PREP TRACK / TRABUCO HILLS INVITATIONAL : Young Sparks Woodbridge as Edison Girls Fare Well

Gary Young ran a blistering split time of 47.8 in anchoring the boys’ 1,600-meter relay as Woodbridge rallied to finish in 3:24.48, the fastest time in the event in the county this season, at the Trabuco Hills Invitational track meet Saturday at Trabuco Hills High School.

“I knew I had the lead on the guy at the 250(-meter) mark,” Young said. “I saw a shadow, so I knew I had to run the last 100 like it meant something.”

Young, who earlier quit the 100 meters after his starting block slipped, finished second in the 200 at 21.77, another county-best this season. Bryan Howard of Moreno Valley Canyon Springs won the 100 (10.52) and the 200 (21.38).

“I felt really good in the 200,” Young said. “I felt even better in the 100, but my block came out from under me and I had to put my hands down. By the time I got my balance the field was gone.”

In the distance relays, the Edison girls’ team dominated the field.

The Charger girls swept all their races, winning the four-mile relay (21:35), the 3,200 relay (9:47.22) and the individual distance medley (12:48.67.).

“Our workouts are really tough,” said Erin Bailey, who ran all three relays. “We never have an easy day, so we are always prepared.”

The Edison boys’ team also won the only distance relay they entered, finishing the 3,200 in 8:39.89.

Gina Heads of Newport Harbor threw personal bests in the shotput and discus, with county leading distances. Her shotput mark of 44-6 is one of the best in the state this year. Delores Tuimoloau of Oxnard Channel Islands has thrown 46-11.

In the discus, Heads’ effort was 133-11 1/2. Marie Philman of Edison was second (122-6) and Angela Burgess of Woodbridge finished third (118-7).

Foothill’s Ethan Taub, running in the 800 after coming back from a hamstring injury, was impressive, finishing in 1:55.05, the best in the county this season. Taub usually runs the 400, but was trying to get back into his rhythm.

In the boys’ triple jump, Reggie Curry of Tustin jumped a county-best this season with 48-7 3/4, improving on his personal best by 3 1/4 inches.

Marlene Lang of Fountain Valley also improved on the county mark this season, finishing first in the 300 hurdles in 46.04.