That's just what she was doing last Saturday at the Los Gatos High School track, and it was good for a couple of gold-medal performances of the Los Gatos senior.

Dodson won the 400 meters and helped Los Gatos to a win in the 4x400 relay to lead the Wildcats to a team third in the girls division at the K-Bell Invitational.

"[Dodson] had a great day," said Los Gatos girls coach Monica Townsend.

The senior speedster started the day by placing fifth in the 200 meters in a personal best 25.78, then she really went to work.

Dodson fought from behind in the final 50 meters to win the 400 in a personal best 58.25. Later in the meet, she anchored the 4x400 relay in 59.8 to help the Cats to a victory.

Caroline Stege opened the relay with a 61.8 split. Freshman Samantha Peppard ran 62.3 and Ashley Benson 63.16 to round out the relay quartet.

Stege, a junior, was also third in the 400 in a personal best 60.61 and Benson was eighth in 63.16, also a personal best.

"[Benson] came straight from a soccer tournament to place eighth in the 400," said Townsend of the junior.

Peppard added a third in the 800 in 2:25.14, and Jill Goodwin, also a freshman, was fifth in 2:25.84. Both were personal records.

Sophomore Ariana Nicewonger was ninth in the 3,200 in 12:02.57 with freshman Kristy Barker 18th in 13:07.57, and senior Cheryl Parkman was 11th in the 100 in 13.34 with soph Janelle Carino running 13.75.

Shea Dailor heaved the discus 97-5 for a sixth-place finish and Jennifer Davis tossed the platter 83-11.5.

Los Gatos had opened the week by running to a tight 64-63 win over Lynbrook in key meet in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

"It was a very good start for us in league dual meets," said Townsend. "The girls expect each meet to be a nail-biter, so they come prepared for battle."

"What I'm seeing is amazing," added the coach. "My underclassmen have as much inner fight yet seasoned poise as the upperclassmen."

The Cats swept the 400- and 200-meter events, with Stege and Benson competing in each one.

Dodson won the 400 with Stege second and Benson, then Stege took the 200 with Benson second and Monica Rude third.

"Stege had a great dirt track time of 27.87 [in the 200]," said Townsend. She also praised Parkman for her dirt track effort, winning the 100 in 13.52.

Sally Stanton won the 100 hurdles with Erickson second, and Stanton also took the 300 hurdles.

Parkman, Dodson, Erickson and Rude teamed for a win in the 4x100 relay, and Dailor was first in the discus and second in the shot put.

Nicewonger was second in the 3,200 and third in the 1,600 behind second-placer Goodwin. Nicewonger's finish in the 3,200 helped Los Gatos clinch the team win.

Sophomore Marlana Shile was second in the 800 with Peppard third, Melissa Shawhan was second in the high jump and Stege was second in the long jump.