Lea Runs Fast Track to School-Record 400

If Matt Lea of Camarillo High had his way, his remaining track and field meets this season would be contested at Royal High.

The Scorpion senior loves running on the long gradual turns and the short straightaways of the new all-weather 400-meter oval, and for good reason.

He’s run there twice in the last month and set a school record in the 400 each time.

He clocked 47.38 seconds to win the 400 in the Ventura County championships on Friday night after running a hand-timed 47.6 on the same track on April 3.

Lea moved into fifth on the all-time region list and broke the Ventura County record of 47.49 set by Ramsey Jay of Ventura in 1994.

In addition to winning his second consecutive county title in the 400, Lea won his first in the 200 with a time of 22.06, ran a 46.8 anchor leg on a 1,600 relay team that clocked a season best of 3:20.26 and ran the second leg on the second-place 400 relay team that timed 43.00.

“It’s a fast track,” Lea said. “I know that so I just ran hard.”

Lea, undefeated in the 200 and 400 this season, made up the stagger on the rest of the field after the first 150 meters, really worked the second turn and then held his form in the final 80-meter straightaway.

Peter Paplanus of Calabasas was second in a career-best 48.72 and Chris Elliot of St. Bonaventure was third in a career-best 49.56.

“I went out a little bit [slower] in the first 300 than I had [in earlier meets], but I just finished stronger,” Lea said.

Sophomore Oliver Jackson of Royal won the long jump (22-4 1/2) and triple jump (44- 1/2).

Freshman Porchea Carroll of Rio Mesa won the girls’ 100 in 12.21 and the 200 in 25.00. She finished third in the long jump at 17 feet and ran on the second-place 400 relay team that clocked 49.31 to Camarillo’s winning 49.27.

Nordhoff senior Elaine Canchola won the 1,600 and 3,200 for the second consecutive year. She clocked 5:07.81 in the 1,600 and 11:03.30 in the 3,200.

Royal senior Jenny Myszkowski won her second consecutive titles in the long jump (17-2 1/2) and triple jump (36-5 1/4).

Senior Angela Foster of Ventura won her second consecutive title in the shotput at 40-10 1/2 and her second title in three years in the discus with a best of 122-1.

Nordhoff senior Matthew Torres was a surprise winner in the boys’ 800 in a school-record 1:54.30, with junior teammate Mike Lemon second in 1:55.45.

Two-time defending champion Ryan Meuse of Simi Valley was third at 1:55.53.