The Metro Conference’s top distance runners put on a fine display in the 1500-meter invitational at last Saturday’s 13th annual Mustang/Phair Co. Relays at Otay Ranch High School.
Mesa League runners went six deep in topping the boys field of 17 competitors while Mesa League runners went seven deep in topping the girls field of 15 participants.
Sweetwater senior Carlos Aviles-Sullivan won the Blue Division boys race in 4:03.07, followed closely by Bonita Vista sophomore Isaiah Labra in 4:04.67.
Otay Ranch junior Harold Thomas placed third in 4:08.60, followed by Olympian junior Diego Arriola in 4:11.08. Bonita Vista sophomore Ethan Lamprecht finished fifth in 4:12.99, followed by Otay Ranch senior Ryan Andrews in sixth place in 4:15.83.
Many picked Labra, who turned in a scintillating time of 9:26.67 at the elite Arcadia Invitational, as the runner to watch in the boys race. But Aviles-Sullivan, with designs on qualifying for the state meet in both cross country and track and field in the same school year, showed why he is still a force to be reckoned with on the oval.
Aviles-Sullivan, the South Bay League’s top cross country runner last fall, has competed in the 1500 twice this spring. He previously clocked 4:04.76 at the Willie Banks Invitational on April 2.
He was happy with the one-second improvement in the event last weekend.
“The 800 and the 1500 are definitely my favorite races,” the Sweetwater distance standout explained. “The 1500 is a much faster start. It requires speed on the first lap. The next two laps I just want to stay with the pack, and then blast to the finish line.”
Aviles-Sullivan appears to be moving in the right direction as the season speeds to league finals and then qualifying for the state meet. He recorded a personal record time of 1:57.19 in winning the 800-meter run at the Jaguar Invitational on April 16 — more than two seconds faster than the 1:59.52 he posted at last year’s section prelims.
“I’ve definitely dropped my times this year,” he said. “I’ll need to drop to a 1:55 or 1:54 to qualify for the state meet. You have to be careful not to get boxed in.
“I got boxed in at the Mt. Carmel Invitational; I think I could have done better there (seventh place in 1:57.96).”
Labra, who recorded a stunning second-place finish at the Mesa League 3200 finals last year as a freshman, has set PR times in five events so far this season. They include 2:02.00 in the 800 meters, 4:04.67 in the 1500 meters, 4:33.42 in the 1600 meters, 4:26.99 in the one-mile and the 9:26.67 in the 3200 distance.
He finished seventh in his heat in the 3200 at the Arcadia Invitational on April 8. Previously, he won his heat in 9:35.93 at the Mt. Carmel Invitational on March 26.
He remains excited about competing at the Arcadia Invitational.
“It was a really neat experience,” he said. “You need to make a certain time standard to get invited there.”
Labra’s 3200 time ranks first in the conference and sixth in the section. He’s well ahead of the 9:51.40 he posted last year.
“My goal is to qualify for CIF, run my best there and hopefully make it to state, if that comes into question,” he said.
Bonita Vista head coach Matt Seat called Labra the best distance runner at BVHS since Eric Avila graduated in 2007. Avila went on to win the 3200 at the state meet in 9:01.77 and eventually break four minutes in the mile.
“The other standouts we’ve had in the past haven’t performed as well as Isaiah has as a sophomore,” Seat explained. “We’ll see what happens over the next two years.”
Avila’s best in the 3200 as a freshman was 9:51.46 and 9:24.13 as a junior.
Olympian sophomore Alexandra Martinez and Lady Eagles freshman teammate Mariana Beltran finished the flicker of an eye blink apart in topping the girls Blue Division 1500 race. Martinez crossed the finish line in 4:59.54 while Beltran followed in 4:59.64.
Bonita Vista junior Natalie Medina was third in 5:01.12, followed by Otay Ranch junior Eyra Alfaro in 5:06.14. Eastlake junior Emily Bonilla placed fifth in 5:07.33, followed by Hilltop junior Brianna Smith in 5:17.01 and Eastlake senior Harper Moulton in 5:19.53.
Soaring Eagles
Olympian won the Blue Division boys team title with 96 points, followed by Steele Canyon in second place with 80 points. Mesa League rivals Otay Ranch (78 points) and Eastlake (61 points) finished third and fourth while Sweetwater was fifth with 51 points.
Valhalla finished in sixth place with 39.5 points, followed by Bonita Vista in seventh place with 23 points. Calexico (eighth place, 12.5 points), Chula Vista (ninth place, seven points) and Hilltop (10th place, two points) rounded out the division standings.
