Christina Calderon

Staff Writer

Cal High has a history of winning championship titles, so it comes as no surprise that the women’s track team went undefeated four years in a row in league meets.

Unfortunately, this year’s team did not cap its unprecedented run with a victory at the EBAL championships last month.

This is the only damper on an amazing four-year stretch that has included a 28-0 run in league tri-meets and three EBAL championships.

Coach Mark Karbo, who has led Cal’s track program for the past 18 years, said the 2009-2011 seasons are the first time the women’s team earned undefeated titles three years in a row since he’s been coaching.

“I’m fortunate to have a great staff of assistant coaches who do a fantastic job of coaching the athletes on the team,” Karbo said.

Throughout the past few years, Cal has had many exceptional runners who have played a large part in winning EBAL and qualifying for NCS and state meets.

One of the newest top runners is sophomore Madison Ricks, who runs in the 400, 800 and the 1600-meter races.

She holds a spot on various Cal track record boards, and has reached the state meet her first two years on the team.  This year, Ricks had a terrific season, winning the 800 at the NCS Meet of Champions and qualifying for final heat at state.

“I like the competition and the camaraderie with my teammates,” said Ricks.

Ricks was accompanied by senior teammates Tori Edwards and Noel Frazier at the state championships this year.

Edwards has been on the school’s track team for four years and has qualified and competed in the NCS meets for all four of them.

Recently, she was ranked 12th in the state in the 300 hurdles.

Throughout the past four years, Edwards has seen herself progress tremendously.

“I’ve changed by having more perseverance and pushing through obstacles that I thought I could never accomplish,” said Edwards.

Edwards isn’t the only one who has noticed significant progress in the individual and overall performance of the women’s track team.

Karbo has also witnessed athletes growing and improving, and bases his coaching methods off of them.

“It’s always gratifying to see the athletes you work with improve over the course of the season,” said Karbo. “That is how you plan your training, so that they are performing their best at the end of the year.”

Overall, women’s track had a fantastic season and even though it didn’t end the season by winning its fourth straight EBAL title, the team is already gearing up for next season.

“Once the season is over, the focus is on getting ready for the next season and trying to work toward another league championship,” said Karbo.

Athletic Director Dave Kravitz is proud of this outcome of this season and remains optimistic for the team’s future.

“You get knocked down, you get back up, and you don’t take no for an answer,” said Kravitz.