By Leonard COUTIN

Redondo Beach- The Mustang Relays is one of the highlights for the Falcons track team each year to attend. Hosted by Mira Costa High School, this invitational brings a combination of individual running and field events, as well, offers many relays that allow athletes to run that are not offered in other meets. Being close to the ocean, the weather was cool for the athletes and spectators.

As the Falcons are now almost into their mid-season many of the athletes are just starting to see their hard work payoff.

“I’m very happy with how we competed.  Lots of season best performances,” said Coach Mark Evans. Sprinter and hurdler Sammie Phinney placed 3rd in girls 100HH,  with a time of 15.79, running against Serra Jaela Williams who placed 1st, with 14.50, and Shante Robinson of Mira Costa 2nd with 15.40.  Phinney managed to take 2nd in 300 hurdles  with a time of 47.92 behind Robinson of Mira Costa at 44.40 to win.  Grace Keller placed 6th in 300 hurdles running 49.72.  Senior Emmie Walker won the high jump with a personal best this season of 5’ 4″ beating out Bishop Montgomery’s Tessa Allen who placed 2nd at 5-2. Claire Schlueter was 6th in the long jump at 16-5.  Alisa Shinn took 2nd in the shotput with a throw of 34-6. Jestena Galvan was 3rd in girl’s frosh/soph 300 hurdles with a time of 51.24.

For the CV Boys, Kenny Kang was 2nd in 300 hurdles running 41.20.  John Lapides placed 4th in high jump at 5’10″. West Ranch Senior Max Cawley took 1st with a win Jump at 6’2″.  Chris Cabrera was 4th in long jump at 20’6″ and Junior Arthur Akopyan at placed 4th with a shot put of 43’4″.

In the later evening the Falcons distance crew attended the Azusa Pacific Meet of Champions sponsored by Adidas. Although this meet starts off early in the morning running athletes all day long, the Falcons boys and girls attended the early evening portion, which hosted the 800m races and the open dream miler races.

CV star half miler, Megan Melnyk ran the girl’s Invitational 800 with some of the most talented athletes in the state. Making sure she kept close to the top runners the entire race, Melnyk took off running next to Huntington Beach’s Durgy Cassie and Golden Valley’s Bianca Tinoco. As they approached the 600m marks, the time was 1:38 to 1:40 in the 600m. As they came around the last curve, Melnyk made a gallant effort to hold her position in front. Durgy and Tinoco passed her with 70m out from the finish line.  Durgy ran 2:11.19 capturing 1st and Tinoco 2nd 2:11.20 with Melnyk placing 3rd in 2:13.57. Evans was happy with his runner’s success.

“Megan was faster than she ran at this time last year.  She ran very well,” he said.

Rebecca Mencia also had a good night finishing 3rd in the 1600 with a time of 5:35.24.

The CV Boys had many good showings as well in the night performances. Falcon Colin FitzGerald won the rated race of the boy’s frosh/soph 1600 in 4:38.04. This was a personal record for him. He unfortunately fell with 450 to go in the race, and got up and still managed to win the race. Other strong races were made by Kyle Dickinson with 4:35.37, ran well in the 1600.Silas FitzGerald finished with a personal record of 4:36.74 in the 1600. Logan Neil 4:47.69, Jonathon Yoon at 4:48.93, and Zach Johnson with 4:49.44 all broke 4:50 in the 1600 for the first time in their frosh Soph race.  Overall, the Falcons managed to do well at these invitationals and get ready to compete in future league meets.

  Leonard Coutin