Tough day on the track ends in tie.

Story by Leonard COUTIN

The Falcon track and field athletes faced the Burbank Bulldogs on Thursday, March 8 on CV’s home track. The teams were well matched with CV winning many of the running events and Burbank sweeping most of the field events. The day ended in a tie 68-68.

CV’s William Wang, Justin Springfield, Lim and James Maturan pressed the Bulldogs in the first event, winning the 400 relay (44.7).

In the 1600, the Bulldogs star distance runner Isaiah Amos-Nshimba took the lead to capture the win (4:29) over Falcon senior Mike Duncan (4:30.3) and teammate Nick Beatty who ran third (4:32).

But CV came back and took sweet revenge on Burbank winning a sweep in the 800m.

“Races like that have a huge feeling of achievement and they show my teammates Nick Beatty, Matt Williams, and I how our hard work is paying off. I was really excited with a sweep against such a solid team as Burbank,” said Duncan. Duncan ran 2:01.4 in the 800m, followed by Beatty (2:02.5) and Williams (2:04).

In the 100m dash, the Falcons again swept the competition. Senior Springfield (11.1) edged out teammate Maturan who placed second (11.2) and junior Wang who took third.

Senior Josh Straschewski ran his first race of the season outdistancing all others and winning the 110HH (15.1). Bulldog Teddy Arlington took second (17.1) and Falcon Jeffery Saengsri captured third (17.6).

Burbank took the lead in the 300LH, running 43.1 with CV Michael Jaramillo taking second (43.8) and Jeffery Saengsri landing third (44.2).

Falcon Springfield won the 200m (22.9) but Burbank teammates Normando Cornejo took second (25.7) and Mustafa Nguyen secured third (26.5).

The Bulldogs swept the 3200m, which added key points to tip the balance of power.

Tyler Bradshaw pole-vaulted 12’6” to win, with Burbank capturing second and CV’s Logan Rodgers taking third (10’).

Falcon Thomas Huang won the high jump with 5’8”, and Burbank’s Dennis Palacio (5-4) took second, and CV Juho Kim placed third (5’2”).

Burbank saw a win in the shot-put (39.7.5) with CV teammates seniors Henry Hor placing second and Parker Averill taking third (35-9).

The Bulldogs took first and second in the triple jump and CV’s Bradshaw placed third.

Burbank won first and second in the discus with Averill settling for third.

CV won the final event of the night, the 1600 relay.

Coach Evans was asked if some lineup changes could have secured the win.

“We try to have everyone in there,” he replied. “James Maturan has been having some shin issues and we need to let him come along and not irritate them more. Josh Straschewski had a commitment with the play [Sweeney Todd].”

The Falcon girls competed powerfully but the strength of the Bulldogs trumped with an 83-53 win.

The Bulldogs battled for every point, taking second and third place in many of the events. In the first race of the day, the 400 relay, Burbank won (49.8). But when it came to facing CV’s distance duo, junior Cali King and senior Brooke Moultrie, in the 1600m, the Falcons prevailed. Moultrie set the pace for most of the race and King pressed hard on the last leg to win first position (5:27) with Moultrie running a close second (5:28.4).

Burbank Haley Piruccello (17.1) won the 100HH with CV sophomore Sarah Lapides taking second (17.7) and junior Jenna Schroeder placing third (18.).

In the 300 LH, CV senior Claudia Sepulveda took the win (48.1) against Bulldog hurdler Piruccello who captured second and Sarah Lapides securing third (53.2). Unfortunately for Falcon Kayleigh Carrillo, the finish proved to be a toss up. She was nicked at the tape, running a tie with Burbank Julia Newton (12.4).

CV junior Hannah Ruby ran one of her best 800m races to win (2:28.6) while the Bulldogs took second and third.

Moultrie won the 3200m (11:55.6) with Burbank winning second (12:19.2) and third (12:19.2).

CV scored a dual win in the high jump with Emily Beglarian (4-10) and Emmy Walker (4-8).

“I thought the girls ran well,” said Evans. “We just don’t have the depth. I was very impressed with how Brooke and Cali ran. Claudia ran well in the 300 hurdles for one of her first races of the season. Kayleigh had a great race in the 100 and just lost but came back to win the 200.

“I was very impressed with our 1600 relay. That is our fastest time of the season.”

  Leonard Coutin