State High School Track Finals : Arreola, Chapel Lead Strong Section Showing

Darcy Arreola and Laura Chapel ended what had become almost synonymous careers Saturday night.

Each in her own way ended what at times appeared to be a collective career. Because of their strong San Diego Section rivalry, it seems as if the two are always mentioned in the same breath when one talks about girls’ distance running in San Diego County.

But Saturday, each had her moment on the winners’ stand.

Chapel of University City won the 800 meters with a time of 2:08.66 at Cerritos College. Grossmont’s Arreola ran what she called a “perfect” race and set a section record in the 1,600 meters with a 4:42.77, best in the nation.

“I talked to Laura after the 1,600,” Arreola said, “and I told her I thought it was really neat that each won one. It’s much better that we each won one than if she had won one or I had won one.”

The two were only a part of the San Diego Section’s best State track meet showing in years.

Tracy Crawford threw a personal best of 156-feet 2-inches to win the discus and finished second in the shotput. Brian Boggess of El Capitan came back from a disappointing finish in the discus and won the shotput with a personal best of 61-4.

But it was first Chapel and then Arreola who stole the show. Both ran what have become trademark races.

Earlier in the week, Arreola had decided not to run the 800 so as to concentrate on the 1,600. It paid off. Arreola was clearly the freshest runner in the 1,600.

Arreola set the pace, as is her style. She and Laurie Chapman of San Jose Gunderson separated themselves from the pack on the third lap. But that worked against Chapman.

Chapman had won the 3,200 meters earlier with a fast 10:12. So Arreola picked up the pace even more than usual to break Chapman.

“But I never thought I could run 4:42,” Arreola said. “I was dead after the race, more than after any other.

“Dropping the 800 was the best choice I could have made. It could have slowed me down even a little, and I didn’t want that. Now I can eat ice cream. I haven’t had any for a month.”

Arreola’s time broke Santana’s Tina Allen’s record of 4:45.46 set in 1982. Chapel was fourth with a personal best of 4:49.53. The top five times are the fastest in the high school 1,600 this year.

Chapel was in last place after the first 200 meters of the 800 but moved up on the outside and was with the leaders throughout the rest of the race.

She was still there as the runners came off the turn. Then, as she always does if she is close, Chapel outkicked her opponents in the last 100 meters.

“I’m so excited it felt so good ,” Chapel said. “The last 100 I put everything I had. I have a lot of confidence in my kick.”

Denise Upsher of Torrey Pines finished fourth, dropping two seconds off her previous best with a time of 2:10.15.

Boggess, who was second in the State with a throw of 191-3 before the meet, finished fourth in the discus with a throw of 170-2. But that helped him in the shotput.

Boggess was in eighth place after two throws. He had to be in seventh to be able to take three more throws. He said the thought of his finish in the discus helped him to throw 59-9 and make it to the finals.

“It was in the back of my mind,’ said Boggess, whose throw was a personal best by a foot. “I thought, ‘God, help me. Just relax and you’ll qualify.’ And I did. I lost a little mental concentration or else I think I could have had a 63.

“I think being here last year helped a lot. It’s just a mind game here. I really had to concentrate after the discus. I’m glad I made up for it in the shot.”

Crawford improved on her personal best in the discus by a foot with a throw of 156-2, moving her into second place nationally behind Lori Parker of Ramona, who had throw of 162-0 earlier. Parker was third Saturday with a throw of 147-9.

Crawford said that beating longtime rival Kartsi Leppaluoto of Madison was the motivation for her Crawford’s section shotput title. Leppaluoto played a significant role in her second-place finish Saturday as well.

After Crawford had been comfortably in second for most of the competition, Leppaluoto threw 43-2 1/2 to move into second in the fifth round. Crawford got angry and threw her best of 43-11 1/2 on her final throw.

“I had to beat Kartsi,” Crawford said.

Mount Miguel’s Jackie Anderson was the sixth qualifier in the triple jump but she jumped 38-8 in the finals to finish third, only an inch from second. Anderson finished second in the state last year as a sophomore.

It was uncertain if Valhalla’s Mark Dani, who had sore calves, would run in the 3,200 meters. But Dani ran a great race. Trouble was, Eric Mastalir of Sacramento Jesuit equaled a state record (8:44.95). Dani ran four seconds faster than his previous best and finished second with a time of 8:51.64.

Pat Alduenda of Ramona improved by six inches and finished fifth in the pole vault at 15-0.

Michelle Collum of Point Loma started well and was with the leaders in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles through seven hurdles, but she finished fourth with a personal best of 14.04.