Burbank track teams sweep Burroughs in rivalry meet

BURBANK — The Burbank High boys’ and girls’ track and field teams look like squads ready to compete for their share of Pacific League championships.

With just the league preliminaries and league finals left on tap in the Pacific League, the Bulldogs took part in a final tune-up Wednesday in their annual cross-town rivalry with Burroughs at Memorial Field.

Burbank swept the contest, as athletes set several personal records, broke a school record and put up some solid marks. While the girls’ team defeated the Indians, 94-42, the Bulldogs boys came away with a 91-45 win.

“I think we’re peaking at the right time and that’s just what you want going into the league meet,” Burbank Coach Darin Wolf said. “We did a lot better in some events than I thought we were going to do. But the school record was nice and there were a lot of PRs.”

The Burbank boys (7-1 in league) finished second in league and the girls (5-2) finished tied for second.

The school record was set in the girls’ portion of the meet by senior Kayla Martil. Martil set the new mark by placing first in the 400 meters in 58.96 seconds.

“My shin was hurting me today, so I may not have run as fast as I could have,” Martil said. “It’s nice to break the school record; I’ve been trying to break it for years.”

The Burbank girls’ effort was bolstered by a trio of Bulldogs who were double winners on the day. While Felicia Tomitsa finished first in the 100 (13.22) and the 200 (27.28), Alicia McCord won the high jump (4 feet 10) and the long jump (32-7) and Mckenlee Von Cannon won the shot put (29-1) and the discus (85-6).

Burroughs had a double winner on the girls’ side in Gracia Innocentia, who took the 1,600 (5:19) and the 3,200 (11.56).

Innocentia said there wasn’t any bad blood between the two schools even through they are rivals.

“We are all friends with them and we all know one another,” she said. “It’s not a mean thing at all, we all just get along.”

Burbank also had individual winners with Daisy Ignacio in the 800 (2:35.00), Luci Anassian in the 100 hurdles (18.02), Harmony Curtis in the 300 hurdles (50.62) and Elizabeth Gevorkian in the long jump (16-0). Burroughs’ Sarah Prystupa took the pole vault (8-6).

On the boys’ side, the best event turned out to be the 800. Burbank’s Arsen Mkrtchyan won the race in 1:58.13 for a new personal record. Burroughs’ Ricky Mendez was second in a respectable 1:58.13.

Burbank had a double winner in James Williams, who is also a standout running back for the school’s football team. Williams took the 100 (11.85), as well as the triple jump (42-0).

“I run track to get my speed up for football,” Williams said. “Last year against a team like Muir, I got caught from behind a couple of times. I’m trying to get faster so that doesn’t happen anymore.”

Also scoring his share of points for the Bulldogs was Dennis Palacio. Along with winning the 100 hurdles (16.04), Palacio won the 300 hurdles (41.71) and had second-place finishes in the long jump (20-0) and triple jump (39-6 1/2).

Also coming away with two wins for Burbank was Andy Hurtado in the shot put (51-10) and the discus (151-0).

Burroughs also had a double winner in Matt Schwartz, who took the high jump (5-10) and the pole vault (13-0).

“I felt really good in the high jump,” Schwartz said. “It was a double PR for me. But I guess I got a little tired in the pole vault, because I didn’t do as well as I could have.”

Other winners for Burbank were Normando Cornejo in the 200 (24.07), Gabriel Ellman in the 1,600 (4.33) and David Kang in the long jump (20-4). The Indians’ Robert Martinez won the 400 (no time available).