Girls’ Relay Team Achieves the Impossible

California is arguably the most competitive state in the country for track and field. With over 1,600 schools that compete in the state, qualifying for the state finals as one of the top eight programs is a feat reserved for the state’s most elite programs.  

On May 31, the Oaks Christian Girls’ 4x100 Relay Team won back-to-back state titles at Buchanan High School in Clovis, an almost impossible feat.  

“It’s very hard to win one of these in the first place,” said OCS Track and Field Coach Wes Smith. “It’s even harder to defend a title in this race.”  

The relay team of Rayah Rodriguez, Chiara Baker, Kyra Terry, and Devyn Sproles defended the CIF state title and brought it back home to Lion country.  

“I think coach Brandi and the crew here worked well together to put the pieces together to be the best when the best is needed,” Smith said after his team won their second consecutive 4x100 girls’ title with a time of 46.08. It’s the school’s third event.  

When Baker got in position to start the race at Buchanan High School, she paused and focused on the Lord ahead of the biggest race of her high school career.  

“I prayed to the Lord and asked him to keep me calm when I was on the blocks,” Baker recalled. “I wanted to focus on my body and how I would be using my arms.”  

Coach Smith watched from a vantage point that allowed him to view the first handoff.  

“I felt like if Chiara could run to her potential in the lead leg, we’d be in good shape,” Smith said. “Chiara executed her biomechanics just like we’ve been working in practice this week, leading up to state, and when she got the baton off, I thought the girls could take off into the lead.”  

From Baker to Rodriguez to Terry and then ultimately to Sproles, the Lady Lions peaked at just the right time.  

“Their last race of the season was their best race of the season,” Smith said. “One of our philosophies is that we want to peak and be great in May. We want to build towards this moment. Each destination in the process is about learning and growing together.”  

Baker fondly recalls the coaching she received from the track and field staff, including Brandi Prieto, Lawrence Webster, Michelle Sproles, and Malik Cyphers.     

“I’m really happy that our coaches pour into us as much as they do, and they continue to pour into us even more no matter what,” she said. “They have a lot of faith in us, and I’m just honestly still in shock, but I’m really proud of us.”  

Smith credits his student-athletes with buying into his staff’s coaching philosophies.   

“This process only works if the kids buy it,” Smith said. “We can talk and teach and coach until we’re blue in the face, but if the kids don’t care, none of that matters. This group has believed and trusted in our process, and they now get the reward of being back-to-back state champions for Oaks Christian.”