Three claim league championships

ARCADIA — The Pacific League Track and Field Finals at Arcadia High provided the athletes from Burroughs and Burbank highs a chance to prove themselves against the best the league has to offer.

It also gave the athletes with a chance to continue on to the CIF preliminaries.

Both schools had individuals that were able to accomplish that on Friday

Burroughs showed off its balanced roster by getting strong performances in a number of events, as Indians athletes earned two league championships.

Burbank, despite bringing a small number of participants to the finals, earned one league title and another just missed out.

On the girls’ side, Indians senior Sadee Martinez captured the 800-meter crown in 2 minutes, 19.85 seconds, just edging sophomore teammate Lauren Andrade (2:20.56).

“It was my senior year, so [I wanted] to get a league title,” said Martinez, who finished third in the 1,600 in 5:10.98. “I was a little scared before the race, but I’m just glad I was able to do it.”

Last season, Martinez advanced to the state meet in the 1,600.

While Indians junior Taryn Campos was unable to defend her league titles in the 200 and 400 this year, she did qualify for CIF in both events with second-place finishes. Campos, who was part of the Indians’ second-place 4x400 meter relay team, ran the 200 in 23.41 and the 400 in 58.33.

The Indians’ success wasn’t limited to just the running track, as Sydney Dunivant qualified for CIF in three field events. Dunivant took second in the long jump (17 feet), second in the triple jump (36 9 3/4 ) and third in the high jump (5-1).

Burroughs’ Kelly Bonner took third in the pole vault by clearing 8-6.

In boys’ action, Burroughs’ Chris Morris successfully defending his league title in the 400 meters (48.84) with a strong surge that helped him pull away at the finish.

“I was trying to stay with the guy next to me because he’s just as fast,” said Morris, who was part of the Indians’ 4x400 relay team that finished second. “After that, I just turned it up.”

Burbank’s Izzy Soto took home the championship in the triple jump with a leap of 42 8 1/2 , just edging second-place finisher Jeff Dumas (42 5 ½) of Burroughs.

Soto wound up third in the long jump with a 21-0 mark.

Burbank’s Greg Dotson was part of one of the day’s most exciting races. Dotson led the 800 much of the race until Crescenta Valley’s Mike Sheridan outkicked him at the end.

Dotson’s second-place time of 1:55.64 was a personal record.

“Some of them were setting PRs, some were just running really solid times,” Burroughs Coach John Peebles said. “We asked the kids to go out and run to the best of their ability, and if they do that, then as a coach you have to be happy.”

Burroughs sprinter Charles Barrett took second in the 100 in 10.70, while the Indians’ Richard Folk captured third in the 110 hurdles (15.50).