CV falls in dual meet
LA CRESCENTA — With the regular season now complete, some of the members of the Crescenta Valley High boys’ and girls’ track and field teams can turn their attention during the next two weeks toward winning league championships. In particular, Josh Straschewski and Kayleigh Carrillo.
Crescenta Valley closed out its final dual league meet Wednesday, falling to rival Arcadia. The boys’ lost, 86-50, while the girls’ suffered a 90-46 defeat.
Straschewski did his part, capturing the 110-meter hurdles in 15.2 seconds before taking the 300 hurdles in 40.6. Carrillo fared well, turning in first-place finishes in the 200 (25.3) and 400 (58.9).
The league prelims will be held April 27, followed by the league finals May 4. Both meets will take place at Arcadia High.
For Straschewski, there’s plenty of incentive on the line. The senior said he’s peaking at the right time and looking to build on his second-place finish in the 110 in the league finals last season.
“I feel like I can go out there and challenge for one, if not both,” Straschewski said. “I’m definitely going for it.
“My hurdling has been more fluid. In the 110, it’s about being more mechanical. In the 300, you have to be mentally ready. I still had a lot more energy left.”
The Falcons entered the meet with a chance to win the league title. However, Arcadia’s depth proved to be too much. Arcadia won the league crown, going 11-0, 7-0 in league. Crescenta Valley finished 5-3-1, 5-1-1.
The Falcons received first-place finishes from Tommy Hwang in the high jump (5 feet 10 inches), Tyler Bradshaw in the pole vault (12-1) and Parker Averill in the discus (117-3).
Crescenta Valley Coach Mark Evans said the boys’ team couldn’t match the depth displayed by the Apaches, who got a three first-place finishes from Alex McElwee in the 100 (10.8), 200 (22.0) and long jump (20 feet).
“It’s a good team that we have, but we just don’t have a lot of depth,” Evans said. “That’s evident against a team like Arcadia.
“We just got beat to the line in a few events. Our times are faster and we want them to keep dropping them in moving on [to prelims and finals]. With Josh, I think he can compete for league. He’s coming around and he’ll be a solid contender.”
Carrillo showed she’s a probable contender for the Falcons (4-5, 4-3) in each of her events. She led throughout each race, providing her a boost for the prelims and finals.
“I’ve definitely improved during the season and my times are getting better,” Carrillo said. “In the 200, I ran all out to take it.
“In my 400, my coaches have told me to work on getting out faster and then giving it all you have in the last 50. I feel like I have a chance to win [league] in both events.”
Crescenta Valley got one first-place finish apiece from Claudia Sepulveda in the 100 hurdles (16.1) and Emmie Walker in the high jump (5-2). Sepulveda and Walker opened the meet by working with Noel Wang and Carrillo to take the 4x100 relay (50.8).
Evans said Carrillo might be in position to challenge for her first league titles.
“I thought she was particularly solid in the 400,” Evans said. “She can run faster, but she can contend in the 400 for league.”
Arcadia (11-0, 7-0) got two victories apiece from Veronica Yamane and Michelle Lai. Yamane won the 1,600 (5:10) and the 3,200 (11:29). Lai captured the triple jump (34-8) and the long jump (16 1/2).
