Portola High School Track & Field 2024 Season Preview (CA)

Portola High School's track and field team is ready to continue their winning streak in the Pacific Coast League and make a name for themselves in the competitive Division 1 CIF Southern Section. With a strong group of senior leaders and talented underclassmen, Coach Cale Kavanaugh is confident that his team will perform well and leave a lasting legacy for the program. This year, the team is looking to win their third consecutive Pacific Coast League Title for the Men's Team and second consecutive league title for the Women's Team. Both teams have consistently finished among the top in the county and now have their sights set on a strong showing at the Orange County Championships and CIF. Coach Kavanaugh highlighted some key athletes to watch for this season. Senior long jumper Jason Liu is a standout performer, having qualified for the CIF D2 Finalist last season and holding the school record. He has been dedicated to his training during the off-season and is expected to have a phenomenal season. Junior thrower Abbey Reichard is also a top contender, having qualified for the CIF Southern Section Masters meet last year. Coach Kavanaugh predicts that she will have a great season as she continues to progress and mature. Another standout athlete is senior sprinter Rider Cooper, who is the defending county champion in the 400m. Despite facing injuries last season, he has shown great potential and is determined to make it to the state finals this year. Junior distance runner Sophie Guilfoile, who was the PCL Cross Country Champion and CIF finalist last season, is also expected to lower her personal bests and make an impact in the distance events. One of the biggest challenges for the team is getting position groups to work together. To foster a strong team chemistry, the coaches have implemented interdisciplinary warm-up activities and will be holding an intrasquad meet for the first time. Coach Kavanaugh also emphasizes the importance of developing the "why" for his athletes, reminding them to use the sport as a testing ground for the character they want to bring to their future pursuits. This season, the team is split between a large senior class and a hungry group of sophomores. The coaches' goal is to help the seniors end their high school careers on a high note while also developing the younger athletes. Moving to Division 1 in CIF is another challenge that the team is embracing, as they will face some highly talented competitors. However, Coach Kavanaugh believes that the dedicated student-athletes at Portola High School are up for the challenge.