2013 Year in Review: Memorable track and field section meet for Del Norte High

The Del Norte High boys and girls track and field programs made a little history at the 2013 CIF San Diego Section championships.

The boys team captured the Division II section crown, becoming the first boys team in school history in any sport to win a section championship.

Meanwhile, triple jumper Caitlin Cole etched her name in the history books, as she became the first individual track and field section champion in school history.

“I was a little surprised that I won,” said Cole before accepting her medal on the podium. “I came into this just hoping to qualify for state and didn’t expect at all to win it.”

Cole, then a junior, leapt a personal-best 38 feet, 1.75 inches to claim the crown. She went on to the state meet and advanced to the finals there before finishing in 11th place.

The boys track and field team was led by Tyler Nelson, who competed in four events at the section meet.

He qualified for state in the 110-meter hurdles with a second-place finish (14.78 seconds) and in the 300 hurdles with a third-place finish (38.61). Both times were career bests.

Also excelling for the Nighthawks was Jerome Lucido in the 400, Garrett Grant in the 800, Mark Quiroz in the 1,600 and 3,200 and Chad Wetzel in the high jump.