Alexandra Diaz came to the Central Coast Section track and field championships at Gilroy High a year ago but spent the night in the stands because of a pulled hamstring.
Then a Piedmont Hills freshman, Diaz cheered for her teammates but lamented her own missed opportunity for CCS titles.
"I didn't like being a spectator," Diaz said Friday night. "I thought I could have competed with these girls last year."
If Friday night's results are any indication, Diaz likely would have done more than just compete. The sophomore was a three-time winner at the section meet, winning the 100-meter dash (11.95), 200-meter dash (24.92) and 4x100-meter relay.
She set personal bests and qualified for the state championships on June 3-4 in Clovis in both individual events. She also ran the leadoff leg for a relay that set a school record of 47.20, the eighth-fastest time in the state this season.
"After getting hurt, being here this year is just a joy," Diaz said.
The night wasn't quite so relaxing for Mt. Pleasant's Scott Brazil, who because of traffic arrived just 25 minutes before the shot put began. Brazil checked in moments before he was about to be replaced by an alternate, then went out and won the event with borrowed equipment and without a complete warm-up.
"I was checking my iPod clock the whole time we were at lights and getting ticked because I didn't think I would make it," Brazil said. "But I guess that helped because the adrenaline was pumping. Overall, it was a pretty good day."
A throw of 57 feet, 1/4 inches gave Brazil his second straight CCS shot put title and shattered his personal best.
St. Francis' Cody Bickham, the favorite coming into the shot put, finished third. Earlier, he took the discus title. Bickham got off to a rough start in the discus but blew away the field with a throw of 174-10 on his fifth attempt.
In other finals:
"The wind was weird, but as I was going up on that final try I was like, 'This is the one,'" Bolton said. "I'm super pumped to go to state."
Soares also won the 100-meter dash, crossing the line in 10.66.
"The last couple of times out I felt like I had a little left," said Soares, who placed second in the long jump. "I got in first early and took off."
Paced by teammate Brielle Rowe, Sinclair got better and better as the season went on, culminating in Friday's CCS title. Sinclair's throw of 40-91/2 was more than two feet better than her personal best.
"Nervous energy, it was definitely nervous energy," Sinclair said with a wide smile. "In the beginning of the season I could barely throw 30 (feet)!"
Sinclair is headed to her first state meet, along with Rowe, who finished third.
Walker later added a title in the 100-meter hurdles, cruising to a time of 14.26. Leath again finished second. Both Walker and Leath qualified for state in the long jump, as well.
"After missing last year, I just didn't want to lose this," Chapman said. "I focused on this race and executed."
Palo Alto senior Grant Sauer finished fourth in 14.74, missing a spot at the state championships by .01.