Tam boys win Redwood Empire; Marin athletes advance

With her high school career nearing the end, Kyra Allen pushed herself near her highest limits. The San Rafael High School pole vaulter twisted her frame at the apex of her vault, cleared the bar cleanly and came back to earth with a huge smile on her face, knowing her season isn't over yet.

Allen cleared 9 feet, 8 inches — one inch shy of her personal best set earlier this season — to place fifth and claim a berth in next week's North Coast Meet of Champions. The top six placers in Saturday's NCS Redwood Empire Track and Field Meet advance. She'll be joined by Redwood's Ava Buske, who finished sixth with a personal best mark of 9-2.

“I was pretty nervous,” Allen admitted. “This is a big event and there are so many people competing, I had to wait to take my vault. But I'm so glad to be here.”

The NCS meet was cancelled each of the past two years due to COVID-19, so the first time competing in this event for many of the athletes.

Maria Carrillo's Lily Mulligan set the bar — literally — with a winning mark of 13-2.5, which ranks in the top 50 in the nation and top 10 in the state.

Other Marin athletes competing in the girls pole vault were Redwood's Trinity Chancellor (8-2) and Tam's Kendra Evans (7-8).

Buske also competed in the long jump (15-5.75) and established a new personal best in the triple jump (32-2). This is the junior's first season competing in the pole vault.

“I'm proud of how I did, and how supportive all the girls are of each other,” Buske said.