The Gryphon Gazette

By Lauryn F. ‘26

As the end of the Spring Season is rapidly approaching, Crystal’s Track and Field program has seen a lot of success in both distance and sprint events. The team has participated in many meets, ranging from small West Bay Athletic League meets to the reputable Arcadia and Stanford Invitationals. Being one of the smaller schools in these large meets is challenging, but they always seem to prosper. 

Stanford Invitational

This is a local, well-known track meet and is home to many state and even national records. Crystal was able to put together an impressive showing, especially in the distance events. This particular meet spans over 2 days, so many talented athletes ran on both days and in multiple events. To kick things off, the girl’s Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team, consisting of Anna S. ‘26, Sophie B. ‘24, Kira D. ‘26, and Heidy A. ‘26, finished 9th place overall with a time of 12:46.96. This is the 2nd fastest time in school history and considering the rainy conditions, it was a huge accomplishment. Similarly, the boy’s DMR team with Ben B. ‘25, Oliver B. ‘25, Dean W. ‘24, and Tarik B. ‘25, finished 3rd place overall with a time of 10:31.21. Their team also broke into the school’s top ten list, with their new time bumping them up to 3rd. 

Boys Distance Medley Relay Team: (left to right) Tarik B. ’25, Ben B. ’25, Dean W. ’24, Ollie B. ’25

On Saturday, Anna, Ben, and Tarik competed individually against many talented runners. With an incredible 1600 race, Anna dips under 5 minutes for the first time this season with an official time of 4:58:02. That is the 2nd fastest time in school history only trailing Kaiya Brooks, who recently graduated. As for Ben, he also finished 3rd place in the 1600 with a new personal best of 4:12.74, beating his previous school record of 4:18.19. In the boy’s 800, Tarik ran a new personal best of 1:59.80. This puts him at the 6th fastest time for a junior boy in school history. 

After the individual events, Anna S., Heidy A., Ma’Lia P., and Sophie B. finished 19th place overall in the girl’s 1600 relay with a time of 4:13:16. This is the season’s best time for the team. 

Arcadia Invitational

The Arcadia Invitational is arguably one of the most prestigious track meets in the nation, as there are over 700 schools that take part in it, many of whom fly in. This meet unfolded into two days of unparalleled achievement for Crystal, leaving an indelible mark on the school’s track and field history. The thrill of breaking barriers and shattering records electrified the atmosphere as we witnessed exceptional performances from our athletes. 

Friday commenced with Ben B.’s display, demolishing his own school record in the 3200-meter event with a jaw-dropping time of 9:02.82, just missing 9 minutes. Meanwhile, Anna ran her way into the records of our school’s track history, setting a personal best in the 3200-meter race with a phenomenal time of 10:39.96, standing as the second fastest in the school and currently leading CCS in the event. 

This momentum surged into Saturday, when the girl’s Distance Medley Relay (DMR) squad etched their names into the records, establishing a new school benchmark with a lightning-fast time of 12:31.83. Anna S., Lauryn F., Heidy A., and Kira D., all sophomores, combined their talents to finish 12th in their heat. 

Girl’s Distance Medley Relay team (from left to right: Heidy, Kira, Anna, Lauryn)

The crescendo of triumph reached its pinnacle as our boy’s DMR team, composed of Tarik B, Emanuel G, Oliver B, and Ben B, took to the track, seizing a remarkable 5th place in the Invitational event with an impressive time of 10:17.17. Their stellar performance not only secured a new school record but also put them into the national spotlight, boasting the 5th fastest time across the nation. 

Other Notable Performances

Heidy A. ‘26: Heidy has been mentioned in both the Stanford and Arcadia meets, but her efforts in the smaller league meets have not gone unnoticed. During WBAL 2A, she was one of the few brave souls to run the 3200, looking to set a new personal record. While she may have been the minority, she had a teammate, Tarik B. ‘25, next to her the whole race, pacing her to attempt to beat her previous? time of 11:35.53. While she just missed this record by just 1 second, the teamwork and resilience displayed by both Tarik and Heidy were incredible to watch.

Riley M. ‘26: Riley is one of the very few people who runs hurdles at Crystal, especially the 300m. This race is particularly tough, as you need both stamina and speed to succeed. Luckily, Riley has both. She recently ran her first race of the season in this event during WBAL 2A. With a great effort, Riley just missed her personal record of 55.68 by 0.32 seconds. 

Riley M. ‘26 at Dublin Distance Fiesta

Andy H. ‘26: Sophomore Andy Hsieh has continued to improve on both his 100m and 200m times from last year, running his fastest 200m time yet at the Skyline Invitational. While he has yet to run a personal record in the 100m, his times so far have been extremely impressive. 

Conrad C. ‘27: Although only a freshman, Conrad has displayed a lot of strong running in the past couple of weeks. He specializes in the 1600m and 3200m, in addition to running the 800m. Currently, his 1600m personal record is 4:48, which he ran at Firebird Relays. His 3200m time is currently 10:18.88, which was run at Dublin Distance Fiesta. We will definitely be seeing him break 10 minutes during his time at Crystal!

The culmination of Crystal’s Track and Field season at the midway point has been nothing short of remarkable, with many outstanding achievements and memorable performances. From the prestigious Stanford Invitational to the well-known Arcadia Invitational, our athletes have not only competed but excelled. The team’s success in both distance and sprint events highlights their dedication, perseverance, and unwavering spirit in the face of challenges. As records were broken and personal bests were shattered, it is evident that Crystal’s track and field program is not just about athletic prowess but also about teamwork. Each athlete’s journey, whether it be Heidy’s pursuit of a new personal record or Riley’s determination in the face of hurdles, exemplifies the spirit of excellence. Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, the stage is set for even greater achievements, and we can’t wait to witness the continued growth and success of our athletes as they strive to reach new heights and make their mark on the track and in our hearts.