May 18, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOTES & QUOTES:
CONTACT: FRED BAER 650-483-3733 (mobile)

MESA'S BOGARD SETS AMERICAN JC RECORD; LANEY'S WILLIAMS ON TRACK FOR 4 GOLDS

Morgan Bogard, San Diego Mesa, sophomore (Has signed with Cal State Northridge):

Broke American JC Record in women’s hammer throw on her fifth and sixth throws:

56.89 meters / 186-7 in fifth round
56.96 meters / 186-10 on last throw.
Former American JC Record: 185-0, Angela Foster, Moorpark, May 13, 2000
Former State Meet Record: 184-9, Amy Thiel, Moorpark, May 19, 2000.

Bogard credited “adrenaline” with her record throws…“because it’s state. Everyone is expected to do well.”

She described the conditions at CSM’s year old throwing facility, which overlooks San Francisco Bay (and was the site of an American record throw in the women’s javelin last year by Kim Kreiner):

“It’s nice – overlooking the bay – peaceful and calming.

“This is my second year throwing the hammer.

I did the discus and shot put in high school at University (of San Diego) – a Catholic school”

“I only threw the last two years in high school.”

She will be competing in the shot put and discus throw in the state finals on Saturday

She is the national leader this year in the discus throw (156-4), ahead of No. 2 Sela Paini of state meet host San Mateo (154-1), who is ranked second in the state and USA.

Bogard ranks fifth in the state in the shot put at 40-2

Charonda Williams, Laney, sophomore (returning state champion in 100 & 200 and voted outstanding woman’s track athlete of 2006 state championships):

(Will transfer to Arizona State)

--She won the long jump with a personal best 19 feet, 5 inches, on her second jump, improving upon her state leading mark of 19-4 1/4 set in last week’s NorCal Championships. (She passed her remaining jumps.)

Regarding long jump today: “I didn’t expect to jump that far. I’m not a long jumper.”

Regarding Saturday:

“I want a repeat of last year. I”ve worked all year long for that day.”

Saturday’s goals: “At least 11.3 high or 11.4 low in the 100

23.5 in the 200

in 4 x 1 expect to go 44.9

I’m looking forward to all my races except the 4 x 4.”

Re state team title: (since she got Laney’s maximum of 10 points today):

“Right now we have a chance.

If we win the 4 x 1 and if I can win the 1 & 2; hopefully my teammates will be right behind me.

(Laney has two additional qualifiers in the 100 and three additional in the 200 finals.)

Helena Silva, College of San Mateo sophomore:

Unleashed a javelin throw of 125 feet, 9 inches on her final attempt to vault to third place.

That was PR by four feet and the best by a NorCal athlete this season; No. 14 nationally.

She had previously throw 121-9 in the NorCal prelims.

Michelle Thompson of Cuyamaca won at 158-9, improving her own state leading mark (153-6) and her No. 2 national JC ranking.

Silva was competing in her fifth event of the day, after earlier competing in the four events of the heptathlon first day. She is currently in ninth place with 2,144 points – with two of her strong events (javelin and 800 meters) remaining among the final day events (which start with the long jump).

After the javelin throw, Silva said: “I’m so surprised – taking third in the in the end. Yes, the home field helped. I’ll be down on the podium” (expressing her excitement about getting on the medal stand).

“I’m ready for tomorrow – but I can’t get too cocky.”