Haas Finishes Third in State in 800 Meters
By Jimmy Friery
WALNUT, Calif. – Santa Barbara City College distance star Kiala Haas earned a podium finish at the 3C2A Track & Field State Championships on Saturday, placing third in the 800 Meters (2:15.68).
Haas, a sophomore from San Marcos, ends her Vaquero career proudly at this year's State meet—the team's sole representative.
She is perhaps a bit unlucky not to have an even better finish. Last year, she was fifth in the state in the same event, clocking in at 2:19.47. The first-place time then was 2:17.17, about a second and a half behind her 2026 third-place finish. First place today was 2:12.36, nearly five seconds better.
Nevertheless, as the competition improved significantly, so did Haas. Her time today is a personal best, and just a beat ahead of the fourth-place time of 2:15.81.