Then Coach Reynaldo Brown got hold of him.

Since he has recieved the solid teachings of Coach Brown, a former Olympian, Mike has grown not just as a jumper but as a competitor.. He is more confident, more competitive and it has served him well in this his senior season. He has placed in every invitational this year save one going against some of the best competiton in the state. He shattered the longest standing record in school history surpassing Marvin Lea's 2001 jump of 6-6 by going 6-8 in a dual meet against Centennial. As of this writing, he stands 9th in the state of California. He will be a three year letterwinner and has been a captain this season, stepping out to serve as a quiet example of what a little hard work and dedication can do  He is stilll pretty skinny, but no longer wide eyed and certianly not scared. No one has said it out loud but as you watch the high jump area in most meets, you can see it. Where he once wondered if he belonged, it's the other kids in the jump area  who are wondering if they belong on the same field with him.

"No U-Turn Allowed."  We see these signs at intersections, usually posted when we need to make a U-turn the most.  Ever thought about U-turns?  Probably not, only when you need one. We purr along in our journey until something jolts us to the reality that we're headed in the wrong direction. "Oh shoooot" we might mutter, then immediately look for the next break in the median to swing a hard left and get back in the way we should go.

Charlie Alvarez knows of a couple of U-turns in his four years at King that have made all the difference. Fortunately for the talented and amiable senior, the 180 came early in his career. Since then, though his journey could not be described as "Easy Street", the path has been smoother and most-definitely headed in the right direction.

He has seen steady growth and maturity from that moment, so much so that those in observance might be heard muttering, "my!"  The change was abrubt, his acceleration has been steady. 

Racing the distances, he has shown himself capable at every multi-lap event. His 9:44.35 3200 meter time is the third best in school history. He has a relay split for 1600 that sits at 4:34, it too would rank 3rd all-time.  His 15:59 5000 meters is the school's best-ever.

Beyond the impressive marks he has recorded however, is an even more impressive distinction: Character.  Where in his early years he seemingly sought to only be a character, his life now is marked by wanting to have character. He has matured a ton in these seasons.  Resolved, he has endured the valleys and his life looks now as if it's on the ascent, slowly but surely scaling the heights of Mt. Integrity whose vistas are matched by none other.

So thank God for U-Turns.  They are not always needed, but when they are, they are invaluable.  Just ask Charlie, who is certainly now headed in the right direction.

Katie's ability to communicate with her coach and her band director, work hard and somehow find time for all of this has allowed her to be the Drum Major of the state renowned MLK Kingsmen Band and Flag Team as well as be one of the top pole vaulters in the Inland Empire. However way you cut it-it's a wierd combination of activities but it has been a successful one. She has won several competitive awards for her work as a Drum Major and she has been a consistent competitor on the track. This year, Katie has leapt to her PR of 10-1", been a three year letter winner, served as captain and has led the pole vault team to several high finishes at the Chino Relays and the Chet Nicholson Relays. Last year, she finished second in the Ivy League and was a CIF qualifer.

How good she could have been at one activity rathe than two is anybody's guess but the beauty of this is that Katie has been able to enjoy two things she loves very much. She has been a great example fo discipline-time managment and doing what you enjoy no matter how difficult that can be at times. Sometimes people worry about students who go off to college,  get invovled in too many things and get overwhelmed.. We aren't going to worry about Katie Coggins in that regard.

For four years, Chantel has worked at her craft. That would be throwing heavy objects around the air with the objective of seeing how far those objects might go. She has approached the shot put and the discus with diligence and dedication that has made her one of the top throwers in Riverside County. As a freshman, she floundered trying to figure  these events-especially the discus until about halfway through her sophomore year, something clicked and she hasn't looked back.

She has been a top finisher in almost every invitational she has taken part in and has won
the team Most Improved Award in 2007 and the Outstanding Field Event Performer in 2008.
This year, Chantel was the first King female thrower to qualify for the  prestigous Arcadia Invitational and is now the school record holder in the discus at 121-7-shattering the old record by 5 feet.

