The Cathedral Catholic track and field teams delivered an outstanding performance at the CIF San Diego Section Championships, highlighted by the girls team’s runner-up finish and three athletes punching their tickets to the CIF State Championships.

Leading the way for the Dons was junior distance standout Grace Keefe, who qualified for the State Meet with a third-place finish in the 1600 meters. Keefe also earned a fourth-place finish in the 3200 meters, adding two more CIF medals to her impressive season resume.

Freshman pole vaulter Sasha Strem continued her remarkable debut season by finishing second overall and earning a State Meet berth. In the process, Strem cleared 12 feet, 2 inches, setting a new Cathedral Catholic school record and establishing a new all-time San Diego Section freshman record.

Senior Nathan Wilber rounded out the Dons’ state qualifiers with a second-place finish in the 3200 meters. His performance secured his place among California’s elite distance runners and capped another outstanding postseason race.

The Dons were represented throughout the meet, with numerous athletes earning CIF medals, awarded to the top nine finishers in San Diego County. Senior and UC Davis bound Kaellyn Peart earned an eighth-place medal in the 100 meters, while Anna Wilson (bound for UCLA to play soccer) placed fifth in the 400 meters and Zander Wallace finished sixth in the boys’ 400 meters. Kristine Bickler earned two CIF medals, placing seventh in the 800 meters and eighth in the 1600 meters. Paige Summa finished seventh in the 100-meter hurdles, while senior and Oregon State bound Kyla O’Donnell medaled in two field events, placing eighth in both the long jump and the triple jump.

The boys 4×800 relay team of Teddy Lang, Nathan Wilber, Eddie Flores, and Andrew Martinez also turned in a strong performance, finishing fourth overall in the county.

The CIF Championships served as another showcase of the depth and talent of the Cathedral Catholic program. With a girls’ team runner-up finish, multiple medalists, and three athletes advancing to the State Championships, the Dons once again proved they are among the premier track and field programs in San Diego County.