For Del Norte’s Paige Echsner, last year’s state track and field championships were a major learning experience.
A very stressful one.
Echsner, the younger of the sister act that includes her senior sister Ella, was entered in the pole vault and the 4×800 relay.
After qualifying for the finals in the vault and realizing the 4×800 relay was also late in the meet, she couldn’t help wondering what would happen if she was still vaulting when the relay, where the Nighthawks were the top-seeded team, was scheduled to start.
“The day before, at the prelims, I felt really, really good and I easily cleared the 13-foot bungee cord they use to warm up,” said the junior. “But I also kept looking over my shoulder at the track meet.
“I cleared 12-5 in the vault and they moved the bar to 12-9, which was my PR. I didn’t perform the way I wanted, though, not like the day before. After my final attempt, I realized I had less than 10 minutes to gather up everything and get to the starting line for the relay.
“If I’d cleared 12-9, I’m not sure what would have happened.”
According to the rules, she could have sprinted over to run the relay, but they would not hold up the pole vault for her, meaning she might have been able to finish the relay and run back for one last try. After running the anchor 800 leg.
Coach Chris Jacobs also could have replaced her on the relay.
That decision was never a factor — Echsner was ready to go and helped the Nighthawks capture the first-ever 4×800 state title in a section and state record 8:55.99.
As it was, she finished the relay and had to run over to the victory stand for the pole vault awards where she placed sixth. She stuck around for the 4×800 relay gold medals.
Two weeks later, at the Nike Nationals in Oregon, the same foursome of Emily Russo, Ella Echsner, Hannah Riggins and Paige Echsner was pushed by San Juan Capistrano JSerra to an 8:51.78 to win the national title.
“At both Arcadia (9:00.77) and state, I really wasn’t challenged because we had a comfortable lead going into the final 800,” said Paige Echsner. “At Nationals, we were ahead but 200 meters into the race two teams, JSerra and South Lakes (Virginia), went by me.
“I was thinking that a third place would be OK until I started the last 400 and was catching up. I found another gear with 150-meters to go and I pushed it, ing both of them. I’ve never felt so much pain, but we won. Then I found out I’d run 2:09!”
So, which of the two events does she favor?
She paused and said, “I think I’ll stick with the pole vault but they’re really different and I like them both.
“I only started pole vaulting as a freshman and that was a natural fit because like a cat, I like to climb around on things, so hanging upside down in the vault was fun. But the 800 is a close second.
“It’s been challenging doing both this year and I’ve put in a lot of extra time to get better in the vault. I just changed from a 13-6/155 pole to a heavier 14-0/165 but I haven’t used it in competition. I cleared 12-9 last year on pure athleticism but I’m ready for a 13-footer.”
That could come as early as this coming weekend at the Mt. SAC Relays where two previous state champions, La Costa Canyon’s Iliana Downing (14-0) and Pittsburg’s Jithiyah Muhammad (14-4) are expected to compete.
Not that she has given up on running.
The Nighthawks, even without 2:07 half-miler Riggins, have posted the fastest 4×800 relay time in the section at 9:15.56, which is the No. 3 time in the state.
Focusing more on the vault, Echsner’s best 800 time is 2:15.71, which she ran in early March.
“We really want to defend our section and state relay titles, even though he know we won’t be favored,” said Echsner. “I know we can go a lot faster.”
