ELK GROVE, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field program had a big day at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters meet, qualifying in six events for next week’s CIF State Championship meet.

“We are so excited to be on the big stage of Masters and moving on,” said assistant coach Mason Myers. “This is what we work for from the beginning of the season, getting personal bests and records geared towards doing well at the big meets and getting your ticket punched to the state meet.”

Senior Lauren LaRocco qualified in both the 1600 and 3200, sophomore Ariane Arndt won the 800 meters and sophomore Lillian Enes advanced in the 400 meters. Both relays also qualified behind performances by junior Sydney Hunter and sophomore Kiani Reyna and Enes and Arndt.

The Troubadours opened the night with the 4×100-meter relay advancing with the team of Reyna, Arndt, Enes and Hunter posting a season-best 47.75 to finish second behind Franklin.

LaRocco qualified in the 1600 meters, holding on for a second-place finish in 4:57.58. She joined classmate Kayla O’Brine, who qualified in the discus on Thursday, as the first two individual event qualifiers.

“I am so glad I finally got to do it,” said LaRocco of advancing to the state meet. “I knew I was going to have to figure it out and go the pace I wanted to.”

LaRocco led for two plus laps before being passed by Kendall Derry of Bella Vista. She stayed close and ahead of the rest of the field to secure her spot at the state track meet for the first time.

She came back later in the night to win a convincing 3200 meters by recording a personal-best and school-record 10:32.72 beating Davis rival Fiona O’Keefe.

“It is great,” said LaRocco, who will run the two mile at the state meet. “I wasn’t quite satisfied with my mile. I am glad I stuck with her because that is what pushed me through.”

Enes returned in the 400 meters to earn her berth with a second-place finish in 56.83. Hunter was fifth overall in 58.62.

“It means a lot to me,” said Enes, who is running track for the first time this season. “I really did not think I would get this far.”

Sophomore Arndt won the 800 meters with a time of 2:15.78 to add to her race list at the state meet. Arndt took over the lead at the 600-meter mark and extended it out over the last turn.

“I was really pumped because I wanted to redeem myself from last week,” said Arndt. “I was surprised nobody went with me.”

The St. Francis 4×400-meter relay closed the night with a school-record performance in winning the last race, clinching the third win of the day for the program in 3:47.79.

The Troubadours had several other outstanding performances in the meet, including a pair of fourth-place finishes that just missed the top three. Senior Amanda Schnabel finished fourth in the 100m hurdles in 14.88, running under 15.00 for fourth straight race. She also placed eighth in the 300m hurdles final in 45.72. Junior Samantha Ruggles was fourth in the shot put with a mark of 39-1.75.

Madison Rawson ran in the 1600m, finishing eighth. Junior Miranda Myers was fifth in the 3200 in a personal-best 10:53.59.

Overall, St. Francis has a school-record six athletes in seven events earn qualifying spots in the state meet over the two-day Masters event.

“We could not be any prouder of these girls,” said Myers. “It was a lot of hard work, sweat and tears. Our hats are off the athletes and the parents that have supported them all season long.”

The CIF State Championships will be held at Buchanan High School in Clovis, Calif., Friday June 6 and Saturday, June 7.

Sac-Joaquin Section Masters (Top 3 Advance to State)

Shot Put

4. Samantha Ruggles, 39-1.75

4×100-Meter Relay

2. St. Francis (Reyna, Arndt, Enes, Hunter), 47.75

1600 Meters

2. Lauren LaRocco, 4:57.58

8. Madison Rawson, 5:15.26

100m Hurdles

4. Amanda Schnabel, 14.88

400 Meters

2. Lillian Enes, 56.83

5. Sydney Hunter, 58.62

800 Meters

1. Ariane Arndt, 2:15.78

300 Meter Hurdles

8. Amanda Schnabel, 45.72

3200 Meters

1. Lauren LaRocco, 10:32.72

5. Miranda Myers, 10:53.59

4×400

1. St. Francis (Arndt, Reyna, Enes, Hunter), 3:47.79