Despite all of that success, she has always kind of flown under the radar. Chantel just goes about her business, remains modest and quiet, helping and inspiring her younger teamates every day.You would never know she is as good as she is unless you worked or practiced with her every day.  Next year, she will continue toquietly work at her craft as she becomes the 4th King athlete to attend Cal-State San Marcos Univeristy and compete for the track team there.

Sometimes, an athlete has to be patient waiting for success to come their way. Maybe they need to work harder or push themselves beyond what they think they ar capable of. One thing is sure, and that is it doesn’t usually happen overnight and that can be frustrating for some.

It was that way for Diboro Kanabolo for a long while.  He had a relatively successful JV career, teetering on the verge of varsity at times and sometime wondering out loud to Coach Corona why he wasn’t.  “Why” things weren’t going as fast as he may have wanted was a relatively popular subject of conversation. When he finally came to the conclusion that he controlled what was going to happen and not his coaches, things changed fast….almost as fast as he has become in the 100/200 and 4X100.

Most of the distance runners of King Track and Field spend the Fall season running cross country. Though the two sports are vastly different, they are of course, complementary and build upon one another.

Alicia Miller is a unique distance runner in that she has never run cross county and has, for four seasons, arrived in February ready and eager to discipline herself for the 1600 and 3200 races of the Spring. It's all good.

She's been good, too. With respectable PR's in the sub 6:00's and and sub 14:00's, she's been a steady performer. Never one to complain, her quiet, unassuming and undemanding personality has allowed her to develop over four year a level of respect from her teammates and coaches alike. She has been all that we would ask of any student-athlete, and for that we are grateful.

Every day as the track team separates into its various groups of specialty, Isaac Moody begins his daily philosophizing, observations and finally, his work toward becoming a better thrower. Unlike some of his senior teammates, Isaac has never been a shrinking violet and shot put/discus workouts are sometimes “The Isaac Moody Show.”

In some case, this attitude would seem to take away from the seriousness of practice but what his attitude does is keep things loose. Our throwers tend to not to take things too seriously (which can be a big problem with high school athletes) in good part because of Ike’s ability to make people smile and laugh out loud. This is not to say that this talent is his lone contribution to the team.  He is a two year letter winner and has improved over 12 feet in his discus to a PR of 123 feet. He has been a consistent performer during this his senior year.

As he moves toward graduation, he will leave behind a legacy of solid contributions to his event and a lot of smiles!

The smile. When Kyle Nugent smiles, you’re not quite sure what’s behind it. Is he laughing with you? Is he laughing at you? Has he just found humor in something and you completely missed it?  Regardless of the intent, one thing is certain; he has a lot to smile about in looking back over his four years in King Track and Field.

A pole vaulter from the very beginning, Kyle has joined the long string of successful jumpers here at King under the tutelage of Coach Sean Roll. He has been on numerous victorious pole vault relays; he has placed individually in several invitationals and he has been a consistent scorer on the varsity since his sophomore year.

Usually very quiet and reserved, Kyle has grown tremendously this season as a competitor and as a person. Underneath his quiet demeanor, was always an intense competitor, bent on being the best he could be. He has assumed the mantle of leadership this year, setting an example hard work, every day and at , in his own way, chiding or calling out teammates who aren’t working as hard as they need to. He has been more out in front, more vocal than he has ever been and it has paid off not just for him but for our team as well.

Kyle truly leaves behind a legacy of Class-Character and Courage……..and that smile no one can figure out.

In track and field , coaches often say that perhaps the best athlete on their teams might be the pole vaulters. They have to sprint down the runway at top speed, holding onto to a pole which they will plant into a box and then propel themselves into the air upside down. In addition they have to have the courage (some would say insanity) to do all of that. As far as the athleticism part goes, Trent Parrish fits the bill.

Normally, vaulters just stick to their event-never wandering much from the jump pit. Trent has always tried to venture out beyond that and has dabbled in numerous other events along the way with moderate success. He has run the 200, the 400, the 4X100 relay, long jumped and even hurdled. As a freshman, he floundered a bit trying to figure out where he fit in and then as a soph, he found himself over at the pole vault pit. However, his need to be invovled in me than one thing never rreally stopped. He is constantly asking Coach Corona if he can run in this event or jump into that event. Though the temptation has always been to let Trent just go, the fear that it would affect his vaulting, which has been a major key to the boys team overall success these past four years.

