Gimpy Davis Helps Falcons Win 1,600 Relay at Trabuco Hills

Crystal Davis limped back onto the track Saturday at the Trabuco Hills Invitational, her hamstring threatening to tighten up like a violin string.

The Santa Ana Valley senior was still hurting from her team’s pivotal Century League victory Thursday against El Modena, its first over the Vanguards in more than 15 years, and a painful loss in the 100 meters earlier in Saturday’s meet. But Davis gathered enough speed and determination to run the final lap of the 1,600 relay in 57.8 seconds, helping her team to the victory.

“I needed to make up for the 100 meters,” Davis said.

Davis began the anchor leg about 20 yards behind Rancho Cucamonga’s Jemika Dixon, but caught her in the backstretch and helped the Falcons win in 4:04.83, finishing one second ahead of Dixon’s team.

Santa Ana Valley’s relay team, which also included Amber Hebert, Allison Clark and Natalie Vega, produced the county’s second-best time this season.

“I was kind of surprised by that time,” said Santa Ana Valley Coach Toby Brannon. “We put everything we had into winning that meet Thursday.”

The top mark was produced by Covina Charter Oak’s Gennessa Guzman, who threw the discus 157 feet 1 inch for a meet record.

Irvine’s Mario Bassani also established a meet record, winning the 400 in 48.23 to erase the four-year-old mark of Long Beach Poly’s Marcus Anderson (49.02).

Another meet record was set by Palmdale Highland’s Seth Amoo, who won the 200 in 21.32, edging Trabuco Hills’ Matt Bruno (21.62). Bruno beat Amoo to the finish line in the 100, winning in a wind-legal 10.71. Bruno had posted a county-leading 10.66 at the Surf City Invitational last weekend, but that was wind-aided.

Bruno also won the long jump with a mark of 21-9.

Several county athletes didn’t win their events, but produced noteworthy marks.

Valencia’s Keinan Briggs finished second in the triple jump, producing the county’s best mark this season at 44-3 1/2. Ashley Lazarus of Woodbridge finished fourth in the 400, and her time of 59.89 is the fastest in the county this season. Santa Ana Valley’s Carina Martinez finished second behind Guzman in the shotput, but her mark of 40-5 1/2 is second-best in the county this season.

B.J. Vandrovec cleared 15 feet in the pole vault, matching the county’s best mark.

San Clemente’s Marquita Taylor won the 100 in 12.33 and the 200 in 25.03, both county-leading times.

Corona del Mar’s Julie Allen ran a conservative opening half of the girls’ 1,600, but still won in 5:02.88, just off her career best of 4:59.1. Allen finished ahead of Jessica Kanin of Woodbridge (5:09.34) and Bethany Nickless of Fountain Valley (5:14.36).

University’s Shey Manifian won the 3,200 in 11:20.44 and Estancia’s Liz Huipe was second in 11:35.16.

At the Tustin Relays:

Tustin finishes second--Tustin and Long Beach Wilson were tied, 58-58, heading into the last event, the boys’ 1,600 relay, and Wilson won the race in 3:23.73. Tustin was third in 3:30.45 and finished second in the team standings.

Tustin’s Alex Marbley matched his county best in the high jump, clearing 6-10, and teammate Chris Chester threw 170-0 in the discus, second best in the county.

Claremont won the girls’ competition with 104 points and Aliso Niguel was second with 54.

The Wolverines won the 1,200 sprint medley, distance medley and 6,400 relays.