Burbank High and Crescenta Valley track and field teams split dual meet

BURBANK — Plenty of defending Pacific League individual champions were on display Thursday when the Crescenta Valley High and Burbank track and field teams met at Burbank.

The smorgasbord of talent pounded the track and excelled in the field events, diligently working on their technique and looking to improve in preparation to defend their respective titles for the league championships on May 3.

Many of the defending champions played a role in helping their teams win Thursday. Crescenta Valley posted a 72-64 win in the girls’ meet, while Burbank earned a 90-46 victory in the boys’ competition.

Burbank’s boys’ team defeated Crescenta Valley for the first time since joining the Pacific League in 2007.

Kayleigh Carrillo led the way for Crescenta Valley girls’ squad, winning a pair of individual events and helping the Falcons capture both relays.

Carrillo captured the 200-meter dash in 24.77 seconds and the 400 (57.92). She is the defending league champion in both events.

“My favorite [race] is the 200, but I find the 400 to be more of a mental challenge,” Carrillo said. “It’s more of an obstacle that I try to tackle in terms of being mentally prepared for it.

“I felt strong getting out strong and being able to maintain my lead. Burbank has a good team.”

Burbank placed second in the pacific League last season behind champion Arcadia.

Carrillo worked with Noel Wong, Emmie Walker and Grace Keller to take first in the 4x100 relay (50.31). She then grouped with Erika Johnson, Courtney Iannello and Megan Melnyk to win the 4x400 relay in 4:06.77.

“Kayleigh is way ahead now compared to where she was at this time last year,” Crescenta Valley Coach Mark Evans said. “She’s much stronger and faster.”

Crescenta Valley (4-1, 3-0 in league) got two first-place efforts from Sarah Lapides in the 100 and 300 hurdles events in 17.02 and 50.49, respectively. It also received first-place finishes from Melnyk in the 1,600 (5:25.17), Johnson in the 800 (2:28.08), Haley Witzeman in the 3,200 (11:42.12), Wong in the long jump (15 feet 3 3/4 inches) and Walker in the high jump (5 feet).

Walker won a league crown in the high jump last season. Walker, Carrillo and Melnyk were a part of the 4x400 relay team that won league.

Burbank (2-2 overall and in league) won five events. The Bulldogs got first-place performances from Kynlee Vuncannon in the shot put (28-3 3/4) and the discus (89-8). Julia Newton won the 100 (12.52). Newton, a sophomore, is the defending league champion in the race. Also picking up wins for Burbank were Alexi Fiumani in the pole vault (8 feet) and Alicia McCord in the triple jump (31-4).

Burbank Coach Darin Wolf said the Bulldogs excelled in several capacities.

“We got some points in the field events and we are coming along,” Wolf said. “We are where we expected to be, so we just want to stay healthy going into the league final.”

In the boys’ portion of the meet, Burbank (4-1 overall and in league) saw Dennis Palacio, James Williams and Andy Hurtado win two events apiece.

Hurtado won the discus (147-10) and the shot put (43 feet). Hurtado, a senior, won the league crown in the discus last season.

Williams took first in the triple jump (40-9 1/2) and the 100 (11.29). Palacio won the 110 hurdles (15.62) and long jump (19-9).

Also notching first-place efforts for the Bulldogs were Arsen Mkrtchyan in the 1,600 (4:23), Elliot Choe in the 3,200 (9:54), Cody Wray in the high jump (5-10) and Andres Pulgarin in the pole vault (11-6).

“We knew that we can be competitive in league,” said Wolf, who added that the Bulldogs will be without freshman sprinter Josh Cantong, who suffered a season-ending knee/ankle injury March 16 while playing football. “It’s something to beat CV for the first time since joining the Pacific League.

“We were able to get some good marks today.”

Cantong ran 50.38 in the 400 in a meet earlier this season.

Crescenta Valley (2-3, 2-1) got individual victories from Alex Damla in the 400 (53.12), Nick Beatty in the 800 (2:00.35), Hye Kwong Kim in the 200 (23.39) and David Shahmanyan in the 300 hurdles (41.52).

The Falcons won both relays. Han Lim, Kim, Byung Jun Kim and Christ Ordookhanian won the 4x100 in 44.94. Beatty, Shahmanyan, Damla and Matt Manalo won the 4x400 in 3:33.76.