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Sports

Foland, Pio Advance For Mira Costa At CIF Meet

Mustangs' runners finish 1st and 3rd in Division 2 and 3rd and 10th overall in the 3,200 meters at the CIF-Southern Section Divisional Finals to qualify for the Masters Meet; Pio runs despite a bad case of strep throat

The way Mira Costa High junior Aryn Foland looks at it, if an individual can stand up to the track competition in the Bay League then the CIF-Southern Section Divisional Finals are a cake walk.

It's not that simple a stroll, really, but dual meets among Bay League members Mira Costa, Redondo Union and Palos Verdes feature arguably the hottest distance races for girls than any league in the Southern Section and most likely the entire state.

"It's crazy. It's awesome,'' Foland said. "Our league is totally stacked in the 800, the 1,600 and the 3,200. You know if you can run well in the Bay League, you're not only one of the best in the league but in the (Southern Section) and the state. Every week, we have to train hard, because you can't slack off in our league.''

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The training and competition paid off Saturday in the divisional finals for Foland and her teammate Savannah Pio. The pair qualified in the 3,200 meter run for Friday's Master's Meet at Cerritos College. Foland ran the fastest time in Division 2 and third-fastest time among the 36 competitors at the meet, finishing the eight-lap race in 10:34.16. Pio, who ran despite a bad case of strep throat, was third in Division 2 and 10th fastest overall in 10:47.53.

The top five finishers in each event, along with individuals that achieve state-qualifying marks or times, then advance to the CIF State Track and Field Championships June 4-5, in Fresno.

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"I'm very happy,'' Mira Costa girls track coach Renee Williams-Smith said. "Our goal was to make it to (the Masters meet). They're both peaking at just the right time.''

A person possessing less fortitude than Pio might not have even showed up for the meet.

"She had a throat infection last week and she has strep throat now,'' Williams-Smith said. "She was sick as a dog. So, she was hanging by a thread today. I'm very proud of her.''

Pio did not even consider scratching from her event.

"I just had to stick it out,'' she said. "There are no excuses this time of year.''

Foland said there is a bond among Bay League rivals once they get out of league competition.

"We love all the representation for the Bay League,'' Foland said. "We definitely love it when we see a Redondo jersey leading a race. Before our race, we were sitting in the PV tent talking with girls from their team.''

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