As of this writing, Trent has cleared a PR 12-6 to rank him right up there with the best in the Big VIII. Last year, he came out of nowhere to clear 12-0 and qualify for CIF. This year, he has served as a team captain using his quietand  focused demenor to be an example to his teamates. Trent has come a long way and his path appears to be taking him to Rivereside Community College to compete next year for coach Jim McCarron's Tigers.

His event? It looks to be the decathelon-an event reseved for the teams best overall athlete.

His nickname is "Schupperman" (pronounced Shooperman) for, perhaps, many reasons. He stands head and shoulders above most on the team, but not just in physical height but also in character and drive.

Jason Schupp has for four years steadfastly created a character of integrity and unparralled hard work. He brings to competition a bucket of guts that he then proceeds to pour all over the track. At the Mt.SAC relays this month, he took the opening leg in the 4x1600 relay and characteristically threw caution to the wind by throwing his 6-5 frame into the middle of the pack amid runners with PR's in some cases 20 seconds faster than his. No matter, that's how Jason rolls. The result was a lifetime PR in the 1600 and another impressive performance.

Jason is also a scholar, with a keen and inquisitive mind that will take him to even further heights of success when he enrolls next year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, studying engineering. If his time in college is anything like it's been at King, you can expect Jason to grit his teeth and and rise above the crowd, bringing acclaim and cries of "Schupperman!"

He came out as a skinny, "not sure what this whole track thing was about" freshman. It seemed like he was out for the team simply because his older sister, Brittany, was on the team and doing very well. On one hand following in his sister’s footsteps made plenty of sense. However, as it is with most younger siblings (see Brian Malone) there was this shadow to climb out from under and make a name for himself.

For about a year and a half, Tyson wandered from being a sprinter to the jumps. He even tried hurdling a little bit but eventually he settled on the long and triple jump. Tyson put in a lot of time and a lot of work and suddenly, as a junior, he became someone the team could consistently count on to score and to compete. Last season he was awarded the Most Improved Athlete for the team. He is a two year letter-winner and has PR’s of 20-6 in the long jump and 42-6 in the triple jump.

Obviously, because of his accomplishments, because of his growth as an athlete and because of his growth as a person, he has made that name for himself.  

Being comfortable in your own skin is a trick it sometimes takes people a lifetime to master. It would appear Hayden Traver's lifetime spans 17 years. He's there.

One of our more unique and likable four year senior-athletes, Hayden has been a steady and predictable athlete, full of wit and the wisdom of a teenager, eager to dispense of it to anyone who will listen.  He'll quickly admit that a hard-charging, aggressive approach to training and racing has never been his "thing", but that approach has not let him slip into a nonchalant, "who cares" slacker approach either.

He has been steady, never one to complain, always one to show up with a smile, a dry joke and a needling sense of humor.  If pressed, he might say that's been his greatest contribution to the life and times of King High Track and Field.

He's one of King High's top scholars, having enrolled and succeeded in numerous AP classes and has already been accepted to UC Irvine, where he plans to study history.

If you could bottle integrity, discipline, competitiveness and desire, you'd have to market it as "Chris Villanueva's Special Formula."  It was very apparent from the first time he stepped on the track four seasons ago that Chris would exemplify everything that an accomplished athlete, student and young man should be. It's been a pleasure to watch.

Chris has wonderful athletic talent that's been on display. He has found a home in the 400 meters this senior season, but he has also dabbled in the 300 hurdles and relay events too. A three-sport athlete in soccer and cross country, he has shown his range on the athletic spectrum.

Of greater significance to the program however, has been the grace and maturity with which Chris has handled the task of being one of King's top yearly performers and leaders. Polite, respectful and tatooed with the ink of integrity, he's been a "what can I do to help?" type of teammember, showing by deed -- not just words -- how it's done.

