Long Beach Poly Wins Again

Pole vaulter Shayla Balentine of Morro Bay and Long Beach Wilson’s 1,600-meter relay team set national records in the girls’ portion of the state track and field championships at Hughes Stadium on Saturday.

But it was Long Beach Poly that rolled to its sixth team title in the last 10 years.

Led by senior Candace Bauchman and freshman Shalonda Soloman, Long Beach Poly totaled 59 points to finish 19 points ahead of Moore League rival Long Beach Wilson.

Bauchman won the triple jump in a career-best 42 feet 4 1/2 inches and placed third in the long jump in a wind-aided 20-4.

Soloman finished second in the 100 in 11.63 and third in the 200 in a wind-aided 23.27.

Balentine, who has signed with San Diego State, twice broke the previous national record of 13-4 in the pole vault, clearing 13-5 1/4 on her first attempt and 13-8 on her third.

“I wanted the national record coming in here, said Balentine, whose previous best was 13-0 3/4. “I was totally amazed when I made 13-8.”

Wilson saw its team titles hopes fade on May 25 when national record-holder Lashinda Demus failed to finish the 300 low hurdles in the Southern Section Masters Meet, but the Bruins won three events Saturday.

Demus won the 100 high hurdles in a wind-aided 13.39 and ran legs on teams that won the 400 relay in 45.40 and the 1,600 relay in 3:35.72.

The 3:35.72 clocking broke the previous national record of 3:36.32 set by Wilson in the 1998 state meet.

The Bruins have the five fastest U.S. high school times in history.

Ryan Hall of Big Bear set a meet record in the 1,600 meters, covering the four-lap race in 4:02.62. Hall broke the record of 4:04.00 set six years ago by Michael Stember of Carmichael Jesuit.

Arroyo Grande held on to win the boys’ team title, its first in school history. Arroyo Grande earned its 28 points in three events. Sean Shields won the discus at 189 feet 1 inch and finished second in the shotput at 61-11 1/2. John Howard earned two points with a fifth-place finish in the shotput (58-11) and Ryan Zimmerman was second in the triple jump with a wind-aided mark of 48-11.

El Cajon Granite Hills had a good chance to win the first state title for a San Diego Section team since Oceanside El Camino in 1978. The Eagles began the final event, the 1,600 relay, four points behind Arroyo Grande and needed to finish fourth to tie Arroyo Grande.

The Eagles were sixth, earning one point, and finished with 25 points.