Track and field: Mater Dei’s Gallardo stumbles, but still wins 800

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Louie Gallardo, pictured, stumbled during the 800 meters Saturday, but the Mater Dei senior managed to cross the finish line first to win the Southern Section-Toyota Division II championship at Mt. San Antonio College.

Gallardo posted a time of 1:53.90, one-tenth of a second slower than the best run of the day, which was turned in by Steven Norton of La Sierra (1:53.89), the Division I champion.

Doug Bettisworth of Oak Park won the Division III championship and Bryce Van Boxtel of Shandon won Division IV with a time of 1:57.31 that did not qualify him for Friday’s Masters meet.

Boys’ 800 participants qualifying for the Masters meet:

1. Steven Norton, La Sierra, Div. I, 1:53.89
2. Louie Gallardo, Mater Dei, Div. II, 1:54.41
3. Doug Bettisworth, Oak Park, Div. III, 1:54.19
4. Emmanuel Ngula, Vista del Lago, Div. II, 1:54.41
5. Elias Gedyon, Loyola, Div. II, 1:54.42
6. Michael Andraszyk, Aliso Niguel, Div. I, 1:54.87
7. Sam Delgado, Orange Lutheran, Div. III, 1:54.97
8. Mike Villasin, Servite, Div. III, 1:55.56
9. Ryan Valdes, Dana Hills, Div. I, 1:55.83
10. Anthony Milin, Loyola, Div. II, 1:56.20
11. Jonathan Simmons, Beverly Hills, Div. II, 1:56.20
12. Billy Vetter, El Modena, Div. II, 1:56.33

-- Jaime Cardenas

-- Image by Glenn Koenig/Los Angeles Times

-- Editor Bob: For complete Southern Section divisonal championship results, check here.