The Falcons faced their first league meet last Thursday against the Pasadena Bulldogs on the home track. The afternoon weather made for perfect climate for CV to host their first scoring track meet. Pasadena’s numbers of participants were few compared to the CV Falcons this year.

The Bulldogs jumped to an early lead winning the Boys 400 relay (45.6), and almost all the sprint races; the 100m (11.3), 200m (23.6), 400m (53.1), and 800m (2:02.1). The Falcons fought back and captured most of the 2nd and 3rd places. Junior Chris Ordookhanian of CV placed both 2nd in the 100m (11.6) and the 200m (24.1). Nick Damia placed 3rd in the 400 (54.9) and Gable Collison won a stellar victory in the 1600m with an early season best time of (4:32.6) and placed 2nd in the 800m (2:03.7). Teammate Matt Manalo captured 3rd in the 800m (2:04) and 2nd in the 3200m (11:01.2). 

Senior David Shahmanyan of the Falcons, contributed to two gold wins in the 110HH (17.1) and 300IH (42.4) and teammate Kyler Chin placed 3rd in both events (18.2) and (45.3). Junior Nick Beatty had an unopposed victory in the 3200m running (10:30.6). Falcon Austin Hwang certainly helped to put points on the scoreboard for the Falcons, winning dual gold wins in the long jump (17-7) triple jump (36-5) along with a 2nd in the pole vault (10-0) behind teammate Logan Rogers win at (10-6). CV won all places in the shot put and discus against Pasadena. Jeremiah DeKruyf won both the shot put (33-10) and the discus throw (94-4).  Siamonto Khatchatourians won 2nd in the shot put (32-7) and Jae Lim 3rd (31-7.5) as well as 2nd in the discus (85-10), Peter Jang discus throw earned 3rd place (76-2). 

Commenting on his teams performance, Coach Evans said,  “This was a good start to our league season.  We were able to move some athletes into different events for a little variety and still scored enough points to win.  Since Pasadena did not have a big team we were able to allow more of athletes to compete.”  CV’s team (Beatty 52.9, Shahmanyan 53.6, Damla 56.0, Manalo 54.2) won (3:36.3). CV Boys scored 90 to Pasadena’s 44.

The CV Varsity girls took a commanding lead against their opponents the Pasadena Bulldogs. Kayleigh Carrillo triple gold wins in the 100m (12.4) and 200m (25.5) along with her win contribution in the 1600 relay team of (Johnson 61.5, Ruby 66.7, Melnyk 64.9, Carrillo 59.6) 4:12.7. Noel Wong placed 3rd in the 100m (13.5) behind Camara Blount of Pasadena (12.8). Courtney Iannello won the 400m sprint (63.3) and teammate Grace Keller won 3rd (66.6) behind Pasadena Keegan Snowden (66.3).

The Falcons triple scored win in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m, long jump, and triple jump certainly clinched their 92 to 23 win. Falcon first-place winners were: Megan Melnyk (2:18.8) in the 800m, Hannah Ruby (5:34.4) in the 1600m, Erica Johnson (11:46.1) in 3200, Sarah Lapides (50.7) in the 300LH, Noel Wong LJ (14-3), Amelia Palacios TJ (27-7), Amanda Severson PV (7-0), Emily Beglarian HJ (4-10). Looking toward the future, Coach Evans responded, “The toughest part of our league season will be after spring break. CV track will host Hoover March 14 at 3:15. Next Invitational will be the Maurice Green Invitational at Oaks Christian on March 16.

  Leonard Coutin