The Southern Section’s finest track and field athletes gathered Saturday for the CIF Finals at Cerritos College. Four Malibu Sharks made the trek to compete against the best and they didn’t disappoint.
Caroline Pietrzyk, Abby Blackwood, Madeleine Ward and Devin Sarantinos represented MHS in the sport’s championship event.
Pietrzyk won her third consecutive Division IV CIF title in the 3200 run with a time of 10:35.30, which ranked fifth overall among all competitors from four different divisions. Blackwood took sixth place in the same race (11:39.01) and Ward finished eighth in the 300 hurdles with a time of 50.81. Sarantinos competed in the boys’ pole vault but did not clear a qualifying height.
The three girls combined to score 14 points for Malibu, good enough for 14th overall out of 42 schools.
Pietrzyk’s performance enabled her to advance to the CIF Masters Meet this Friday night at Cerritos College. She coasted to victory, winning by more than 24 seconds before the next competitor crossed the finish line.
“The race was really great,” Pietrzyk said. “It was very exciting to run with so many people watching and with so many great competitors.”
Pietrzyk has etched her name in the CIF Southern Section history books. The CIF title was her fifth overall (three in track and two in cross country) and she now sets her sights on the Masters Meet that qualifies runners for the State Championships in Clovis, Calif., the weekend of June 5-6.
“It is such an honor and really shows all of the hard work I have put into my sport,” she said. “Masters is such an awesome meet. I love the race because it is under the lights and all of the divisions are combined. It will be fast and so fun. I think it will be great.”
Even more special for Pietrzyk is her college commitment to Vanderbilt University of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) where she will compete for the Commodores’ indoor and outdoor track teams as well as the women’s cross country team.
“I can’t wait to be a Commodore in the fall. It is going to be such a truly incredible experience to compete on a division one team, and I am so fortunate to be in this position,” Pietrzyk said. “Vanderbilt is amazing. I love the Vandy team and coaches and my next four years will be so great with all of them. I am so excited.”
Blackwood ran a strong race alongside Pietrzyk as she earned medalist honors. With 200 meters to go, Blackwood trailed by 15 yards for the final medalist spot on the podium. A powerful sprint propelled her from seventh to sixth by a mere two seconds.
“I was really happy that I was able to medal because that was my main goal going into finals,” Blackwood, a sophomore, said. “It was an amazing experience to be able to have made it this far with such incredible teammates and coaches and I’m so happy for Caroline placing fifth overall and making it on to Masters.”
For the past two seasons, Pietrzyk and Blackwood formed a relationship that benefitted both of them on and off the track. A true friendship was built and the two of them were born to run and train together.
“Training with such a great friend and all around classy athlete has been an absolute honor that I will never forget. She is not only a great friend and runner but a mentor as well who is always willing to help me out,” said Blackwood. “Caroline’s not only taught me how to be a better runner but a better person as well and to never take anything for granted. She is one of the most incredible people I have ever met. I’m really going to miss my favorite running buddy next year.”
