State track and field: County athletes bow out at state trials

CLOVIS – The magnitude of the meet – arguably the best collection of high school track and field athletes in the nation – can’t be fully digested until stepping into the stadium.

At that point, it often leaves first-time athletes numb, unable to fully embrace the milestone, perhaps even a little overwhelmed when glancing at the marks and times of their competitors.

“I tried my best to embrace it,” Salinas sprinter Jaslyne Coronado said. “When I was warming up. I was numb. Before today, I felt a little intimidated. There was a lot of unknown. But when I got here, I tried to soak in the moment.”

Personal records will be on hold for another year for three county athletes, who made their state track and field debut Friday in the trials at Buchanan High in Clovis.

For junior Anarae Ashurst of North Salinas and sophomore Carolina Lorca of Palma, it will serve as motivation to return next spring. For Coronado, it’s a stepping stone to her next journey at Monterey Peninsula College.

Stepping into the spotlight of a sport with no divisions, all three finished in the top 17 in their respective events at the state trials, with Coronado improving seven places from her seeding.

While Coronado did not lower her school record time of 55.40, the recent graduate clocked 55.67 seconds to finish fourth in her heat and 13th overall. The top nine in each running event advance to Saturday’s finals.

“Oh my god, it was a surreal experience,” Coronado said. “After graduating on Thursday, I’ve been on cloud nine. My heart is so full. It felt like an adrenaline rush. I didn’t run my best race, but it was the best perspective I’ve had all year.”

Coronado, an all-league softball player in 2025 who did not run track last spring, came into the meet ranked 20th after finishing third at last Saturday’s Central Coast Section finals.

“This meet was an amazing thing to be a part of,” said Coronado, who was among the nation’s leaders in receptions last fall in flag football. “I’m excited for the next chapter in college. I’m ready to work. I’m fully invested in the sport.”

Lorca, who went from throwing 33-feet-7 in the shot put four weeks ago at the Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division finals to 37-2 at the section finals, ended up 15th overall with a mark of 36-8 3/4. The top 12 in the field events advance to the finals.

“I think in the last three weeks, she realized her potential,” Palma coach Jason Smith said. “She’s an athlete in multiple sports. She told our throws coach, ‘I get it now.’ I think we’ve got her bought in.”

An all-leaguer in flag football and basketball this past season, Lorca also swam during track season this spring. She came into the meet ranked 20th after finishing third at the section finals.

“She doesn’t like to lose,” Smith said. “When she does, she asks, ‘how do I get better?’ When she learns the technique, she has all the physical attributes.”

Ashurst, who is also a three-sport standout, uncorked the discus 156-4, well off his career best of 175-6, which is the eighth-best throw in county history.

“I honestly let it (state) get in my head,” Ashurst said. “It affected my technique. It was like stepping into another atmosphere. I had never felt that much pressure. The ring looked so big.”

A section champion in the discus last week with a mark of 169-3 for North Salinas, Ashurst became the first discus thrower in the county to throw over 170 feet this season in 19 years.

“I will have a chip on my shoulder next year,” Ashurst said. “I will remember this. I felt my first throw was solid. But I stepped out and fouled. Then I started thinking I need to get a mark. I need to learn not to overthink things.”

Clara Adams, who had her state title in the 400 stripped from her last year after taking a fire extinguisher to her shoes while at North Salinas, clocked the fastest time in the trials at 53.53 for Long Beach Wilson, well off her career best of 51.98.

Adams will also be in the 200 finals on Saturday after winning her heat in 23.60, and is a part of the 1,600 relay team at Long Beach Wilson that ran the fastest high school time in California history last week.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 9:36 PM.