St. Ignatius junior Ellie McCuskey-Hay eyes gold at CCS track and field finals
It seems like ancient history to St. Ignatius junior track and field standout Ellie McCuskey-Hay, even though it was just two years ago.
As a freshman, out of lane 8, a great start propelled her to a second-place finish in the CIF State Meet 100-meter dash in 11.52 seconds. Later in the competition she let loose on her final attempt of the long jump, going 19 feet, 7¼ inches to place sixth.
Both marks that day at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Clovis were considerable personal bests — her previous top numbers were 11.81 and 18-10½.
'That was such a surreal moment,' McCuskey-Hay said last week from the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, where she was the San Francisco High School Awards' female athlete of the year. 'I couldn't believe that had happened. Seems so long ago. … I've come very far since then. I'm more consistent than ever.'
The day and memory bring big smiles to the petite, powerful, fast-twitched 5-foot-4 athlete. But it could also be a burden to beat two elite marks, which are still lifetime bests.
Last season she finaled in both events at state, taking fifth in the long jump (19-0) and ninth in the 100 (11.71). This season, heading into Saturday's Central Coast Section finals at Gilroy High School, she ranks fifth in the state in the 100 (11.54) and seventh in the long jump (19-7).
She's perfectly positioned to break those freshman marks and add to her collection of four state medals. The 4x100 relay team that she anchors with Breion Glaspie, Avery Hui-Bytof and Sophia Boudraa also ranks 17th in state at 47.11 and could reach a state finals.
But McCuskey-Hay, the daughter of a Marin Waves Track and Field Club founder and director, knows nothing can be taken for granted in this sport. There's weather. Starts. Health.
And, perhaps most important, a mindset.
That's why McCuskey-Hay works with a sports psychologist to manage a sport where every millisecond and movement counts.
'I would say I'm pretty hard on myself when things don't go the way I'd like them to,' McCuskey-Hay said. 'Restructuring that mindset really helps me.
'I've been doing this so long, I know all the abilities are there. It's a matter of putting it all together and being optimistic.'
She's been a model of consistency, breaking 12 seconds in all nine races this season — winning eight — while running 11.54 twice and 11.55 once. Her only non-victory was placing fifth at the nationally recognized Arcadia Invitational, where she went 11.54.
In the 200, she won six of eight times with a best of 23.90 (wind-aided), the 11th best time in California this year. McCuskey-Hay could easily bring home four golds from Saturday's meet as she did at the West Catholic Athletic League championship on May 9.
North Salinas sophomore Clara Adams and Mountain View senior Hannah Rutherford in the 200 present the biggest obstacles for McCuskey-Hay.
'I definitely have certain expectations and would like to run certain times and jump certain distances," McCuskey-Hay said. 'But I think it's important to go with the flow.'
More CCS athletes to watch: The boys 1,600 should be the most competitive as Menlo School-Atherton senior Landon Pretre (4:06.23) and Los Gatos senior Aydon Stefanopoulos (4:06.62) possess the third- and fourth-best times in the state this season. They also rank first and fifth in the 3,200. … Crystal Springs Uplands-Hillsborough senior Benjamin Bouie, the defending champion with a best of 4:06.92, and Sacred Heart Cathedral senior Miles Cook (4:08.33) are two more strong threats in the 1,600. … Other top 10 state marks this season from CCS athletes include: Woodside senior Mattheo Lacasia (400, 47.22, ninth), St. Ignatius senior Prince Buchango-Babalola (110 hurdles, 13.98, seventh), Serra senior Luke Lewis (shot put, 61-6¼, fourth), Woodside senior Evan Usher (shot put, 59-8, ninth), Mountain View senior Rutherford (400, 54.01, fourth), Palo Alto senior Kinga Czajkowska (girls 1,600, 4:46.34, fourth), Mitty senior Maya Ifo Desai (girls discus, 154-11, fourth), Monta Vista-Cupertino junior Lelani Laruelle (high jump, 5-8, tied for second), Burlingame senior Avery Boyse (pole vault, 13-0, second), Monta Vista senior Clara Fan (triple jump, 39-0, 10th).
