Knowles enjoys big day at prelims
BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD
St. Francis in CIF Southern Section Division III preliminaries: Reigning All-Area Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year James Knowles ran to a return berth in next week’s finals at Cerritos College.
“This is just to get him ready for next week,” said St. Francis Coach Patrick Donovan of Saturday’s prelims at Estancia High. “[His results were] what we were hoping for.”
Knowles won his heat in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal-record time of 38.12 seconds, which was third-fastest across the board. He also advanced in the 110 hurdles, taking second in his heat with the fourth-best time of the day at 14.55.
Also in the DIII prelims, Hoover’s Jeremy Zadoorian finished ninth in his heat of the 800 in 2:01.72 and did not move on.
Crescenta Valley, Burbank and Glendale in Division I preliminaries: Michael Davis showed he means business again this year, as he took first in the 100-meter dash in 10.67 and fourth in the 200 (21.58) to qualify forward.
The Falcons’ Josh Strachewski qualified for the finals with an eighth-place finish in the 110-hurdles (14.89) and just missed the cut in the 300 hurdles (18th, 40.68), as did CV’s Mike Duncan in the 800 (11th, 1:56.50). Burroughs’ Anthony Monroy, however, according to Coach John Peebles did qualify after a dispute involving hand-kept times, allowing Monroy, who was initially though to finish 10th at 9:25.62 to advance.
Burbank’s Isaiah Amos and Andy Hurtado took 17th and 26th in the 1,600 (4:25.72) and discus (122-8), respectively. The Nitros 1,600 relay team of Davis, Jeffrey Massin, Carlos Esperanza Navarro and Tristan Pacba took 23rd (3:26.04).
Flintridge Prep in CIF Southern Section Division IV preliminaries: Prep had a solid day, sending four athletes on to next week’s divisional finals after solid days at Carpinteria High.
Gareth Weiss was tied for the top qualifying mark of 12 feet in the pole vault, while Barrett Weiss notched the ninth and final qualifying spot with a vault of 11-6. James Bradley was third in his heat and seventh fastest to earn qualification in the 800 at 2:00.74. West Nowotny notched a personal record by more than two feet with a shot put of 48-11 to finish third overall and move on.
“I’m very happy with five moving on to CIF finals,” said Prep Coach Nick Ponticello, who also had girls’ runner Kate Kennedy move forward. “I also like that we have so many people in that many events. I like the diversity.”
GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD
Crescenta Valley, Burbank, Glendale in Division I preliminaries: Glendale’s Sophia Amodia fell just short of the finals twice when she took 10th in the 300 hurdles (45.64) and 13th in the 100 hurdles (15.40).
The Falcons’ 1,600 relay team of Kayleigh Carrillo, Emmie Walker, Megan Melnyk and Cali King took 15th (3:59.71) with Burbank’s team — Kayla Martil, Julia Newton, Felicia Tomitsa and Keren Zepeda — in 32nd (4:14.84).
The Nitros’ Leana Setian took 16th in the 1,600 (5:19.70) with King taking 29th (5:33.64).
Carrillo went on to take 14th in the 200 (25.05) and 15th in the in the 400 (59.22) for the Falcons, who had Walker take 13th in the high jump (5-1). Brooke Moultrie also finished 16th in the 3,200 (11:44.18) for CV, which had Melnyk King finish 17th (2:19.30) and 25th (2:23.45) in the 800, respectively. The Falcons’ Claudia Sepulveda took 19th in the 100 hurdles (16.01).
Burbank’s Haley Pirruccello finished 25th (48.93) in the 300 hurdles, Newton ran to 31st (21.76) in the 100 dash, Hannah Barlow was 27th in the triple jump (33-7) and Martil was 36th in the 400 (1:01.68).
The Bulldogs’ 400-meter relay team of Newton, Pirruccello, Tomitsa and Zepeda took 23rd overall (49.36), while the Falcons group of Walker, Carrillo, Sepulveda and Noel Wong took 29th (49.97).
Flintridge Prep, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in CIF Southern Section Division IV preliminaries: The Rebels had one girls’ participants move on to next week’s division finals. In the 300 hurdles, Kate Kennedy qualified with a time of 46.08, which was second in her heat and eighth-best across the board.
Flintridge Sacred Heart had two individuals and a relay team qualify for the finals.
Noëlle Niederhaus finished fifth in the 800 (2:18.42) and Caroline Treinen tied for seventh in the pole vault (9-6) to advance. The Tologs’ 4x400 relay team of Stephanie Vargas, Drew Washington, Niederhaus and Kayla Montgomery clocked 4:05.92 to finish fourth and move on.