Daryl Peveto Emily Mattoon won the state pole vault title with a mark of 12 feet, 6 inches at Cerritos College, but the Rancho Bernardo junior was disappointed about not cracking the 13-foot mark.

Despite disappointment in being unable to top 13 feet in the pole vault, Emily Mattoon cleared 12-6 to win the gold medal at yesterday's State Track and Field Championships at Cerritos College.

“I'm happy with winning – not many can say they're a state champion – but I wish I could have gone 13 (feet),” said the Rancho Bernardo junior, who finished tied for sixth at state last year.

A tiebreaker consisting of the fewest misses at previous heights gave Mattoon the victory over three competitors who cleared the same height. Most of the others were setting personal bests in the event. Mattoon had gone over 13 feet in a dual meet last year and had a personal best of 12-10 this season.

“It's strange. They were all happier than I was,” Mattoon said of her competitors. “They were all happy and I felt bad. They vaulted really well.”

Mattoon's advantage over her opponents came on her attempts at earlier heights. She was perfect clearing 11-0, 11-6, 12-0 and 12-6. Her best attempt at 13-0 came on her first try.

“I was so close on that first attempt, I could taste it,” Mattoon said.

This week Mattoon will have her right foot placed in a cast because of a stress fracture that has bothered her all season. She was in a boot earlier this year for six weeks.

Mattoon's Rancho Bernardo teammate Molly Grabill had no problem with personal records. She shattered hers.

Going into the state meet the freshman had a PR and section season best in the 3,200 meters of 10:43.52. Yesterday she dropped that by more than 15½ seconds to nab fifth place.

“That's really a big drop. I'm really happy with that,” Grabill said after hearing her time of 10:27.97.

She credited her decision to drop the 1,600 at the state meet despite her section title in the event.

“This is the first time I didn't do a double,” said Grabill. “Going into this I had no idea I'd do this well.”

Also benefiting from Grabill's decision to drop the 1,600 was Torrey Pines' Alli Billmeyer. The Falcons freshman moved into the section's third and final state qualifying spot when Grabill pulled out. She made the most of her opportunity, not only qualifying for the finals but earning a fourth-place medal.

“The second and third leg I dropped back, but with 200-250 (meters) to go, I started passing people,” Billmeyer said. “That gave me an adrenaline rush. It made me want to pass more people. I picked them off one at a time.”

Grabill and Billmeyer were in races featuring impressive performances.

Irvine Woodbridge's Christine Babcock shattered the National Federation Record by more than five seconds to win the 1,600 in 4:33.82 The previous record was held by Ojai Oak Ridge's Alex Kosinski in 2007.

In the 3,200, San Luis Obispo's Jordan Hasay broke the 10-year-old meet record of 9:52.80 by Thousand Oak's Kim Mortensen with a winning time of 9:52.13.

“There was a lot of fast people and I was pretty nervous, but I dreamed big. I dreamed I was on the podium,” said Billmeyer.

Vista's Brandy Dyer matched Billmeyer's fourth-place medal with a toss of 41-7¾ in the shot put.

Despite taking just two jumps, Mater Dei's Jackae Bridges came away with a sixth-place medal in the long jump. After a 17-1¼ on her first jump, the junior had a leap of 18-4¾ on her next attempt. She passed on her final four attempts. She tweaked her knee in Friday night's prelims.