Tayhlore Hoagland is naturally outgoing and friendly.
Mention a sprinter or jumper from another school and she lights up. And not just from the San Diego Section, but from all over.
“That’s what makes track fun,” said the Rancho Bernardo senior who runs the 100- and 200-meters as well as both the long and triple jumps. “The club I run for, ‘Havoc,’ has great sprinters like (Madison’s) Amirah Shaheed, which makes me better.
“There are no long jumpers on the club, though.”
Instead, she has made those friends, like Oceanside freshman Jayla Morgan and Long Beach Wilson’s Loren Webster, in any number of summer youth meets.
This past weekend she got to compete in the Sundevil Invitational against both the rookie, who leads the section in both jumps at 18-4 and 38-9, as well as the Wilson girl who tops the state long jump at 20-1.
“I just adore her, she’s such a sweetheart,” Hoagland said of Morgan. “I always like to see what the new generation brings.”
And Webster?
“She’s doing what I want to do, she’s great competition.”
Hoagland, who quickly notes she prefers the 100 and long jump, with the triple jump the most physically challenging, ran her personal best of 12.18 seconds in the 100 at Sundevil, has a windy 25.46 in the 200, 18-feet-5 in the long jump and 34-5 ¼ in the triple.
Doing those events, though, means she can’t run on the school’s 4×100 relay team because of the four-event maximum.
“I miss that and watching them gets me fired up,” said Hoagland.
Her approach to her favorite events is a little different but also similar.
“In the 100, where my goal is anything under 12 seconds, my only focus is to get to the finish line,” said the 17-year-old. “I’m aware of my competition, especially Amirah who has a great start. I do have some areas where I can improve, so I’m looking for that sub-12.
“My goal in the long jump is 19-6. As long as I’m consistently in the high 18s, I’ll be happy and looking for that one perfect jump. Of course, 20 feet would be amazing. I work to get my final four steps down and focus on my jumps.
She likes the 200 because it’s different from the others and she has a chance to see her competition during the race. The triple jump? “Very challenging physically.”
She does it because she’s the best on her team in that event and she’s the ultimate team player.
“Everyone should have someone like Tayhlore on their team,” said Broncos head coach Roger Endreson. “Whatever you ask of her, she’ll do it — she ran the 400 as a freshman because we needed her there.
“She’s all about business at a track meet.”
Interesting choice of words because Hoagland is looking to major in business marketing when she decides where her next step will take her, with Cal Poly SLO, Fresno State and Cal State Fullerton among the finalists.
She carries a 4.08 weighted GPA and plans to compete at the next level. But first, she’s enjoying high school.
“Track, for me, is a peaceful thing,” Hoagland said. “You can put other things out of your mind and just have fun. It’s always easy to meet new friends but if someone is really focused and it’s not a good time, you can wait until later. I guess I’m just social person.”
And a busy one.
In addition to competing in track, she’s a member of the school’s Madrigal Choir, which sings at various events during the year. She’s an alto.
Then there’s the groups. She belongs to the Black Students Union, Inspire to Vote and Next Generation politics.
This being an election year, she’s been plenty busy.
“We’re just trying to get people out to vote, it doesn’t matter which party,” said Hoagland diplomatically. “We even have a competition there to see who can get the most people ed to vote.
“I’m really interested because I turn 18 in July and I get to vote in the November election.”
