By Leonard COUTIN

The CVHS Falcons hosted their second tri city meet of the season on Osborne Field against the Glendale High School Dynamiters and the Pasadena Bulldogs on Thursday. The Bulldogs were strong competitors despite not having as large a team as years past. The Dynamiters boys’ team also offered a challenge for CV.

Glendale won the first event of the day, the 400 relay, in 45.5, with CV running 45.67. Falcons Gabe Collison and Kyler Chin added valuable points to the overall score by winning both their events.

Collison immediately distanced himself from the pack to grab a commanding lead, winning the 1600m (4:25.6) and the 3200m (9:35.0). Chin won the 110H (16.47) and the 300H (42.53). Teammates Matt Ji placed second in the 110H (17.72) and Wesley Choi took third (19.97).

Senior Falcon Nick Beatty performed below expectations in the 800m. From the beginning of the race, Bulldog Michael Dondalski took the lead, ending up with the win (1:57.0). Glendale’s Jesse Torres took second place overall (1:57.6). Beatty ran 2:00.9. He returned to the track and ran the 3200m at the end of the meet taking second (9:54).

Beatty helped initiate a fast pace for the first mile with Collison continuing giving them first and second place.

“Gabe and Nick had good day,” said Coach Mark Evans. “Nick needs to be a bit more aggressive in the 800m. Gabe wanted a good effort in the 3200m.”

GHS Matt Alanda won the 100m ((11.3.9) with CV’s Kim taking second (11.35).

Falcon Christ Ordookhanian took second in the 400m (53.0) behind Glendale’s Torres (51.10). Ordookhanian also ran the 200m (23.34), taking the win over Dynamiter Alanda. Glendale’s Yves Ramirez won the high jump (5-6) and Falcon Juho Kim took second (5-2). The pole vault was won by Glendale’s Michael Williams (12-0). CV freshman Dashel Dupuy had an impressive jump placing second with the same height while teammate Logan Rodger placed third (11- 6). CV also captured all three positions in the long jump and the triple jump: Chris Cobrera took the win (19-6), followed by Matt Purcell (18’) and Josh Ayo (17-7).  Triple jump winners were Ayo (39-5), Andrew Hart (37-3) and Cobrera (37-0). Falcon Brandon Rees’ triple jump was 118-1 and teammate Jeremiah DeKruyf (105-4) placed second.

Evans said he was pleased with the field events and that the team was “really improving” in all field events. He noted that the horizontal jumps and throws are improving “very quickly.”

The 1600m relays brought the crowd to its feet when the Dynamiters took the lead as the anchormen started off. Beatty, being CV’s anchor, took the baton with 15 feet behind the leader. Narrowing the margin right to the finish line, the Dynamiters were able to fight off Falcon Beatty. Final score CV 84 vs. Glendale 52; CV 99 vs. Pasadena 27.

The Falcon girls’ dominated the field over both the Dynamiters and the Bulldogs. Several Falcon girls set personal best times in the afternoon competition. The CV girls grabbed first place in all the events, as well as sweeping all three positions in most of the races. They won the 400m relays  (51.38) over Glendale (53.10). Falcon sophomore Rebecca Mencia (5:39.5) led her teammates Erika Johnson (5:36.3) and Haley Witzeman (5:37.6) to sweep the 1600m. Falcons’ middle distance runner Megan Melnyk was not able to compete due to a foot injury. Senior Erika Johnson had a strong performance running the 800m (2:19.70) to win with Mencia taking second (2:32.8). Emmy Walker won the open 400m (1:01.25) and assisted on both relay teams to score points with one jump at the high jump.

Teammate Courtney Iannelo ran one of her best 400m (1:01.54) to capture second behind teammate Walker. Sarah Lapides won the 100HH in (17.09). Kayleigh Carrillo had a dual win in both the 100m (12.44) and the 200m (25.66).

“Kayleigh is doing a great job and is looking very strong,” said Evans.     Witzeman won the 3200m (12:05). Alisa Shin won the shot put (33-4) and the discus (89-0). Grace Keller had one of her best days winning both high jump (4-8) and the 300LH (49.28). Jordan Springfield cleared 7-0 in the pole vault to win first place. Clair Schlueter also had a dual win in the long jump (16-0) and the triple jump (29-3).

Final score CV 121 vs. Glendale 15, CV 133 vs. Pasadena 1.

  Leonard Coutin