The Dublin Distance Fiesta delivered standout performances from Cal High’s distance runners, highlighted by record-breaking and all-time marks from junior Emily Bellinger and senior Kai Hamre.

Bellinger placed third in the girls’ 3,200 meters with a time of 10:57 during the March 20-21 vent, breaking into the school’s top three all-time marks. Hamre followed with a 9:31 in the boys’ race, a mark that now ranks fourth all-time in Cal’s history.

Bellinger’s record-setting performance marked a significant improvement by shaving 12 seconds off the previous third-place time. She’s now only eight seconds away from breaking Cal’s record time of 10:49.

Over the course of the race, Bellinger said she maintained a controlled pace, separating herself from the previous mark and etching her name in school history.

The performance places Bellinger among some of the fastest distance runners in school history at any point in the season, signaling a breakthrough moment in her junior year.

“Being on the school record means a lot to me because I have looked up to a lot of the women on the board,” she said. “Being amongst some of them is really special.”

Bellinger credited her race execution to a structured approach, especially in longer distance events.

“For longer races like the 3,200 [meters], it is easier to think of the race in sections,” Bellinger said. “Having a race plan of how you want to focus on the first mile or lap is really helpful. Competing with the other girls also helps me keep my mind on the race.”

Hamre’s performance reflects his steady progression into the program’s elite ranks. After not cracking the top 10 earlier in his career, his 9:31 time marks a significant breakthrough.

While Hamre did not crack the top three in school history, his performance carried similar weight. His 9:31 time not only placed him fourth all-time at Cal, but also moved him into a competitive tier that once felt out of reach earlier in his career.

His time now sits among some of the fastest ever runs in program history, closing the gap between himself and the top names on the all-time list. The performance reflects a steady progression built on consistency, training, and a sharpened race strategy.

“When I first joined track in my junior year, I didn’t break into the top 10 in any events,” Hamre said. “So when I broke not only into the top 10, but also the top five, it made me really happy because I could look back at my running journey and feel like I’ve made real progress.”

Hamre emphasized the mental demands of distance racing, particularly the challenge of facing discomfort.

“The toughest mental challenge is knowing that a race will be extremely physically demanding,” Hamre said. “You aren’t supposed to finish without leaving everything on the table, so I have to psych myself into a race knowing it will be painful.”

To manage the grind of eight laps around the track, Hamre relies on precise pacing.

“I always give myself a goal time prior to racing and figure out my average 400-meter splits so I can keep myself in check,” Hamre said. “This checkpoint strategy breaks the race up into more manageable chunks.”

Track and field distance coach Carrie Chavez said the athletes’ early-season success is rooted in months of preparation.

“Emily and Kai had incredible cross country seasons in the fall leading both boys and girls teams to the state meet,” Chavez said. “They trained consistently all winter and added a lot of speed, work, and time in their spikes. They are both very dedicated athletes. By track season they were primed to race best times and that meant breaking records.”

Their performances have also raised the standard across the entire team.

“Kai and Emily show the team that big goals are possible through hard work and dedication,” Chavez said. “Collectively, everyone has bought into year-round training and being consistent with all the little things.”

Looking ahead, both runners are chasing even bigger milestones.

Chavez said that Bellinger is shooting to break the 10:40 mark in the 3,200. She also has the goal of running a sub-five-minute mile and breaking the school record for the 1,600.

Bellinger’s other distance coach, Nicholas Shea, said Bellinger and Hamre’s times will be significant in the future. Hamre is close to breaking two minutes for the 800 and 9:30 for the 3,200.

“For both, the times they ran was not a surprise necessarily, but validation of the work they put in,” said Shea, who is Cal’s cross country coach and has overseen a period of significant growth for the program. “Their dedication to competing, and for Emily especially, shows a great display of her versatility as a distance runner.”

Hamre, meanwhile, is closing in on his own barriers as he enters the final stretch of his high school career. He is also weighing his future in the sport, including the possibility of running in college to transitioning to competing in triathlons.

“Kai is graduating this year and is considering focusing on triathlon in college,” Chavez said. “If the right opportunity comes along he would consider running in college.”

Both runners continue to set their sights on future goals, building on performances that have already begun to redefine what is possible for Cal’s distance program.

“It’s very special and probably the significance of their accomplishments won’t fully be recognized until after the season,” Shea said. “Their times are up for a while and the next generation starts to memorize, and idealize their names as measurements of success.”