Hundreds of athletes came together at Moorpark High for the CIF Southern Section Track and Field Championships looking to be crowned the best in the section.
Among the sea of competitors were San Marino High freshman Keilani Kooper and junior Kayla Giddings, who made strides in the Division IV pool of track and field athletes.
Giddings reached the podium after racing in the 800-meter event. The junior finished in a personal-record 2 minutes, 20.34 seconds to place fourth in the race. Ontario Christian senior Megan Charley won the CIF crown in 2:13.91.
At the Rio Hondo League finals, Gidding placed runner-up in the 800 race, clocking in at 2:20.77 for the podium finish.
Kooper was the only field competitor for the Titans, vying for a title in the shot put. The freshman recorded a throw of 31 feet, 1 inch to place eighth in the event. St. Mary’s Academy junior Natiel Osborne won the CIF Division IV title following a 37-5 throw.
Kooper’s first CIF finals appearance follows a title-winning effort at the Rio Hondo League track and field finals on April 26, when the freshman recorded 33-3 ½ to be crowned league champion.
First published in the May 16 issue of the San Marino Tribune
