Two years ago, Paige Echsner was in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime streak.
A sophomore, Echsner anchored the Nighthawks’ 4×800 relay team with 2:07 half-miler Hannah Riggins going third.
Del Norte not only won the CIF San Diego Section and state titles, the latter in a record 8:55.99, it went on to capture the event at the Nike Nationals in 8:51.78.
Despite being one of the top returning 800-meter runners a year ago, Echsner changed her focus to the pole vault. That would be like the state champion golfer exchanging her clubs for a tennis racket.
Eschner went from national champion in the relay to state runner-up in the pole vault, and is currently the top vaulter in the state after clearing a personal best 13 feet, 6 inches in a dual meet last Wednesday.
“Track is different from any sport because you have different events,” said the UCLA-bound senior. “I’d only scratched the surface of what I could do in the vault, so after last year I dropped cross country.
“I have so much potential. I’m on a new pole, and that’s what I use at higher heights.”
A look back at last year shows one reason why Echsner is so confident.
“I hadn’t even cleared 12-9 when I went to Mt. SAC and got 12-10,” she said. “Then at the divisionals, I cleared 13, improved to 13-3 at the sectionals and improved to 13-5 at state.”
At the state meet, Echsner squared off against multi-time state champion Jathiyah Muhammad of Pittsburg, who soared 13-9.
Del Norte coach Chris Jacobs has no trouble explaining how Echsner is so competitive at the end of the season.
“She’s fearless,” Jacobs said. “She’s a big spotlight competitor. She’s smart (4.17 GPA) and a fast learner. That’s why I used her on the anchor of the relay two years ago. I knew if it came down to it, she wouldn’t lose.”
Let Echsner explain the national championship race.
“JSerra sent its ‘A’ team and South Lakes (Va.) also managed to stay close to Hannah on the third leg, which was unusual,” said Echsner, who was used to 100-meter leads instead of 20 meters. “Both of them went past me the first 200 meters and I started thinking, ‘Third would be OK.’
“But with a lap to go, I started pumping my arms and I ed South Lakes. I stayed on the tail of the JSerra girl and with 100 meters I made my move and went past her with 70 meters remaining. I could hear the crowd, it was so loud. My previous best was around 2:16 but they clocked me in 2:09.”
As Jacobs said, he knew she wouldn’t lose.
Echsner carries that attitude into the pole vault which she picked up as a freshman after previously playing soccer.
“I’m not afraid of heights and I have pretty good speed,” said Echsner, who picked UCLA over offers from Cal, Texas, UConn and North Carolina. “My goal is to get a PR in every meet, starting this weekend at Mt. SAC like last year. I’m also going to run the 300 hurdles there, and I usually run the 4×400 relay because it’s at the end of the meet after the pole vault.
“I’ll do whatever it takes for the team.”
She still thinks of her teammates from two years ago.
“I miss them, it was a great team,” Echsner said. “Heck, I missed cross country, too, and went to the meets, but when I think of all the work I’d have to put in, and all I’ve put in for the pole vault, I’m happy where I am.
“I can’t wait to start pushing up the crossbar.”
Dailey’s record will count
She had to wait two days for the official word, but Chiara Dailey is now a CIF San Diego Section record-holder.
The La Jolla High School junior set the section record in the 1,600 meters, clocking a time of 4 minutes, 40.28 seconds on Saturday night at the Arcadia Invitational. The time broke the year-old standard of 4:40.29 set by Eastlake’s Jaelyn Williams.
Dailey finished second in the mile run, where official times were also kept for 1,500 and 1,600 meters. After more than 24 hours of review, the en-route times were announced and Dailey moved to No. 1 in section history.
— STEVE BRAND
