Family act vaults to Masters status

Michael Loschiavo achieved one of his main goals Saturday. This week, he’s turned his full attention to goal No. 2.

The Huntington Beach High senior came up with a fourth-place finish in the boys’ Division 2 pole vault at the CIF Southern Section Track and Field Championships at Cerritos College in Norwalk. Loschiavo advances to compete Friday at the CIF Masters Meet at Cerritos College in Norwalk. Joining him at the Masters meet is his sister Amy, a sophomore at Huntington Beach.

“We’ll have the Loschiavo Family to represent Huntington Beach at the Masters,” Oilers Coach Clim Moore said.

This was one of Michael Loschiavo’s goals, to return to Masters. A strong showing there, and the senior will achieve his ultimate prize: earning a berth in the CIF State Meet on June 4 in Clovis.

Moore termed Michael Loschiavo’s pole vault finals performance a “very adventurous meet.”

He finished cleared 14 feet 6. He was one of three athletes — Newport Harbor juniors Mark Sakioka and Max Van Bergh were the other two — to clear 14-6.

“On his first vault, he did a 360-degree turn around his pole and cleared 14-6 to secure his place in the Master. However, he attempted 15 feet and broke his pole in mid-air.

“Michael’s goal was to get back to this (Masters) meet and to have one more chance at the State meet. It’s a great family story. What are the chance of having two pole vaulters in the family, with a chance to go to State in the same year?”

Michael Loschiavo explained — and joked, about his pole mishap.

“I was trying to meet my PR for 15 feet and my pole snapped on my last attempt. I was about 7 feet in the air when it happened. It was quite a jump.

“I am really excited to be going to Masters with my sister. It’s kind of like going with my best friend. My sister and I are really close. We train together all the time and I am really impressed with her. I think she’s going to go very far in pole vaulting.”

Amy Loschiavo is moving on to Masters after clearing 11-6 in the girls’ pole vault, which was good for sixth place in Division 2. Also in the division, Edison sophomore Karen Snapper finished ninth at 10 feet.

Amy Loschiavo made her first CIF finals appearance Saturday. As a freshman, she went as far as CIF prelims.

“It’s a great feeling to be going to Masters with my brother,” she said. “He has been really inspiring to me. It’s because of him that I got into pole vaulting.”

Also competing for the Masters’ boys’ pole vault title is Marina senior Jeremy Kennedy, who placed third (15-0) at Friday’s Division 1 finals. Marina Coach Dick Degen said that Kennedy’s personal best is 15-7.

Another Masters qualifier is Fountain Valley junior Luis Morales who will compete in the boys’ 1,600 meters.

The top five finishers in each event at Friday’s CIF Masters meet advance to the CIF State meet.