Burroughs track teams sweep Valencia

Tom Crowther

BURROUGHS HIGH -- It was a fine way to open the Foothill League

dual-meet schedule and a tough test heading into an important contest

against Hart High next week for the Burroughs High track and field team.

In either case, the Indian boys’ and girls’ team swept Valencia High

Thursday, in a dual-meet at Burroughs.

The girls’ team cruised to a surprisingly easy 88-46 win, while the

boys’ team held on for a 71-63 victory.

“I’m surprised the girls were able to win so easily. We thought they’d

be a little tougher,” said Coach Steve Hubbell. “The boys were extremely

close, it came down to the final event.

“Next week will be even tougher since we’re up against Hart. They are

talented and they are deep.”

In the final event, the 3,200 meters, it was an easy sweep for the

Burroughs’ boys, as Nick Beyer won the event in 10 minutes 24 seconds.

While Valencia’s strength was with its sprint squad, which features

football star Manuel White, Burroughs countered with a talented distance

attack.

“I think it is pretty obvious, based on our cross-country season, that

the strength of the team is in the distance events,” said Hubbell. “We

won all the distance events, even though Brian Anderson did not run the

mile.”

Anderson, a CIF Southern Section qualifier, was held out of the mile

by distance Coach John Peebles, because of infected blisters he received

at a meet at Cal State Northridge last weekend. Still, Anderson managed

to win the 800 (2:00), and he ran his traditional leg in the 1600 relay

against the Vikings.

Helping the Indian cause was Beyer, who placed first in the 1,600

(4:47). Mike Garrells added first place finishes in both the 400 (51.7)

and the 300 intermediate hurdles (43.4).

Justin Freeman and Brian Hellman, coming off personal best

performances at CSUN, continued to place high in the high jump, long jump

and triple jump events.

“Those guys keep us at sea level as a team when we need points,” said

Hubbell. “They continue to improve on their 37-foot average in the triple

jump.

Freeman jumped a personal best 39-6 1/2 in the event last weekend and

Hellman added a 38-11 jump.

Burroughs also got a boost from its pole vault team. Justin Garrett’s

11-6 earned him first place. Matt Parsons, brought up from the frosh/soph

team, placed third with a vault of 10-0

Perhaps most important to the Indians’ win over Valencia, however, was

the performance of Jason Brown in two sprint races.

Brown placed second in both the 100 and 200 with times of 11.4 and

23.4. The unexpected points made the difference for Burroughs.

“We didn’t expect any points in the sprint events because Valencia’s

unit is so strong. So for Jason to deliver a couple of second-place

finishes was huge,” said Hubbell.

The girls’ team continued to be led by Samantha Anderson. Anderson won

the 400 with a 63.6 and 300 low hurdles with a 51.9. She also placed

second in the triple jump.

Perhaps Anderson’s only low point of the meet was a 13-7 third-place effort in the long jump. She has delivered jumps as long as 15-6.

“That is our fault more than hers,” said Hubbell. “We got a little lax

on that event this week and she didn’t jump quite as well because of it.

“Still, Samantha is our most versatile athlete, as you can tell by her

day. She can place in almost any event.”

As usual, Marissa Mike won the 100 (13.0) and 200 (27.1), while Amy

Yaeger won the shot put (35-10 3/4) and discus (94-11 1/2).

“They always seem to take their events,” said Hubbell. “I think the

other thing that separated us from Valencia was the fact that we are

lucky enough to have hurdles coach Jafers Bailey this year. Last season

we rarely got any points from the hurdle events, but today we got a

bunch. That’s what happens when you have a coach who can make the event a

priority.”