By Leonard COUTIN

The Falcons hosted its first scoring track and field Pacific League tri meet of the year on March 10 competing against Glendale and Muir. CVHS Coach Mark Evans was ready for what has been a strong rivalry dating back to the early ’60s against the Glendale Nitro Dynamiters.

Early on the Falcons’ girls and boys 4 x 100 relay teams jumped ahead with strong wins. CV girls ran a time of 50.66 over Glendale’s 51.70 while Falcon boys won with a time of 45.13 over Glendale’s 47.10. Unfortunately Muir’s presence at the meet was low due to its small number of participants this year. This is a stark contrast to the days when Muir was one of the best scoring teams in CIF, both in sprints and field events. In recent years though Muir has not had a large squad.

Liz Fillipian was CV’s top scoring girl winning both the 100HH (15.78) and 300IH (50.38). Fillipian has been working diligently with Assistant Coach Eric Kwong to get her steps down in both events to help in maximizing her times.

Sophomore Claire Codding scored two gold wins in the girls’ varsity high jump (4-08) and the long jump (14-03.50) and placed second in the triple jump (31-05.50) behind Muir’s top jumper Lauryn Miller (32-08.00).

Senior Grace McAuley had a PR win in the 1600 running 5.30:80 as well as taking third in the 800 (2:31.70) and contributing to the Falcon win in the 4 x 400 relay. Glendale’s Nona Boyajyan won the 800 in 2:25.90 ahead of Falcon sophomore Naila Ortiz (2:27.90).

CV junior Jessy Shelton led a three way win in the 100m dash running a time of 12.54 over teammates junior Clair Schlueter (12.81) and Brianna Domingo (12.90). All three girls contributed to the Falcon win in the 4 x 100m relay as well.

Junior Annie Meyers won the 3200m in 13:12.30 with teammate Hanna Leines taking second. CV managed to take the top three places in the pole vault. Sophomore Emily Perkins took the win followed by junior Sydney Pontius with both girls vaulting (8-06). Elizabeth Hart placed third (7-06). Junior Alison Kwan placed second in the 400m dash running 1:05.50 behind Marion Dacosta of Glendale (1:03.75).

Final scores: CV 99 vs. Glendale 36, CV 117 vs. Muir 18

Although it is still early in the season, the Falcon boys looked strong competing against the Nitros. Sophomore Colin FitzGerald, who had a strong showing last season in cross country competition, won the 800m (2:03.30) with senior Robert McNelis taking an easy second running (2:09.30). Senior Hye Kwang Kim won the 100m dash (11.06) while teammate Nick Tralongo took a valuable second place (11.43).

Senior Kenny Kang proved he was the man to be reckoned with winning the only dual gold for the Falcons. Kang led the sweep in the 110HH with a time of 15.75, while teammates Jeremy Grinnell captured second (16.31) and his brother Shawn Grinnell placing third(16.50). Kang won the 300IH in 40.56, followed by Shawn Grinnell (42.60) and Jeremy Grinnell (43.21).

Senior Dynamiter Pablo Vazquez had the only other dual win of the day for Glendale. Vazquez won the 1600 in 4:31.80 over Falcon Philip Thomas who ran a strong second (4:32.40) and took the lead in the 3200m over CV’s Kyle Dickinson winning in a time of 10:04.00. Dickinson placed second  (10:05.00) followed by teammate Armin Cardenas (10:30.00).

CV had a strong showing in several of the field events. Senior John Lapides had a 5-10 jump to win the high jump and senior Arthur Akopyan won the shot put with a throw of 46-05.00 and took third in the discus. Ethan Walch took second in the triple jump (39-07.50), Jonathan Lee placed second in the long jump (19-00), Marco Valero took second in the pole vault (10-06) and Emin Issaghoulian placed second in the discus throwing 112-10.

Final Scores: CV 92 vs. Glendale 43, CV 125 vs. Muir 11

The Falcons will run against Canyon High School in a non-scoring meet today, Thursday, March 17 at CV starting at 3 p.m.