Steele Canyon won the Blue Division girls team title with 113 points, followed by Olympian with 81 points, Eastlake with 71 points, Otay Ranch with 65 points, Bonita Vista with 62 points, Valhalla with 26 points, Sweetwater with 17 points and Calexico with 13 points.
On the boys side, Steele Canyon claimed first-place finishes in the 4×100 relay (43.37), 4×200 relay (1:32.21) and 4×800 relay (8:23.52).
Valhalla won the boys sprint medley relay (100, 100, 200, 400) in 1:36.92 and distance medley relay (1200, 400, 800, 1600) in 10:46.80.
On the girls side, Steele Canyon captured first-place finishes in the 4×100 relay (48.84), 4×200 relay (1:45.13), 4×800 relay (10:05.69) and sprint medley relay (1:53.69).
Olympian’s girls team finished first in the distance medley relay in 13:04.45. Team members included Alexandra Martinez, Jasmine Simmonds, Carelly Jaramillo and Beltran.
Olympian captured first-place finishes in both the boys 4×400 relay (3:29.10) and girls 4×400 relay (4:06.04) to close out the day’s track events in the Blue Division.
The Eagles winning 4×400 team included Andres Gonzalez, Michael Kipling, Tyson Stevenson and Antwaine Sermons.
Olympian’s girls 4×400 unit included Kolumbia Page, Adaeze Noble, Karen Williams and Jazzleen Wharry.
In other running events, Sweetwater captured the boys 4×100 shuttle hurdles (1:06.89) while Otay Ranch emerged victorious in the girls 4×100 shuttle hurdles (1:10.65).
In the spotlight
Fourteen runners competed in this year’s Blue Division 300-meter dash — six in the boys field and eight in the girls field.
Calexico junior Francisco Castillo timed 36.13 to grab the top boys time ahead of Otay Ranch senior Samuel Stephens (37.01) and Chula Vista’s Moses Medina (37.84) while Olympian junior Betsabe Ornelas recorded the top girls time of 41.30 ahead of Valhalla junior Zion White (41.36).
The boys 300 intermediate hurdles showcased a dramatic finish between Olympian senior Paul Thompson and Otay Ranch senior Jacob Mestre. The Otay hurdler led by a stride entering the final straightaway before Thompson (41.36) rallied to edge Mestre (41.94) at the finish line.
In the girls 300 low hurdles, Olympian junior Jaida Payne (49.62) took a distant second to Steele Canyon senior Tajanique Bell (43.46). Eastlake senior Hunter Mickelsen was third in 50.14.
Field events
Olympian sophomore Chayn Osgood cleared 6-0 to win the Blue Division boys high jump competition over a trio of challengers who cleared 5-10 (Eastlake sophomore Chris Olave, Olympian sophomore Adrian Rodriguez and Bonita Vista senior Arthur Anthony).
Eastlake senior Nate Sweat (47-6.5) and Otay Ranch sophomore Jace Fuamatu (47-1) finished first and second among individuals in the boys shot put while Fuamatu (134-6) finished first in the boys discus throw.
Sweetwater senior Mario Licudine cleared 12-6 as the top individual in the boys pole vault to pass a pair of Eastlake vaulters (senior Kristian Villasenor and sophomore Tanner Moulton) at 11-0. Licudine set a personal record by clearing 13-3 in a dual meet the previous Thursday against San Ysidro.
Eastlake sophomore Jalyn Jackson captured top individual honors in the boys long jump (20-8) and triple jump (44-5).
Bonita Vista junior Julianna Napoleon (34-0.75) and Otay Ranch senior Jordyn Buchanan (33-0.5) went first and second in the girls shot put while Otay Ranch junior Raquel Holloway (101-9) and Napoleon (100-0) finished first and second in the girls discus throw.
Bonita Vista senior Emily Wolover captured top individual honors in the girls long jump (17-7.5) and triple jump (34-0.75) while placing second at 4-10 to Steele Canyon sophomore Kristen Ferkich in the girls high jump.
Eastlake freshman Renna Cozza cleared 7-5 to place fourth behind a trio of Steele Canyon vaulters in the girls pole vault.
Twenty-four teams and approximately 800 athletes competed in last Saturday’s events, both divisions combined.
What’s next?
Saturday, May 7
•Mesa League Junior Varsity Finals at Otay Ranch High School, 9 a.m. start
•South Bay League Junior Varsity Finals at Sweetwater High School, 9 a.m. start
Tuesday, May 10
•Mesa League and South Bay League Varsity Prelims at Otay Ranch High School. Field events: 3 p.m. Track events: 3 p.m.