Chris is also a scholar athlete who has excelled beyond most in the classroom. That discipline and hard work, coupled with his athletic achievements, has opened up a tremendously large door to his future: Acceptance into the United States Air Force Academy.  Over the last year, Chris has persistently stayed at the rigorous task of gaining admittance into one of the three elite military academies, a feat few King High School students in eight graduating classes has been able to pull off. He'll be leaving in June for Colorado Springs.

If high school is meant to be a preparation period for "real life", the way Chris has gone about preparing, one might conclude, his life is ready to take off.

Carissa Bowman’s talent was evident when she joined the King High School running programs. As a freshman she was placed on King’s all-time lists in the mile and two mile. Remaining quiet and unassuming, Carissa led a strong distance crew her sophomore year as she was second in the Ivy League in the mile, earning her a spot at CIF prelims. After a state showing her junior year in cross country, she suffered a disappointing end to her season in track due to illness. Growing more vocal each year, Carissa is a leader to all. Her running is second to her grace and courage as a growing young woman. She has pushed her team to excel and has helped raise the standards for future runners at King. Her talents and strengths will carry her through her future academic and athletic career at Biola University.

Her accomplishments include an 8-6 PR, the King Soph/Frosh Champion in 2006 and the Inland Empire Champion that same year. She is a CIF qualifer and a team captain and her leadership within our pole vault group has been invaluable. Our younger vaulters credit Brittani with helping them get better every day. Though this year has been a disappointtment of sorts for her, it hasn't dimmed her enthusiasm and her desire to be the best she can possibly be.

A very fine student and member of the King Student Government, Brittani is headed for UC- Santa Cruz in the Fall.

If there is any sentence that marks the 4 year career of Michael Corona, that sentence is it. Though never a major scorer in meets, his desire to be in his words, "more than the coaches son," has pushed him further than most thought he would go. He has demonstrated leadership as a co-captain and used his experience to set an example for the younger throwers.  Michael also demonstrated these same characteristics as a four year member of the wrestling program.

Michael always had the same work ethic in the classroom as on the field carrying a 3.6 GPA. and numerous academic awards. He has recently been accepted to UC-Riverside where he "might" major in history and "is thinking" about coaching. No matter what, four years of wrestling and four years of track tells  something abut his character.

Larissa Davis has remained a constant part of the King family for the past four years and after many peaks, valleys, and winding roads, she is finishing her season on top of her game. Throughout her years at King, Larissa has battled back from injury and more (academic setbacks) to prove herself time and again on the track. In the 2007 season, Larissa was part of the then school record setting 4x mile team. Most recently she finished first in the Open division at the Inland Empire Championships. Larissa has proven her mental and physical strength each time she has faced an obstacle these past four years. These attributes will only help her as she continues her athletic and academic pursuits while running for the Tigers at RCC.

As a sophomore, he was thrown into the role of leader  simply because there was no else with his talent nor his  drive to step up. He would finish that season as our MVP in the sprints and as the boys MVP of the King Soph/Frosh Classic. A promising junior season was cut short by a hip injury but this year he came back with a venegence and has performed well in the long jump and the 200 especially.

A three year letterwinner, a two time captain, and a CIF qualifer,  Brian is all over the King Top 5 list. His inspirational return from his injury and his example to our young sprinters insures our success in that area for the next few years.

Another four-year athlete who has battled many an injury over her career, Bekah Fairley has remained dedicated to her team despite her setbacks. A constant cheerleader, Bekah wants only the best for her teammates. She has pushed them on the roads and around the track with her cheers and screams; surely an athlete and teammate nobody is soon to forget. Bekah’s own running has not met her standards, but her strong work ethic and growing confidence will only help her find more success as joins teammate Larissa Davis at RCC.

Always kind of on the bubble between varsity and junior varsity, Joe never stopped working at his craft-that is the 400 meter run- until a knee injury that took months to diagnose took him out competition in his junior year. He was devastated and the team took a real hit in regard to team spirit and leadership. Through the rehab, the fear and the just plain feeling like he wasn't contributing, Joe plodded on and got back into the saddle this year.

Coach Corona asks the seniors every year-"What will you leave behind when you graduate?" Joe Gilleland will leave more than most.

