These 100 degree days don't quit very easily, do they? I've always said I prefer extreme hot to extreme cold (I guess that's one reason I live here), but I could use an 85-degree respite or something. Eh. Guess I'll have to wait a month.

Anyway, another summer day means another sports' Year in Review at School House Zach.

2007-08 Kern County GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Overview: We talked about how good the boys season was yesterday, and the girls season wasn't too far behind. We had a two-event state champion in Shafter's Anna Jelmini (like Dayshan Ragans, Jelmini did it in throwing events, but then, this is Kern County). Also had Centennial's Alana Alexander, who reached the state finals in both the long and triple jumps, and Frontier's Taylor Jackson, who made it to state in both hurdles events. Oh, and by the way, Burroughs' Kayla Kovar and Stockdale's Alex Collatz (just a freshman) finished 3-4 in the state discus. They'll be back, too.

Best athlete: OK, so not only was Jelmini a dominant two-time state champ, but she was also the national discus champion (fourth in the shot put) and seventh in the world in the discus. Yeah, she gets my vote here. A very focused, determined kid who feels a bit uncomfortable in the spotlight but also isn't afraid to smile. Anna deserves what she gets, folks.
Honorable mention: Alana Alexander, Centennial; Kayla Kovar, Burroughs; Alex Collatz, Stockdale; Taylor Jackson, Frontier; Brushay Wandick, Bakersfield

Best team: With this being coach Randy Jones' final season before he slips quietly into retirement, it was only fitting that the Centennial girls add another Southwest Yosemite League title to his resumé before he left. The Golden Hawks had just one section champion (Alexander, in the triple jump), but give it up for their depth. It seemed like between Alexander, Ashlee Thomas and more than a handful of others, Centennial had a hand in every event.
Honorable mention: Bakersfield, Liberty, Taft, Stockdale

Best event: Hmm. The SEYL meet was a race to the finish between Bakersfield High and Liberty, but for girls athletics in Kern County, nothing the entire year beat watching the discus at the state meet in Norwalk. Jelmini, Kovar and Collatz stepped up to the plate and fulfilled (exceeded?) lofty expectations with a 1-3-4 finish. That's 75 percent of the top four discus throwers in the state from about 2 percent of the state's population here in Kern. Pretty darn good.
Honorable mention: SEYL meet, Central Section championships

A look ahead: Guess what? All three of those throwers are back — and Collatz especially will improve there and in the triple jump, her other great event. Jelmini can't do a whole lot for an encore, besides set a state record or two (not out of her reach), but she'll be fun to follow to a couple more state titles, barring injury (knock on wood, folks). As for the rest of the arena, Jackson was just a sophomore, and Liberty pole vaulter Amanda Klinchuch, plus Alexander and sprinter Wandick will be back for another year. That's a good foundation already; other spots will be waiting for up-and-comers to fill.

Year in Review index
July 3: Football
July 4: Volleyball
July 5: Boys cross country
July 6: Girls cross country
July 7: Girls tennis
July 8: Girls golf
July 9: Boys basketball
July 10: Girls basketball
July 11: Wrestling
July 12: Boys soccer
July 13: Girls soccer
July 14: Baseball
July 15: Softball
July 16: Boys track and field

Tomorrow: Boys swimming