Submitted photo – Jamin Guilbert reacts during competition at the state championships.

Competing on the biggest stage of their lives didn’t seem to intimidate Eureka’s Jamin Guilbert and McKinleyville’s Derek Ray over the weekend.

In fact, if anything it inspired them.

The two H-DN throwers traveled to compete at the CIF state track and field championships in Clovis and both turned in the best performance of their lives on the way to a pair of top-10 finishes.

And that’s not all.

Guilbert broke the H-DNL record in the discus with a huge throw of 179’ 10” on the opening day.

Usually it’s a huge accomplishment for any local athlete to even qualify for the prestigious state meet, but Guilbert and Ray both remarkably made it to the finals in their events on day two.

Ray, who was competing in the shot put, threw a PR of 58’ 0.75” on Friday and would go on to place eighth in all of California in Saturday’s final.

Guilbert placed 10th overall to cap his amazing season.

“We couldn’t be more proud of him for his hard work and dedication to the sport,” Eureka head coach Scott Pesch said of the league record breaker. “In just two years, Jamin’s persistence has made him one of the top throwing high school athletes in the state.”

Likewise with Ray, and the two good friends have helped to drive each other on over the course of the season.

Both have also benefitted from the influence of Eureka throwing coach Dan Gallardo, who has done an outstanding job with several throwers, including Eureka senior Joseph Gonzalez.

The talented trio of H-DNL throwers all featured among the section leaders all season long.

“He’s done such a good job with anybody that’s come into our program,” Pesch recently said of Gallardo. “He’s the reason they’re having the seasons they’re having.”

File photo – Derek Ray

Submitted photo – Jamin Guilbert in action in Clovis.

Guilbert’s league record throw on Friday broke the old mark of 175’, which was set by South Fork’s Lonnie Whitlow in 2003.

Guilbert had come within five inches of the record at this year’s league championships.

Ray closes out his high school career with the third best ever throw in the shot put in league history, trailing only McKnleyville’s Jim Godsey (60’ 4” in 1971) and Fortuna’s Don Boyd (58’ 6.5” in 1979.