Valley's track and field team plowed through the tape at the first state preliminary at Bakersfield College last Saturday. Several of our men and women advanced to the next round, leaving the rest of the Western State Conference in the dust. Men Andrew Salg and Savoy Rhyne advanced in the 5k and triple jump events, respectively, while women Sylvia Alboniga qualified in the 100 and 400-meter hurdles and Mekka Edwards-White for the 100-meter dash.
The timing was all wrong for Valley College. They lost 6-3 to Bakersfield May 6 at Pike Field in their final home game of the season. That was the game they needed to win to boost their playoff hopes. In what turned out to be hollow consolation for the Monarchs, who finished the regular season by doing something they didn't do enough of in 2008.
Valley College divers Tiffanie Wright and Gene Williams' celebratory high-five early in competition at the state swimming and diving championships was a tip off that they knew they were doing well. The championships took play at Saddleback College May 1-3.