‘It’s a big deal’: CHS track sends seven girls to state championships
(L-R) Claremont High School head track and field coach Ernie Gregoire and Zenani Guannu at practice Tuesday. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com
Claremont High School head track and field coach Ernie Gregoire always knew his team was something special.
Along with that belief — held since the training days of October 2024 — came the confidence that several girls varsity runners would not only post Palomares League victories, but also beyond, and compete at the 2025 California Interscholastic Federation State Championships.
And that’s exactly what happened. Freshmen Grace Smith and Camila Treviño-Davila; juniors Zylah Araujo, Annika Graham-Scanlon, Isla Bulmer, and Zenani Guannu; and senior Kaitlyn Smith will compete at the state championships Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
“I’m really excited, and I just can’t believe that I get to have this amazing opportunity with not only such an amazing program and team and coach, but with two of my best friends” said Zylah, who will compete in the 4×400 relay.
(L-R) Zylah Araujo, a member of CHS’s girls 4×400 team, trains on Tuesday. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
“This is intentional,” coach Gregoire said of the achievement. “We actually planned on being here. It was something we talked about the entire season, and we talked about how we were going to do it and what steps we were going to take and what times we’re going to run. So, this isn’t a big surprise to us.”
Ahead of the state championship meet, the team competed at the May 24 CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet at Moorpark High School. There, the 4×400 team of freshman Grace (also an 800-meter and 4×800 team participant), Zylah, Annika, and Zenani (the sole long jumper heading to state) set a new school record with a time of 3:50.10, good enough for eighth. The 4×800 team of Grace, Camila, Isla (also a 1600-meter participant), and Kaitlyn won the event and set a new school record of 8:59.39. Grace took third in the 800 meters at 2:10; Zenani came in fourth in long jump at 5.73 meters; and Isla, finished eighth in the 1600, at 4:52.
“This is the first time that we’ve taken a 4×4[00] and a 4×8[00] and three individual competitors to the state meet,” Gregoire said. “It’s a big deal.”
Wolfpack athletes had great success in what coach Natalie Miano called “the gauntlet,” the league and CIF-Southern Section events that precede masters and state.
(L-R) CHS girls varsity 4×400 relay team: Grace Smith, Zenani Guannu, Annika Graham-Scanlon, and Zylah Araujo are heading to the CIF state championships this weekend. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
4×400 relay:
Palomares League final, first, 3:56, CIF-SS Division II preliminaries, third, 4:03, CIF-SS D-II finals, second, 3:55.
Grace Smith, 800 meters:
Palomares League final, first, 2:12, CIF-SS D-II prelims, first, 2:13, CIF-SS D-II finals, first, 2:09.
Isla Bulmer, 1600 meters:
Palomares League final, second, 4:58, CIF-SS D-II prelims, first, 5:01, CIF-SS D-II finals, sixth, 4:51.
Zenani Guannu, long jump
Palomares League final, third, 5.64 meters, CIF-SS D-II prelims, 10th, 5.35 meters, CIF-SS D-II finals, sixth, 5.31 meters.
The full list is at athletic.net.
The 4×800 relay has been held at the CIF-SS Masters Meet since 2023. Claremont took second in 2024, with a time of 9:13, and first in 2023, at 9:07. At state, CHS take fourth in 2024 at 9:08, fifth in 2023 at 9:09. The event is not held at league and other CIF-SS competitions.
(L-R) CHS girls varsity 4×800 relay team: Grace Smith, Kaitlyn Smith, Isla Bulmer, and Camila Treviño-Davila will compete at the CIF state championships this weekend. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
CHS senior Kaitlyn Smith, Grace’s older sister, is excited to see what the team can accomplish at state in 2025.
“This is my third time going to state as part of the 4×8[00], and this is definitely the best team we’ve had,” Kaitlyn said. “I’m excited because I’m about to close off my senior season. So, this is kind of the end of my high school career, and I want to end on a high note.”
The secret of their success this season comes down to teamwork, according to Zenani.
“I think the environment and the ladies that I’m competing with, they’re always just pushing you to be better,” she said. “And honestly, like, it comes down to just having amazing teammates.”
Zylah praised the work the team has done to maintain consistency.
“A lot of the time, like over winter break or during spring break, it’s hard to motivate yourself when we don’t have school and practice afterwards,” Zylah said. “And really, just having practices where we know that our teammates will show up so we can continue working with them, and it’s really just everybody pushing each other to get better.”
In low times, the team has had a constant motivational reminder.
“We actually have printed on our shirts, ‘I can – I will,’” Gregoire said. “Anytime there’s any doubt, you look down at your shirt and it answers the question for you.”
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