Jason Redmond / Star staff La Reina High's Sasha Blanchard qualified for the CIF-Southern Section Division IV Finals in the 100 and 300 hurdles and long jump. The senior, who is considered by coach Robert Lopez to be one of the program's best team leaders, holds the county record in the 300 hurdles.

BLANCHARD

Robert Lopez never had a better team manager than Sasha Blanchard.

For certain, Blanchard has been the best hurdler the La Reina High track coach has ever had.

And after her four-event performance at the Tri-Valley League final helped La Reina gain a share of the first track championship in school history, the senior impressed Lopez as one of the program's best team leaders.

"You can't be uninspired by listening (to her) and seeing her," said Lopez. "I am not sure that I will see another one like her."

In a season of individual and team milestones for the Thousand Oaks-based private school, the former youth gymnastics champion has tumbled to the top of the all-time Ventura County performance list by a girls' 300-meter hurdler.

Blanchard broke a 16-year-old county record by recording a time of 43.81 seconds at the Ventura County Championships last month.

What's more, the senior with the quick smile is having the best time of her life.

"I am having more fun than ever," said Blanchard.

"In the past, I would be more focused on my performances. Now that I am relaxed, my performances are better than ever."

Blanchard qualified for Saturday's Division IV Finals at Mount San Antonio College in three individual events. At the Division IV Prelims last weekend at Carpinteria High, Blanchard advanced with performances of 14.75 in the 100 hurdles, 45.39 in the 300 hurdles and 16-8 in the long jump.

Track and field wasn't always her first choice.

While she competed for the United Track Club in Agoura since 2000, Blanchard was also an accomplished gymnast, winning the state vault championship in the eighth grade.

Because gymnastics required four hours of training on most days, there wasn't much time for Blanchard to work out for track.

She had to choose between the two sports.

"It was a hard decision," said Blanchard. "I was home-schooled, so my only friends were in gymnastics. It was tough to let go."

All of those early morning gymnastics practices directly helped her track career.

It's common for hurdlers to adjust their steps or stride patterns to adapt to their position between the barriers.

"I have good body awareness, especially over the hurdles," said Blanchard. "I can jump over with either foot."

Blanchard's ability to adapt to different events has made her a valuable asset to the La Reina program.

"I've never had an athlete who is so versatile," said Lopez. "That has allowed us to move her around depending on who we are competing against. It became Let's see what we can do in this event.'

"She never blinked an eye at doing whatever it took to help the team. She was always team first. She sacrifices to make the team better. You can't coach that."

One of the toughest events that Blanchard ever faced was the Tri-Valley League girls' 400 final. She was runner-up to her younger sister, Tara.

"Life revolves around track in the Blanchard household," said Sasha. "We're always going to the Internet and looking at rankings. We're all over it.

"It was nerve wracking to race against my little sister. She's my best friend. But we're competitive."

Being a multi-event athlete helped Blanchard land with the Notre Dame women's track program.

While Notre Dame is looking for her to contribute as a hurdler and long jumper, Blanchard is looking to develop her skills as a heptathlete. She was seventh in the heptathlon at the 2006 Junior Olympics.

During her spare time, Blanchard helped launch a Web site — Letsmakeadifferencenow.com — that has helped raise money to offset medical costs for Malachi Smith, the son of Oaks Christian track coach Wes Smith. Malachi Smith has been undergoing treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Blanchard and friends sold tie-dye shirts and shorts at different events. Future Track in Agoura Hills helped sell the items in its store.