Thursday, May 12
•Mesa League and South Bay League Varsity Finals at Otay Ranch High School. Field events: 3 p.m. Track events: 4:30 p.m.
TOP 2 FINISH GEARS TROJANS UP FOR LEAGUE FINALS PUSH
The South Bay League track and field finals are scheduled May 12 at Otay Ranch High School and the Castle Park Trojans have a good chance to finish at or near the top of the standings based on the team’s performance at last Saturday’s 13th annual Mustang/Phair Co. Relays.
Results remain unofficial due to a computer glitch but it appears the Trojans finished among the top two teams in the Silver Division standings.
Regardless of the final tally, the Trojans celebrated as champions as they left Otay Ranch High School. It was an outstanding overall showing by the men from Troy.
“Point Loma usually wins this division,” CPHS head coach Rudy Castillo explained after the meet. “It was a great effort, it was a team effort. We got a lot of guys back from injuries and grades.
“We went through some tough competition the whole year, big meets. It’s showing right now. It’s a good time for us getting ready for league finals.”
Luq Barcoo, Chris Arana and DeNicholas Williams each had four medals hanging around their neck at the conclusion of the event.
Barcoo earned his medals in the high jump (5-10), long jump (17-3), 4×100 relay and shuttle hurdles.
Williams’ medals came in the 4×200 relay, 4×100 relay, 4×400 relay and high jump (5-6).
Chris Arana received his medals in the 4×100 relay, 4×200 relay, sprint medley relay and 4×400 relay.
Angelo Trujillo earned three medals — one each in the 4×400 relay, 4×200 relay and 4×100 relay.
The Trojans won the 4×200 relay in 1:32.65 and the 4×400 relay in 3:34.09.
Trujillo, Arana, Jovani Chavez and Williams combined talent and speed to win the 4×200 event while Anthony Smart, Arana, Trujillo and Williams comprised the 4×400 unit.
Castle Park placed second in the 4×100 relay (44.27), second in the boys 4×100 shuttle hurdles (1:14.26) and third in the sprint medley relay (1:39.94).
Barcoo, Williams, Trujillo and Arana combined for the second-place finish in the 4×100 relay behind race winner Point Loma (44.03) while Airrien Smith, Tyshon Peters, Arana and Smart comprised the sprint medley relay unit.
Tale of the tape
Besides Point Loma and Castle Park, Serra, Kearny, Central Union, Mt. Miguel El Cajon Valley, Christian, St. Augustine, Our Lady of Peace, Clairemont, Mar Vista and Southwest also competed in the Silver Division.
In the boys 1500 run, Southwest sophomore Jacob Fierro led the division with a time of 4:04.68, followed by Serra sophomore Anthony Benitez (4:13.82), Central Union senior Michael Garcia (4:22.67), Serra junior Chris Alexander (4:25.65), St. Augustine sophomore Andrew Culp (4:30.22), Point Loma freshman Hunter Sweet (4:34.60), St. Augustine sophomore Thomas Roth (4:37.51), Point Loma junior Ryan Moats (4:42.30) and Clairemont freshman Connor Behan (4:43.79), Clairemont sophomore Luis Ruiz (4:44.13) and Mar Vista junior Juan Herrera (4:47.51).
In the girls 1500 run, Serra sophomore Kathryn Peterson and Southwest junior Fabiola Gonzalez tied for first place with a time of 5:17.76. Castle Park junior Liliana Hakim was third in 5:19.12, followed by Point Loma freshman Rebecca Vavasseur (5:23.67), Point Loma junior Taylor Doonan (5:26.24) and Serra junior Maria Agnas ,Mar Vista senior Laisha Rosas (5:47.98) and Mar Vista junior Jennifer Bascon (6:15.54).
In the boys 300 dash, Kearny senior Takoda Browne topped the field of eight runners with a time of 37.00, followed by Central Union junior Angel Espinoza (37.18) and Point Loma sophomore Austin Haines (39.00).
In the girls 300 dash, Central Union senior Alyssa Valdez sped to the top time of 43.99 in the division.
Mar Vista sophomore Jared York (43.68) finished third in the boys 300 intermediate hurdles behind Point Loma sophomore Bryce Laraya (first, 43.02) and Serra sophomore Jacob Davis (second, 43.24).
Mar Vista freshman Lauren Wold (53.26) finished third in the girls 300 low hurdles behind Serra freshman Bria Ellis (first, 51.45) and Point Loma freshman Genevieve Chao (second, 53.09).
