San Clemente senior Caroline Hawkes was Orange County’s track and field leader this season in the 200 and 400 meters. Her time in the 100 was second-best in the county.
For her achievements Hawkes is the Orange County girls track and field athlete of the year.
Hawkes was named Sprint MVP at the Orange County Championships where she finished first in the 200 and 400. She was Sea View League champion in the 200 and 400.
She opted to run the 400 at the CIF State Championships where she finished fourth, her most prideful moment. Her personal-best time of 55.20 seconds in the 400 at the Mt. SAC Relays is the ninth-fastest in Orange County girls track and field history.
“I’m proud of myself for just getting to state and doing well placement-wise,” Hawkes said. “I was hoping for better times but just to get to state, getting through it mentally, getting through the CIF (Southern Section) finals and all of the prelims.”
Hawkes credited her parents and San Clemente track assistant coach Kevin McCarthy for their support.
“I couldn’t have done it without them,” she said.
Track and field can be a solitary sport. Hawkes said of her state meet preparation that “I was the only one on our team who got that far, all of my friends are graduating and here I am practicing by myself.”
San Clemente girls track coach Dave Proodian said Hawkes made it a “we” sport.
“Caroline’s been a leader on our team,” Proodian said. “She makes it a point to get to know everybody.”
Hawkes, who will continue her track career at Montana State, figured out early in life that she was faster than average.
“I’ve always loved running and I’ve always known I’m good at it,” she said. “When I played soccer I knew I was fast. In my freshman year of track season I knew I wanted to do it in college and then in my junior year I knew I could be in elite meets.”
Hawkes was an elite runner in elite meets in her senior year.
GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR
Brett Paton, Mission Viejo
The Mission Viejo girls track and field team won the South Coast League championship. The Diablos also were team champions at the Trabuco Hills Invitational.
Mission Viejo’s Brett Paton is the Orange County girls track and field coach of the year. (Photo courtesy of Brett Paton)
Among the team’s top performers were Jada Gatlin, who was the county’s leader in the triple jump, and Emily Psarras, who finished seventh in the long jump at the CIF State meet.
Mission Viejo’s 4×100 relay team was the fastest in Orange County this season at 48.77 seconds and finished third in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 finals.
“Taking the girls to the state meet was a wonderful thing,” Paton said. “And our 4×100 team making it to the Masters Meet was really a big deal.”
Paton, 58, completed his first full season as Mission Viejo’s girls track head coach. He was named to the position before the COVID-shorted season of 2020, and the 2021 season did not include a state meet. Paton, also a football assistant coach at Mission Viejo, has been the school’s track and field throws coach for many seasons.
ALL-COUNTY TEAM
(All distances in meters)
FIRST TEAM
100: Estelle McLeary, Villa Park, Jr.
200: Caroline Hawkes, San Clemente, Sr.
400: Caroline Hawkes, San Clemente, Sr.
100 hurdles: Sophia Menchine, Edison, Jr.
300 hurdles: Hanna Barmettler, JSerra, Sr.
800: Ashlee Gallegos, JSerra, Sr.
1,600: Emma Hadley, Canyon, Sr.
3,200: Isabella Frisone, Canyon, Sr.
4×100 relay: Mission Viejo
4×400 relay: JSerra
Discus: Taylor Hofland, Los Alamitos, Jr.
Shot put: Rebel Tuinuknafe, Orange Lutheran, Sr.
High jump: Kendra Duffey, Aliso Niguel, Sr.
Long jump: Alexa Thomson, Capistrano Valley, Sr.
Triple jump: Jada Gatlin, Mission Viejo, Jr.
Pole vault: Britan Polk, Marina, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
100: Caroline Hawkes, San Clemente, Sr.
200: Caroline Glessing, Corona del Mar, Sr.
400: Kailyn Raibon, Aliso Niguel, Sr.
100 hurdles: Charis Wondercheck, Pacifica Christian, Jr.
300 hurdles: Lindy Tarvin, Edison, Jr.
800: Anastasia Snodgrass, JSerra, Sr.
1,600: Allura Markow, Dana Hills, Jr.
3,200: Holly Barker, Laguna Hills, Fr.
4×100 relay: Los Alamitos
4×400 relay: Dana Hills
Related Articles
Canyon’s Kylee Magee among O.C. selections for CIF softball player of the year
All-County boys track and field team: Servite’s Max Thomas is the OC athlete of the year
Veteran Servite track and field coach Richard Gibbs retires
All-County girls swimming and diving team: Santa Margarita’s Teagan O’Dell is OC swimmer of the year
Capistrano Valley Christian softball loses in regional playoffs despite HR by Natalie Gleason
Discus: Siena Lambert, JSerra, Sr.
Shot put: Pesi Tauika, Orange Lutheran, Sr.
High jump: Carissa Martinez, Mater Dei, Sr.
Long jump: Emily Psarras, Mission Viejo, Jr.
Triple jump: Mackenzie Kirk, Los Alamitos, Sr.
Pole vault: Natalia Wilson, Trabuco Hills, Sr.