Flintridge Prep track takes home seven Prep League titles

CLAREMONT — On an evening in which Flintridge Prep super senior Jack Van Scoter formally waved good bye to his league, it was Rebels junior Hanna Barakat and freshman Evelyn Molebash who stole the show.

Barakat took home three individual events at the Prep League Championships at Claremont-McKenna-Scripps College’s Zinda Field on Friday, while Molebash set a new league record.

In the team competition, the Flintridge Prep boys finished runner-up to archrival Pasadena Poly, 114-86, while the girls also finished second to Mayfield Senior School, 178-97.

Overall, the Rebels won seven individual championships, while 14 additional entrants earned berths to the CIF Southern Section Division IV preliminaries.

“I came out here with the idea that I was going to do a lot of running,” Barakat said. “I wanted to get points for my team and I also wanted to pick up as many wins as possible.”

Barakat competed in four overall events, opening with a win in the 400-meter dash in a mark of 59.64 seconds. The victory was followed by triumphs in the 100 (12.75) and 200 (25.82).

For good measure, Barakat also ran the anchor leg of the 1,600-meter relay and propelled her team to second in 4:13.32.

With every other event having long concluded, Molebash took center stage in the pole vault and won the event in a league record mark of 10 feet, 7 inches.

The height smashed Molebash’s previous personal-best of 10-1, much to the surprise of the ecstatic ninth-grader, who had her accomplishment broadcasted throughout the stadium.

“This feels so amazing, oh my goodness,” said Molebash, who broke the previous mark of 10-4. “I was so scared coming in because of the weather and how late my event ran. I just wasn’t expecting this. I love it.”

As for Van Scoter, the senior enjoyed his final Prep League event by winning the 1,600- and 3,200 in 4:20.42 and 9:18.06, respectively.

“I have mad respect for the Prep League because everyone here goes through very serious academic rigors throughout the year,” said Van Scoter, who lapped 12 of the 16 competitors in the 3,200. “The fact we’re able to come out here and perform at any level is pretty special and impressive.”

Junior Natalie O’Brien turned in the Rebels’ final victory in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 11:22.66 and was pushed by teammate Sophie Gitlin, who was second in 11:28.05.

“It was awesome and fun to not have that much pressure on us,” O’Brien said.

“Usually, we’re in big meets and we’re chasing someone, so this was different,” Gitlin added.

Remarkably, every Flintridge Prep athlete or team who finished second or third at Friday’s prelims hit at-large berth times or marks and earned advancement to the prelims.

On the girls’ side, Sasha Codiga (second in the 800 in 2:22:89) and Arielle Guzman (third in the 1,600 in 1:01.79) earned spots to the prelims.

As for the boys, Warren Hosseinion qualified in the shot put (second, 44-2 1/4) and discus (second, 129-3), Nikhil Poole advanced in the 1,600 (second, 4:31.59) and 3,200 (second, 9:41.10), Evan Pattinelli also moved on in the 1,600 (third, 4:31.59) and 3,200 (third, 9:41.16), while Michael Maloney was third in the pole vault (10-0), Riley Coan was second in the 800 (2:03.47), Sebastian Evans was third in the 800 (2:06.41) and the 1,600 relay squad placed second (3:49.05).

The CIF Southern Section Division IV prelims will be hosted at Carpinteria High on Saturday, May 14.