Southwest won the girls sprint medley relay (legs of 100, 100, 200 and 400 meters) in 1:57.10, finished second in the girls 4×100 relay (53.26) and third in the girls 4×800 relay (10:55.54).
The Lady Raiders’ sprint medley relay team included Jazmine Banaci, Erica Basa, Destiny Ko and Rikki Thomas.
Mar Vista won the Silver Division boys 4×800 relay in 8:32.25. Team members included Adrian Castro, Paulo Garcia, Juan Herrera and Anthony Pimentel.
Mar Vista finished third in the boys 4×100 shuttle hurdles (1:16.39) and fourth in the girls 4×100 shuttle hurdles (1:24.47).
Field events
Returning state medalist Laulauga Tasauga-Collins was the top individual in the girls shot put (37-00.25) and discus throw (147-8).
Castle Park senior Tionna Jackson finished second in the girls shot put (36-2.25) and third in the discus throw (96-8). Meanwhile, Lady Trojan classmate Graciel Amparo placed second in the discus throw (97-2), second in the long jump (14-11.5) and fourth in the triple jump (31-0).
Castle Park senior Phillip Nones finished second in the boys discus throw (131-1) and fifth in the shot put (39-8). Smith placed third in the triple jump (39-0.5).
Valhalla runner contributes to team’s success, is state meet hopeful
Valhalla High School senior Curtis Smith is a standout on the track and field oval, and not because the fair-skinned blond mid-distance runner is the easiest to spot on the field. He has become a key contributor to the team’s success and is pushing for personal bests this season that could earn him a spot on the awards podium at next month’s San Diego Section finals.
Those in attendance at last Saturday’s 13th annual Mustang/Phair Co. Relays at Otay Ranch High School saw him put on quite a show. He earned two first-place medals by helping the Norsemen win the sprint medley and distance medley relays.
He also was involved in the team’s fourth-place finish in the 4×200 relay.
The sprint medley relay consists of consecutive legs of 100, 100, 200 and 400 meters. Smith anchored the Valhalla unit. He took the baton on the final 400-meter leg in third place but powered into the lead with 60 meters to go for a winning time of 1:36.92.
Conner Buckley, Jordan Ellis and Todd Franklin joined Smith as members of the victorious quartet.
The distance medley relay consists of legs of 1200, 400, 800 and 1600 meters. Kyle Gabrielson ran the first leg, followed by Smith, Alex Hernandez and Trent Sikute. The four runners combined for a winning time of 10:46.80 – nearly 10 seconds ahead of runner-up Steele Canyon.
Smith remains encouraged about what may lie ahead this season.
“I want to get to the state meet,” he said. “That’s my goal.”
Smith regularly competes in the 400-yard dash, 800-yard run and in the 4×100 and 4×400 relay events.
He placed seventh at last year’s section finals in the 400 dash with a personal best time of 50.53 seconds. He recorded a PR this year in the 800 run of 2:02.00 in an April 21 dual meet against Helix.
The two mid-distance events combine elements of shorter and longer distance events.
“It’s between the sprints and stamina events,” Smith explained. “You have to be really fast and you also have to have stamina. I’m starting to like the 800.”
Smith has received lessons in the latter by competing in cross country the past two seasons. He finished as the No. 2 runner on the boys squad this past fall.
“I like the team mentality (of the sport), and it also helps me get the stamina I need (for track),” he explained.
He received the cross country team’s Attitude-Academic-Athlete award as a senior. He considers that an honor.
Smith admits there is a challenge involved in qualifying for the state meet. He’ll likely have to lower his time below 50 seconds in the 400 by the time the section finals roll around. “I’ll probably have to get my time down to 48 or 49,” he said.
His season best is 52.14 but he’s already proven he can go faster. It’s just a matter of time, both figuratively and literally, before his 400 time falls this spring.
Regardless of how the season turns out, Smith feels his life has been enriched by his Valhalla teammates, who have helped foster a sense of pride and accomplishment besides friendly competition.
“Sports have helped me interact with people,” Smith explained. “Being a part of a team is like being on a family rather than by blood. My teammates have become good friends. They have helped push me past my limit.”
Hard work has clearly made the man.
“My freshman year I wasn’t that fast but my coach pushed my limit and showed me I had potential,” he said. “Since then, I’ve trimmed away my times. For college, I want to keep improving.”
Smith is currently leaning toward a two-year preparatory stint at Cuyamaca College before transferring to a four-year college. His goal is to become a physical trainer.
