Senior Lillianna Hebert put an exclamation mark on her outstanding track and field career by winning her first NCS title.

Hebert placed first in the high jump at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions (MOC) on Saturday at UC Berkeley to advance to the CIF State Meet today and tomorrow in Clovis.

Although Hebert didn’t match her personal record of 5-feet-7, her jump of 5-6 was good enough for the title. She also placed fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 38-1.5 to qualify for state.

Junior Jen Kurtz also qualified for the State Meet by placing third in the high jump with a mark of 5-3.

Hebert and Kurtz’s performances led Cal’s girls’ team to a seventh place finish overall.

The girls 4×400 meter relay team placed fourth with a school record time of 3:53.9. The team included senior Tyler Carr, junior Bella Villafuerte, sophomore Kaitlin Groleau and freshman Alyssa Brewer, who also placed fifth, in the 400 meters at 55.99.

For the boys, senior Keyshawn Norfleet placed fifth in the shot put with a mark of 52-01. Junior Travis Fleming took ninth in the 800 with a time of 1:58.44.

The girls’ team placed third at the NCS Tri-Valley Area Championships on May 23 at Amador Valley in Pleasanton. The girls earned 50 points to finish behind Carondelet (85) and Deer Valley (54). The boys’ team placed 12th.

Hebert won the high jump at 5-feet-6, four inches better than a group of second place finishers which included Kurtz. Hebert also placed second in the triple jump at 38-1.

Brewer won the 400 with a school record time of 55.52.  She is also on the 1600 relay team that placed third with a time of 4:00.66. The other members of the team were Carr, Villafuerte and sophomore Sarah Stallings.

Helen Kimber placed third in the discus with a throw of 106-6, and fourth in the shot put with a mark of 37-10.

For the boys, Josh Frazier won the high jump with a mark of 6-6. Norfleet took second in the shot put with a throw of 53-01/2. Fleming (800, 1:58.38), Christian Aldana (1600, 4:26.46), and the 400 relay (43.7) and 1600 relay teams (3:25.75) all placed seventh to advance.

The team has credited its success to its hard work and dedication.

“The whole team puts 100 percent effort into every practice and meet and it shows when we step on the field,” said Kurtz, acknowledging it will be tough to replace a strong core of graduating seniors.

“We will definitely have to fill the shoes of the graduating class, but I think we are up to the challenge.”

Twenty-one year track and field coaching veteran Mark Karbo is very impressed with how his team performed this season.

“We were a very well rounded team this year,” says Karbo.

The girls put another impressive season in the books after going 6-1. The team’s win streak came to an end against Carondelet, who won league.

“Obviously it is a blemish on an otherwise terrific season,” Karbo said. “It still doesn’t take away what we did this year. I am still very proud with how the team performed.”

Cal performed at a very high level at last month’s EBAL championship. Brewer won the 800 and placed second in the 400. Hebert finished first in the high jump and second in the triple jump. Kimber won both the shot put and discus.

Cal’s 4×400 team did especially well, setting a then-school record at 3:58, beating their previous record by a second. The team of Carr, Groleau, Villafuerte, and Brewer, finished second to Carondelet at EBAL.

Hebert dominated this season, setting school records for both the triple jump and high jump. She does not plan to slow down anytime soon, as she received a full ride scholarship to UCLA in the fall.

Junior Adrienne Lampo, a 100-meter sprinter and long jumper, is impressed with the job the coaching staff did for the team this year.

“Cal High has the best track coaches,” said Lampo. “They are inspiring and fun and know how to get the best out of everyone. They give motivational speeches before every meet that pump up the team.”

She also is impressed with how the team has grown this year and hopes to break her own personal records next season.

This team has thrived off the need to improve and grow, not just from Lampo, but from every team member. This dedication to success is what was instrumental in their accomplishments this season.

Lampo and Kurtz believe that they put the work in because this is what they love.

“ As cliche as it sounds, I’d tell Cal athletes to do what they love,” said Kurtz. “Any sport is going to seem like a chore if it isn’t something you are passionate about.”

Kurtz is already looking forward to next season.

“Next year I will be pushing myself much harder than I have before,” said Kurtz. “Freshman year was very laid back, sophomore year was plagued with injuries (for me), and this year was a journey. I want to see how far I can push myself to succeed.”