.80, just off her school record, in the 1600, while teammates Miranda Myers (7th, 5:09.88) and junior Chase Worthen (9th, 5:11.15) formed a trio to qualify. Myers had a season-best and Worthen posted a PR.

“I felt a little shaky going in after graduation last night and my calves were a little sore after walking in those heals,” said Bilo. “After I got to the mile, I felt pretty strong and tried to rally and stick to my paces as much as I could. I tried to feed off the fans and the excitement of the honor of being here in both of these races. I am really happy.”

Bilo returned in the 3200 with the team trailing in the team standings behind Vacaville and Rodriguez. She ran a personal-best 10:44.26 while Myers was fifth overall in a season-best 11:12.85, one of her fastest times in the event since her sophomore season.

“I am really impressed with how Miranda came back from her injury,” said Bilo. “She has stayed really positive and was really nervous coming into today. I am really proud of her work ethic and how she is finishing out the season.”

After leading the cross country team to a third-place state finish in the fall, the distance dynamic duo combined for 22 points on the night, including the 12 in the 3200 to help the Troubadours take the lead.

With just the 4×400-meter relay left, St. Francis needed to finish at least fifth with third-place Rodriguez also in the finale. Arndt staked the team to a lead and handed to freshman Ava Nkadi, who was an alternate in the race. She ran a clean leg before handing to Lilly Enes and then Hunter for the final leg and a time of 3:52.83.

“Ava coming up as a freshman has been one of the greatest things ever,” said Hunter. “She is excited every race and it has been really refreshing for me to see her happy and I want to do 10 times better because of it.”

St. Francis also got important points in the opening 4×100m relay with Arndt, Hunter, Enes and junior Kiani Reyna. They finished second in 48.52 to open the scoring on the night.

Junior Nicole Spring added five points with a fourth-place finish in the long jump, recording three straight jumps over 17-9 in the finals, including a leap of 17-9.75 for a new personal-best on her final attempt.

“My steps were on and I felt good today,” said Spring. “You can always do better in your last three jumps. Most people do not PR on their last jump. You have to keep going.”

Junior Elizabeth Hennessy scored four points in the 300m hurdles with a personal-best 45.82 and advanced in the 100m hurdles with an 11th-place finish with a personal-best 16.50. Senior Sam Ruggles also competed in the discus.

The Sac-Joaquin Section Masters will start with the prelims on May 28.

Sac-Joaquin Section Team Results (Top 10)

1. St. Francis 69; 2. Rodriguez 61; 3. Vacaville 58; 4. Davis Sr. 47.50; 5. Pitman 38; 6. Del Oro 36; 7. Pleasant Grove 27; 8. Franklin-EG 26; 8. Armijo 26; 10. Granite Bay 23.