Steady-consistent and hard working,  Marques specialized in the 400 and the 200. He also long jumped and ran the relays along the way. This season, he event ried the shot put. A three year letter winner and team captain this year, he has always been a positve contributor despite his coming out late from basketball each year and having to catch up. His sense of humor and his humility makes him a favorite among his teamates

He is a true rarity these days in that he is a four year member of THREE King programs-football-basketball and track. When you add to that his outstanding academic record and accomplishments, one can see why he is weighing several options for college. There is little doubt that Marques Lea will be a success down the road. It isn't a question of "if" but "when."

Ethan Park epitomes the type of individual every coach hopes will be a part of his team. Always focused, dedicated and prepared, Ethan contributes significantly to the King Track and Field team. As a freshman, Ethan worked hard to grow athletically and dove into the running lifestyle. Ethan remained true to the XC and track teams the following three years and kept his team together as a leader, workhorse and friend. Ethan will be remembered for his passion for life, his support of his teammates and his will to push him each day to be his best under all circumstances. He exhibits class in his demeanor, courage to pursue new interests, and an extreme commitment to his team. Ethan plans to pursue his many talents as a student at Azusa Pacific University.

It fits until you see him at the head of the runway with a pole in his hands and his eyes intent on the bar. It fits until you see him run down the runway with an aggressivness bent on the successfull completion of his attempt. That description fits until you see how angry he gets on a missed attempt. It fits until you see the competitor come out in him in tight contests. Ryan may be the best clutch vaulter King High has ever seen.

From the time he picked up a pole, he has been a model of consistency and improvement. This three year letter winner and team captain is second all time in the pole vault at 13-6-just one inch from the school record. He is a three time CIF qualifer.  Looks sure can be decieving.

Her first two years, she was kind of along for the ride. She wanted success but really wasn't sure she wanted to work that hard for it. Jazzmine would earn letters during that time but she was barely scratcing the surface of her talents. In 2007, she began her movement upward as she got over 5-2, qualified for CIF and just did miss the cut into CIF Finals.

This year, she has cleared 5-2 but she has also increased her workload. She has taken up the triple jump and long jump and has dabbled  in the 200. More importantly than anything, she has taken on the role of team captain with a dedication and seriousness not seen from her before. Her mature outlook and her need for others to understand what our program is about has been both refreshing and most welcome. It certainly is part of what has driven our girls team toward the Ivy league Championship.

It appears that Jazzmine is headed for RCC where she will compete for the Tigers. They are getting a diamond in the rough who is more than ready to be polished.

Kaitlin Traver's time with King Track and Field has been marked by a steady, consistent contribution of good. A distance runner from the get-go, she's excelled in both the 1600 and 3200 and has run in the mid-12:00 range for the 3200, a very respectable PR. Considering that the first time she ever attempted the distance as a freshman, she clocked 13:58, that's quite an accomplishment!

Kaitlin has demonstrated a commitment to the team and to the coaches and to being coached each and every year she's been a part of the team. A good student as well, Kaitlin is headed off to Cal Poly Pomona next year. We talk a lot about leaving a positive legacy, and Kaitlin has done just that.

Everyone's got challenges. Whether prince or pauper, life has a set of cards it deals and "challenge" is written on most of them. What often separates the successful from the unsuccessful is how they handle the challenges placed before them. Eric Padilla stands head and shoulders over most folks, for he has met the set of challenges that have come his way with determination, strength and resolve.  As he leaves the station in life called high school, he leaves carrying a suitcase of success.  Eric has made a habit of making the best of his life -- from running the demanding and tough distance events -- to excelling beyond measure in the classroom. He has done this with an infectious aire of optimisim and joy and with a maturity truly beyond his years. Though his track times will not make the record books, if we kept a record book of the times athletes have volunteered to help out, to see what needed to be done, or to be an encouragement or mentor to others ... well, Eric would hold the Triple Crown. He has been a true joy to coach and his reputation for "doing unto others what you would have done to yourself" will shine untarnished in the weather of time. Well done, Eric, well done.