The Coronado track and field team celebrated their successful season at the 2024 Track and Field banquet, where Lauren Gilhooly and Nathan Ayan were named the girls’ and boys’ most valuable players (MVPs).
According to coach George Green, both athletes were top scorers for their respective teams.
Gilhooly set new school records in the 100-meter dash (11.70) and the 200-meter dash (24.36). For both of these events, she placed second to state leader Amirah Shaheed from Madison High School in the league, division and section championships.
Gilhooly also led the girls’ 4×100-meter relay and 4×400-meter relay teams to league and division championships.
Ayan was the boys’ 800-meter dash champion at the league and division meets. At the section meet, he made the podium with an eighth place finish overall while running a personal record of 1:58.22.
Ayan led the boys’ 4×400-meter relay team to the league championship and a fifth-place finish at the division championships. He is also a member of the boys’ 4×800 school record team.
Awards for integrity and sportsmanship
In addition to giving out MVP awards, the banquet honored two students with ISF awards for integrity, sportsmanship and friendship — seniors Tatiana Potter and Rafael Roos were the recipients.
Potter was a key runner in the girls’ 4×100 and 4×400 relays. The 4×100 team, consisting of Potter, Gilhooly, Lindsey Balsley, and Summer Little, placed first at the league and division championships and fourth at the section meet.
The same group of girls were league champions and placed fourth at the division finals with their 4×400-meter relay team.
Roos placed a close second in the league and the division finals behind Ayan in the 800-meter run. At the masters meet, he placed 12th overall for the 800 among all San Diego runners.
In addition to Roos, Potter, and Balsley, senior plaques went to Jack Shumaker, Emily Fernandez, and Marco Velarde.
Balsley, named the City League Field Athlete of the Year, received a special coaches award for her performance in various events. In addition to her relay legs, she was the city champion in the long jump, fifth in the division meet, and eighth in the masters meet. She was the city champion in the 300-meter hurdles and fifth in the division meet.
“Newcomer of the Year” plaques went to Davin Collins and Little for the sprints. “Most Improved” plaques went to Garret Shumaker for throws and Stefanie Romero for distance events. Other coaches awards went to Eddie Gonzalez as the Islanders’ Top Thrower of the Year and Aiden Roberts for sprints, high jump, and long jump. Romero, Jaya Jost, Edie Alicandri, and Megan Norris received plaques for establishing a 4×800 school record for girls.
