During the weekend of spring break, Shadow Ridge’s track team traveled to California to compete in the annual Laguna Beach Trophy Invite, a highly competitive meet where only a select few athletes from the team are chosen to participate.
For many athletes, it was their first or second time visiting Laguna Beach, making the trip not only a competitive opportunity but also a memorable experience for the team as a whole. With lower elevation and strong competition, the meet provided ideal conditions for athletes hoping to achieve personal records and qualify for higher levels.
Two standout performances came from Elynn Okuda and Ryen Hughes, who both broke the school record in the 3200-meter race. Hughes reflected on her race, saying, “I felt so happy. I set a goal for that race to go out hard and get around 11:12, and when I crossed the line at 11:11, I was so happy. I felt like my training finally added up to something. This was also a huge PR for me—it was an 11-second PR—and I’m excited to race again and hopefully improve even more.”
Many athletes took advantage of the competitive environment and favorable conditions. For some, it was a chance to push themselves against faster runners and see what they were capable of achieving. Competing at sea level allowed runners to breathe easier, which often led to stronger performances.
Junior, Mandi Abney, was one athlete who made the most of the opportunity, achieving personal records and qualifying in both of her events. She shared, “Being able to compete with people who are a lot better than you pushes you to go faster, so it’s a good experience.”
Another athlete, Cannon Bishop, also reflected on the competition, saying, “I felt slow (Cali kids are fast) but it felt good at sea level because it’s so easy to breathe.”
Beyond the competition, the trip also served as a bonding experience for the team. The athletes traveled up on Thursday and spent time at Knott’s Berry Farm before competition began. Field events took place on Friday, followed by running events on Saturday.
Hughes shared one of her favorite moments from the trip: “My favorite part of the trip was walking to the beach from the high school after my race. I was able to get a sandwich and some snacks and sit at the beach and be happy. I also loved talking to the team while waiting between my events and seeing all my friends.”
Abney also highlighted the team experience, saying, “I love Cali, and going to Knott’s was so much fun! Having the whole weekend there—on Friday we all just hung out at the beach, and then Saturday we competed—and I feel like we all did really well.”
Overall, the Laguna Beach Invite proved to be both a successful and meaningful trip for Shadow Ridge. With record-breaking performances, personal achievements, and strong team bonding, the meet showcased the team’s hard work and set a promising tone for the rest of the season.
