By: CAMERON ASHFORD
Staff Writer
Carmen Gaebe is a sophomore here at El Diamante that is devoted and focused on her running skills. To prepare herself for the soccer season and better herself as a runner, she joined the cross country team last year and has been improving ever since. Carmen placed 1st at the WYL Championships Meet which qualified her for the CIF Valley Cross Country Championships. At the championship race, she ran a 20:19 minute 5000-meter race, placing her at 5th in the valley. Because she placed so high, she was able to help contribute points to her team to get them higher in the rankings for the race. El Diamante High School placed 7th in Valley thanks to Carmen and her fellow athlete friends. Carmen is the first girl in El Diamante High School history to qualify for the State Cross Country Championships. Carmen has also obtained the honor of winning this year’s Cross Country MVP Award for El Diamante’s varsity girls team. Carmen strives in the classroom as much as she does on the track too. Carmen currently is maintaining a 3.8 GPA and is aiming for a 4.0. She has the all-time school record for the 3-mile race and continues to put in the work to break her own personal records. Carmen has also medaled and placed very high in various invitationals and competition meets. She placed 2nd at the Monache Invitational, 4th at the Central Valley JV Championships, 3rd at the Redwood Invitational, 6th at the Kingsburg 2 Mile Race, and 8th at the Meadow Park Invitational. Carmen’s success can be found in her jaw-dropping speed, extremely accurate technique, fulfilling stamina, good attitude, and outstanding willpower. Carmen is a well-rounded athlete that has found so much success only as a sophomore! Definitely make sure to keep your eyes open for Carmen Gaebe next year. If you don’t, you might just miss her.