Track and field members end season strong
PJ RAMIRO
Issue date: 5/21/09 Section: Sports
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Leni won her second consecutive state championship in the shotput competition Saturday at the College of San Mateo.
Leni's first throw was an impressive 50-7 to win the competition. Leni also placed third in the discus competition with 139-8.
"I am very excited to win the state championship again," Leni said. "Although I knew I was the favorite coming in, it is always hard for me to get up for these competitions because I always out throw the second place person by five or seven feet."
There was another goal for Leni besides the state championship that might have motivated her.
"Even though I won state again, I cried both tears of joy and tears of disappointment," Leni said. "I wanted my No. 1 spot back in national and when I found out some girl in Texas had it, I wanted to get it back, because I didn't want to leave EC being No. 2 nationally. Too bad I came up short."
Leni was about three feet short of the national record held by Kelly Closse.
Even though she didn't reclaim her No. 1 spot, Leni is thrilled with her two years as a Warrior.
"I wanted to throw a fifty-four even," Leni said. "It's all good though, because I have had a great run here and I am going to miss everyone from the coaches down to my teammates."
Leni is leaving with an impressive resume that includes two state and South Coast Conference Championships along with being named back-to-back athlete of the year by the EC athletic department and also conference athlete of the year.
"I give all the credit to coach Darryl (Guerin) and Dean (Lofgren)," Leni said. "They really made sure I was always motivated, to always try my best with each throw and to make sure I always succeeded."
Sophomore Jacob Weintraub placed second in the shot put competition with a mark of 57-2 which places him second in college history.
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