Crescenta Valley track sweeps tri-league meet with Burroughs, Muir
LA CRESCENTA — With the Crescenta Valley High boys’ and girls’ track and field teams both still in the running for Pacific League championships, every meet is vital for the Falcons.
Crescenta Valley was determined to keep those hopes alive Thursday in a tri-league contest against Burroughs and Muir. While the Falcons were concerned about the Indians, who possessed some solid athletes, the Mustangs posed little problem because of a depleted squad.
PHOTOS: Track & field event at Crescenta Valley High School
As it turned out, the Falcons only had to moderately worry about Burroughs, as they swept both portions of the meet.
While the Crescenta Valley girls defeated Burroughs, 97-38, the boys earned an 88-48 victory. The Falcons also downed Muir, 127-8, on the boys’ side and 111-22 in the girls’ race.
“Both of our teams know how important it is right now to do well because of where they are in league at this point in the season,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Mark Evens, whose boys’ team improved to 4-1 in league, while the girls moved to 5-0. “We knew that Burroughs was going to have a very good team. All the meets are important now and we can’t slack off against anybody.”
Burroughs (2-3 in both boys and girls) earned a 129-9 win against Muir in the boys’ portion and the Indians girls came out ahead, 92-28.
The Crescenta Valley boys received a solid performance from sprinter Hye Kwang Kim, who won two events. Along with finishing first in the 100 meters in 11.25 seconds, he also took the 200 in 23.16.
Other Falcons winners were Alex Damla in the 400 (53.14), Gabe Collison in the 1,600 (4:27.63), Nick Beatty in the 3,200 (9:53.53), Brenton Reed in the 110 hurdles (15.28), David Shahmanyan in the 300 hurdles (41.50), Juho Kim in the high jump (5 feet 8 inches) and Steve Lee in the long jump (19-2).
The Indians had a good effort turned in by Matt Schwartz. Along with taking the pole vault (12-6), he also won the shot put (36-11 1/2) and was third in both the long jump and high jump.
“It can get a little tiring when I have to do a couple of events even before I start the pole vault,” Schwartz said. “But I still like the pole vault best and that’s what I try and concentrate most on.”
Burroughs also picked up wins in the field events by Garrett Manoukian in the triple jump (38-1/4) and Ermar Cruz in the discus (124-6).
On the track, Indian Ricky Mendez brought home a win in the 800, as he went out in front on the second lap and had a strong kick at the finish. Mendez finished in 2:01.31.
“I knew I had to push it on that last lap,” Mendez said. “I just went and I wanted to see if anyone was going to go with me.”
On the girls’ side, the Falcons had double winners in Kayleigh Carrillo in the 100 (12.38) and the 200 (25.22) and Megan Melnyk in the 400 (1:00.70) and 1,600 (5:18.06).
“At this point in the season, I’m just trying to get the most out of my workouts and I’m trying to lower my times,” Carrillo said.
The Indians were only able to win one event on the girls’ side, as Sarah Prystura was first in the pole vault with a 9-0 effort. Teammate Ellaine Ilano was second in the event with an 8-0.
Ashley Sapone was second in the shot put (27-8 3/4) and runner-up in the discus (78-7) for Burroughs.
