By Leonard COUTIN

Competitors kept their heads down at the prelims for the Pacific League Track Meet held April 29 at Glendale High School, not just in concentration but due to unusually high winds. Races like the 100m and the hurdle heats were run directly into the wind.
The prelims qualify runners for the finals at the Pacific League contest being held this Friday at Glendale High. Field events begin at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for running events.
The winner of each league event is an automatic qualifier. The second and third place finishers in each event qualify if they achieve the minimum standard set by CIF for its division according to CVHS Coach Mark Evans. He added that the fourth place finishes and beyond must meet a tougher at large standard to move on.
After the League meets, all schools break up according to divisions based on student enrollment. Crescenta Valley, Arcadia, Glendale, Burroughs, and Burbank High are Division I, while Hoover and Muir are Division II and Pasadena is Division III.
The Arcadia varsity boys and girls were able to resume their first place standing this year in the League. Their strength not only lies in the number of athletes in their programs, but star CIF veteran runners like Ammar Moussa (800m, 1600m, 3200m), as well as Catrina McAlister who also can triple in the same
events. Remember these two names, because they are expected to go all the way to the CIF finals and state meet.
CV varsity girls Claudia Pham, Brooke Moultrie, Anneka Kakebeen, Eliza Collison, Cali King, Ali Johnson, Diane Lombardi (800m, 1600m and 3200m) ranked second in the League, working hard to give Coach Evans a solid middle distance program.
Hannah Gerald, Claudia Sepulveda, Lara Hovespian and Eileen Martin lead the hurdle running team.  CV field events are led by shot put thrower Melanie Samvalian and high jumper Christine Gustovich. Expected strong performances should take them through the CIF prelims. Jessica Beerman (100m, 200m and 4x100m relay) leads sprint with Tiernan Hebron running 400m.
Sophomore Mike Duncan (1600m and 800m) will
head the CV boys varsity.
He will be pitted against strong Pacific League contenders Burbank star Greg Dotsen, who has already set one of the fast 800m marks in the state, Arcadia’s Ammar Moussa and Burroughs’ Anthony Monroy.