The A+ Runner

Pajaro Valley High's April Chau the third lap of the girls 1,600-meter run Friday at the Monterey Bay League Track and Field Championship meet at Emmett Geiser Field. She qualified for the CCS trials by finishing second. (Glenn Cravens/Register-Pajaronian)

WATSONVILLE — The female distance runners all wanted April Chau’s spot. With first-place in the Monterey Bay League 1,600-meter championship run all but locked up, second place was still up for grabs.

Chau stood her ground. The Pajaro Valley High senior maintained her second-place spot from beginning to end Friday afternoon at Emmett Geiser Field. Because she finished second, she qualified for the Central Coast Section trials next weekend.

It’s the first time she’s qualified for the CCS meet.

With her cousins and fellow classmates cheering her on, Chau finished with a time of 5:33.44, breaking her two-week old school record by a second.

“It feels amazing,” said Chau, one of six Pajaro Valley student-athletes to advance to CCS. “It feels good to go this year to have that experience of being in the CCS.”

Later in the day, she took second in the girls 3,200-meter run and was all smiles after catching her breath.

Moments after the race was over, a teammate needed some help, and Chau was one of several to help the stricken student-athlete get better.

Even in times of her own success, Chau has helped out fellow teammates and classmates.

For the complete article see the 05-12-2012 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 05-12-2012 paper.

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