ATHLETES OF THE WEEK — Track stars take center stage

By barstoolfanatics on May 13, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

By Ray Hamill — It was a good week for some local high school track and field athletes as the H-DN season concluded with the league championships at Fortuna High last weekend.

Five standouts in particular stole the show, and that earns them the nod as this week’s Humboldt Sports Athletes of the Week, sponsored by College of the Redwoods Athletics.

St. Bernard’s junior Madelyn Shanahan continued what has been an outstanding year in sports with three individual titles, taking first in the discus, the long jump and the triple jump.

The league titles follow Little 4 MVP awards this year for Shanahan in volleyball, soccer and basketball.

Arcata senior Ai-Lan McGoldrick was equally impressive with four victories on the day.

McGoldrick gave the Tigers some valuable team points with first-place finishes in both the 400 meters and 800m, as well as playing key roles in the Tigers’ victories in the 4x400m relay and the 4x800m relay.

And they weren’t the only multiple winners on the day.

Eureka senior Jamin Guilbert turned in what was arguably the performance of the day with wins in the boys shot put and discus.

The standout thrower dominated the discus and set a new school record with a throw of 174’4”, which beat the field by an incredible 40’9”.

That mark was also the best in the North Coast Section this spring and guarantees him qualification for this year’s state championships.

Joining that talented trio among our athletes of the week are an Arcata senior and a Del Norte freshman.

Sydney Hasselquist capped a dominating senior season for the Tigers with three more wins at the league meet, winning the girls 100m and 200m and also playing a key role in Arcata’s 4x400m relay win.

This is Hasselquist’s second athlete of the week award this spring.

Submitted photo – Jamin Guilbert

But while Hasselquist’s outstanding high school career is coming to an end, Del Norte freshman Deken Hanks is just getting started.

And what a start it’s been.

Despite his youth, Hanks has dominated older anymore experienced opposition all spring and capped a brilliant debut season in the H-DN with victories in both sprints as well as playing a part in the Warriors’ 4x100m relay win.

His time in the 100m is the second fastest for a freshman in the entire NCS this season.

Four of this week’s five honorees also saved their best for last in multiple events.

Hanks set PRs on his way to winning both sprints, as did Hasselquist in both of her sprint victories.

Shanahan also set a pair of PRs in the triple jump and discus, while Guilbert set a PR in the shot put in addition to his incredible throw in the discus.