Ceres High’s track and field program will make history this spring.
The Bulldogs will compete at the school’s newly-renovated stadium for the first time. The facility features a host of upgrades, including an all-weather track.
Ceres High had no home meets and practiced at Mae Hensley Jr. High last season while the $7.8-million project was completed. Meets have also had to be rescheduled in the past due to flooding on the old dirt track.
“Everything is really nice,” Bulldogs’ head coach Brett Johnson said. “It’s something to be proud of. I can’t wait for people to see this.”
Ceres High has a roster size of 128 student-athletes.
“We’re pretty consistent,” Johnson said. “We make the program inviting. We have quality coaches that care about the kids.”
The Bulldogs’ top returners are Calen Adams (Sr.), McCoy Adams (Sr.), Jaiden Boss (Sr.), Adrian Fuentes (Sr.), Tre Karriem (Sr.), Kyle Phongsa (Sr.), Reis Smith (Sr.), Von Tigner (Sr.), Alexander Vas Dinis (Sr.), Nathaniel Macias (Jr.), David Rodriguez-Ochoa (Jr.), Sergio Torres (Jr.), Cashton Almeida (So.), Angelo Estrada (So.), Giselle Contreras (Sr.), Emily Esparza (Sr.), Samira Mendoza (Sr.), Roe Monroe (Sr.), Alanize Moreno (Sr.), Alexa Romo (Sr.), Nehemiah Valenzuela (Sr.), Mariah Zamora (Sr.), Brooke Kiser (Jr.), Savannah Weese (Jr.) and Jayden Garcia (So.).
Ceres High’s top newcomers are Joseluis Arreola (Jr.), Adrian Huesca (Jr.), Andres Marcial (Jr.), Edwin Martinez (Jr.), Sam Nieto (Jr.), Jasandeep Singh (Jr.), Sovannary Carter (Jr.), Brianna Luna (Jr.), Alexia Arreola (So.) and Melina Castrejon (So.).
Luna attended Downey High School sophomore year.
She was a member of Ceres High’s track and field and cross country teams as a freshman.
Karriem, Smith, Rodriguez-Ochoa, Torres, Kiser and Garcia are team leaders.
“They don’t have to say anything,” Johnson stated. “They lead by example. They work hard. That rubs off on other people.”
Boss placed second in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles at the 2024 Western Athletic Conference Championships.
Vas Dinis placed second in the discus and 11th in the shot put.
Torres placed third in the 800.
Calen Adams placed third in the pole vault.
Barrera placed fifth in the 800.
Phongsa placed fifth in the triple jump.
Rodriguez-Ochoa placed fifth in the 110 hurdles and ninth in the 300 hurdles.
Smith placed sixth in the long jump.
Tigner placed sixth in the triple jump.
Zamora placed fourth in the triple jump and ninth in the long jump.
Moreno placed fifth in the shot put and eighth in the discus.
Esparza placed sixth in the 200.
Ceres High’s boys and girls took third and sixth, respectively, in the team standings at last year’s conference championships.
The Bulldogs will compete in the new-look WAC this season, along with Central Valley, Livingston, Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Lathrop and Pacheco.
Central Valley and Livingston relocated from the CCC and TVL, respectively, to the WAC as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s league realignment plan.
Former WAC schools Los Banos and Mountain House joined the CCC and VOL.
“It’s cool,” Johnson said. “I enjoy seeing different competition. I won’t’ miss the (longer) trips to Los Banos and Mountain House.”
Crosstown rivals Ceres High and Central Valley will battle for bragging rights and team positioning in league.
“The kids get excited,” Johnson said. “Competing against their friends is fun for them.”
