After more than 50 years, Bonita Vista High School has its own state-of-the-art track and field complex.
No more bumpy dirt tack, no more splintery spectator stands and no more rotten logs to mark the shot put/discus pits.
It was, in one word, atrocious. Actually, add the word embarrassing to that.
But no more.
The winds of change have started to catch up with improvements to athletic facilities through the Sweetwater Union High School District and Bonita Vista High School has been the most recent recipient of much needed upgrades.
Now, if the district can just build another on-campus pool somewhere. Mar Vista High School’s new aquatics center is grand but local schools need another one, especially to support middle school programs to keep high school sports moving forward.
Home sweet home
Bonita Vista inaugurated its new digs with a home dual meet against the Olympian Eagles, one of the stronger teams in the Mesa League. Both the Barons and Eagles traded wins throughout the March 30 encounter to provide excitement throughout the event.
The history-making BVHS opener drew its share of supporters in the stands. It also attracted a rain shower during the junior varsity 100-meter races.
But the wet weather could not dampen the enthusiasm of coaches and participants.
There were no shortage of top marks. Olympian junior Angel Cordero, last fall’s boys cross country champion, doubled in winning the boys 800- and 1,600-meter runs while Olympian sophomore Gabrielle Hawkins doubled in winning the girls 200- and 400-meter dashes. Olympian freshman Isabel Lara doubled in the distances by winning the 1,600- and 3,200 runs.
Bonita Vista senior Isaiah Chappell produced the highlight of the meet by recording a long jump of 22 feet, 11 inches to rank among the section leaders in the event.
“The facility is totally awesome,” Bonita Vista assistant coach Raymond Rice said. “It appears well maintained. I think the kids are enjoying the home aspect.”
“I think this will be a recruiting tool for us as time goes on,” BVHS distance coach Dan Kettlehake added.
Kettlehake hopes as the track team grows, so will the cross country team.
“It makes my job so much easier,” BVHS vertical and horizontal coach Joe Sheffield said about the increased on-campus exposure. “But it’s also more involved because more kids will be coming out. Last year we had to hold practices at Otay Ranch.”
Olympian coach Brandon Velasquez concurred with the positive vibes surrounding the new facility.
“It’s fun to compare the differences with before,” Velasquez said. “I remember coming here (as a student-athlete with Otay Ranch) and running on it when it was dirt. It’s nice to see the changes that have happened. It’s progress.”
Olympian’s Alyssa Alaman leads a trio of runners to the finish line in the girls 800-meter run. Alaman crossed the finish line in 2:52.28 ahead of teammate Shaniya Estrada (2:52.84) and Bonita Vista’s Morgan Murphy (2:53.88).
Mesa League Dual Meet
Boys Top Marks
100: 1. Dante Scott (BV) 11.23; 2. Javon Jordan (O) 11.48; 3. Isaiah Chappell (BV) 11.55; 4. Andrew Cadriel (O) 11.96
200: 1. Jadon Dorsey (O) 22.95; 2. Javon Jordan (O) 23.64; 3. Dante Scott (BV) 23.79; 4. Austin Snook (BV) 24.57
400: 1. Jaden Dorsey (O) 52.43; 2. Austin Snook (BV) 54.71; 3. Zyan Perez (O) 58.06
800: 1. Angel Cordero (O) 2:01.85; 2. Anthony Estrella (O) 2:07.25; 3. Andrew Campbell (O) 2:09.40; 4. Ian Ridge (BV) 2:10.85
1600: 1. Angel Cordero (O) 4:27.97; 2. Andrew Campbell (O) 4:47. 83; 3. Anthony Estrella (O) 4:48.96; 4. Sebastian Aranda (BV) 4:55.28
3200: 1. Joaquin Gonzalez (O) 10:45.45; 2. Emran Mohammed (O) 11:10.61; 3. Memphis Genster (O) 11:18.20; 4. Alan Magana (BV) 11:38.71
110 high hurdles: 1. Kevin Lemos (O) 17.63; 2. Kohner Griffiths (O) 20.23; 3. Ryler Huerto (O) 25.62
300 intermediate hurdles: 1. Joaquin Pinedo (O) 43.79; 2. Kohner Griffiths (O) 46.40; 3. Kevin Lemos (O) 48.27
4×100 relay: 1. Bonita Vista 44.23; 2. Olympian 44.69
Shot put: 1. Tyler Romero (O) 35-1; 2. Mariano Flores Robles (O) 34-10; 3. Alan Ramirez (O) 34-9; 4. James Gonzalez (O) 33-7
Pole vault: 1. Anthony Wise (BV) 10-6
Long jump: 1. Isaiah Chappell (BV) 22-11; 2. Gavin Dominguez (O) 18-9; 3. Tyler Scott (BV) 17-9; 4. Dante Scott (BV) 17-8
Triple jump: 1. Isaiah Chappell (BV) 41-10; 2. Anthony Wise (BV) 41-1; 3. Kyler Griffiths (O) 39-1.5; 4. Jacob Shaw (O) 38-1
Girls Top Marks
100: 1. Tatiana Colon (BV) 13.26; 2. JoVonne Moore (BV) 13.32; 3. Aubrey Tibayan (O) 13.49; 4. Tylia Cole (BV) 13.60
200: 1. Gabrielle Hawkins (O) 27.54; 2. JoVonne Moore (BV) 27.61; 3. Ivanna Ruiz (O) 28.02; 4. Tatiana Colon (BV) 28.17
400: 1. 1. Gabrielle Hawkins (O) 1:02.27; 2. Ivanna Ruiz (O) 1:02.42; 3. Kaya Bonner-Smith (BV) 1:08.88; 4. Airi Anderson (O) 1:09.58
800: 1. Alyssa Alaman (O) 2:52.28, 2. Shaniya Estrada (O) 2:52.84; 3. Morgan Murphy (BV) 2:53.88; 4. Daniela Bravo (O) 2:59.80
1600: 1. Isabel Lara (O) 5:48.45; 2. Renee Khuong (BV) 5:51.11; 3. Victoria Ames (O) 5:52.30; 4. Rei Fulinara (BV) 5:56.69
3200: 1. Isabel Lara (O) 12:53.62; 2. Victoria Ames (O) 12:53.87; 3. Rei Fulinara (BV) 13:07.31; 4. Zyanya Rios (O) 14:70.70
100 low hurdles: 1. Natalie Guevara (BV) 17.54; 2. Tylia Cole (BV) 17.88; 3. Jade Davis (O) 19.97; 4. Pia Maria Palacios (O) 20.93
300 low hurdles: 1. Jade Davis (O) 55.01; 2. Stephanie Perez (O) 58.88; 3. Pia Maria Palacios (O) 1:01.62
Pole vault: 1. Paulina Escajadillo (BV) 8-6; 2. Neveah Elefante (BV) 8-0; 3. Catherine Wunderly (BV) 7-6
4×100 relay: 1. Bonita Vista 51.02; 2. Olympian 51.09
4×400 relay: 1. Olympian 4:26.24; 2. Bonita Vista 4:42.41