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The Lions will travel to play top seed Vanden-Fairfield, an 8-6 winner over Foothill-Pleasanton, which got a home run and two RBIs from Alexa Sponsel. … No. 6 seed King's Academy-Sunnyvale (22-7) beat No. 3 Destiny Christian-Sacramento 5-4 behind two hits and two RBIs each from Katia Nesper and Mia Bennette. … In Division 3, Callie Howard threw a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts and Andrea Mansberry and Izzie Kunimune each had two hits and two RBIs as second-seed Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa beat Calaveras 5-1. … In Division 5, seventh-seed Balboa (14-4) broke open a close game with a 15-run fifth inning to win 20-3 at Foresthill (Placer County). The Bucs will have another long bus ride to face host and third-seed King City (19-11). Baseball first-round: In Division 1, Tyler Spangler and Antonio Castro had three hits apiece and Bubba Vargas drove in three runs as host and top seed De La Salle-Concord defeated Del Oro 7-3. 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San Francisco Chronicle
21-05-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
St. Ignatius junior Ellie McCuskey-Hay eyes gold at CCS track and field finals
It seems like ancient history to St. Ignatius junior track and field standout Ellie McCuskey-Hay, even though it was just two years ago. As a freshman, out of lane 8, a great start propelled her to a second-place finish in the CIF State Meet 100-meter dash in 11.52 seconds. Later in the competition she let loose on her final attempt of the long jump, going 19 feet, 7¼ inches to place sixth. Both marks that day at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Clovis were considerable personal bests — her previous top numbers were 11.81 and 18-10½. 'That was such a surreal moment,' McCuskey-Hay said last week from the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, where she was the San Francisco High School Awards' female athlete of the year. 'I couldn't believe that had happened. Seems so long ago. … I've come very far since then. I'm more consistent than ever.' The day and memory bring big smiles to the petite, powerful, fast-twitched 5-foot-4 athlete. But it could also be a burden to beat two elite marks, which are still lifetime bests. Last season she finaled in both events at state, taking fifth in the long jump (19-0) and ninth in the 100 (11.71). This season, heading into Saturday's Central Coast Section finals at Gilroy High School, she ranks fifth in the state in the 100 (11.54) and seventh in the long jump (19-7). She's perfectly positioned to break those freshman marks and add to her collection of four state medals. The 4x100 relay team that she anchors with Breion Glaspie, Avery Hui-Bytof and Sophia Boudraa also ranks 17th in state at 47.11 and could reach a state finals. But McCuskey-Hay, the daughter of a Marin Waves Track and Field Club founder and director, knows nothing can be taken for granted in this sport. There's weather. Starts. Health. And, perhaps most important, a mindset. That's why McCuskey-Hay works with a sports psychologist to manage a sport where every millisecond and movement counts. 'I would say I'm pretty hard on myself when things don't go the way I'd like them to,' McCuskey-Hay said. 'Restructuring that mindset really helps me. 'I've been doing this so long, I know all the abilities are there. It's a matter of putting it all together and being optimistic.' She's been a model of consistency, breaking 12 seconds in all nine races this season — winning eight — while running 11.54 twice and 11.55 once. Her only non-victory was placing fifth at the nationally recognized Arcadia Invitational, where she went 11.54. In the 200, she won six of eight times with a best of 23.90 (wind-aided), the 11th best time in California this year. McCuskey-Hay could easily bring home four golds from Saturday's meet as she did at the West Catholic Athletic League championship on May 9. North Salinas sophomore Clara Adams and Mountain View senior Hannah Rutherford in the 200 present the biggest obstacles for McCuskey-Hay. 'I definitely have certain expectations and would like to run certain times and jump certain distances," McCuskey-Hay said. 'But I think it's important to go with the flow.' More CCS athletes to watch: The boys 1,600 should be the most competitive as Menlo School-Atherton senior Landon Pretre (4:06.23) and Los Gatos senior Aydon Stefanopoulos (4:06.62) possess the third- and fourth-best times in the state this season. They also rank first and fifth in the 3,200. … Crystal Springs Uplands-Hillsborough senior Benjamin Bouie, the defending champion with a best of 4:06.92, and Sacred Heart Cathedral senior Miles Cook (4:08.33) are two more strong threats in the 1,600. … Other top 10 state marks this season from CCS athletes include: Woodside senior Mattheo Lacasia (400, 47.22, ninth), St. Ignatius senior Prince Buchango-Babalola (110 hurdles, 13.98, seventh), Serra senior Luke Lewis (shot put, 61-6¼, fourth), Woodside senior Evan Usher (shot put, 59-8, ninth), Mountain View senior Rutherford (400, 54.01, fourth), Palo Alto senior Kinga Czajkowska (girls 1,600, 4:46.34, fourth), Mitty senior Maya Ifo Desai (girls discus, 154-11, fourth), Monta Vista-Cupertino junior Lelani Laruelle (high jump, 5-8, tied for second), Burlingame senior Avery Boyse (pole vault, 13-0, second), Monta Vista senior Clara Fan (triple jump, 39-0, 10th).
