By Leonard COUTIN

Preparing for their first Pacific League track and field meet, the Falcon boys faced numerous challenges due to the extensive amount of rain that hammered Southern California. Workouts leading up to the first meet would normally have included runners and field event participants getting acquainted with their events through practice meets to alert of any challenges in each event. Weather prevented this.

But seasoned Falcon distance and sprint veterans – like Dylan Wilbur, Manan Vats, Vince Lieberman, Grant Lauterback, Sophia Atin, Izzy Lieberman, Samantha Moore, Melissa Owens, Eliza Clark and Priya Riley –were well-prepared for their first league meet. It took place, under dark and ominous clouds, at CV High School on Thursday.

Coming onto the field, the Falcon boys were ready for the Burroughs Indians, winning the varsity 4×100 relay in a time of 46.6. The CV boys maintained their momentum in the varsity 1600m with junior Dylan Wilbur taking the win in a time 4:31.30 followed by senior Manan Vats (4:34.77), senior Grant Lauterback (4:37.07), senior Ameer Mohammed (4:40.17) and junior Erik Faeustle (4:41.34).

In the varsity 110H, Falcon senior Vince Lieberman sailed through with grace and style to win in a time of 16:35 followed by juniors Max Nelson (19:27) and Ethan Hizon (20:05). The boys swept the varsity 800m led by Wilbur (2:01.17), Lauterback (2:04.22), senior Kevin Tasci (2:04.44) and Vats (2:08.19). In the boys’ varsity 400m, Falcon junior Niko Pravikoff took home the win in 56.14.

The CV boys placed first and second in the varsity 300H. Nelson won in a time of 49.26 followed by teammate Hizon (49.49). Manan Vats took first place in the 3200m in a time of 9:57.01 followed by Burroughs junior Logan Berger (10:43.58).

In the shot put, Falcon sophomore Leighton Ong Yiu won the boys’ varsity with a throw of 37-05, followed by teammates seniors Mike Bomar, 33-11, and Kevin Melko, 30-04.

Burroughs junior Ryan Thomas had a jump of 21-00 to win in the long jump followed by Falcon juniors Max Grant (19-04.75) and Angel Ochoa (18-08.50).

CV sophomore Justin Bolstad won the boys’ varsity pole vault clearing 9-00. Junior Derek Ghahremanian won the boys’ high jump (4-06).

In the girls’ varsity 1600m, standouts were Falcon juniors Sophia Atin and Ivy Nelson. Atin raced alongside Burroughs sophomore Jordan Guzman until the last 300m when she bumped it up to take the win in a time of 5:30.16 followed by Nelson (5:30.97). The girls’ varsity 100H was won by Burroughs sophomore Elizabeth Surratt in a time of 17:43 followed by CV senior Eliza Clark (17:69), and junior Priya Riley (17:75).

The Indians won both the girls’ and boys’ varsity 100m. Falcon ninth grader Angela Kim placed third running 14:09 and junior Ivan Rodriguez placed second in the boys’ race running 12:10 behind Indian junior Ryan Thomas (12:04). 

The Falcon girls took the two top spots in the varsity 800m. Sophomore Juliana Cheney placed first running 2:31.05 followed by Nelson (2:32.57).

The girls’ varsity 400m was won by senior Lieberman (1:05.95) followed by Burroughs senior Valerie Reveles (1:07.11) then teammate Melissa Owens (1:08.04).

In the girls’ 300H, Burroughs Surratt took the win running 49.44 followed by Falcon Riley (50.05) and Clark (52.86). Burroughs senior Jada Martinez-Reese won the girls’ 200m in 26.81, followed by CV’s Lieberman (29.30) and freshman Angela Kim (29.57).

Falcon Samantha Moore took home the gold in the girls’ 3200 running 12:16.20.

Senior Dylana Wolf took second place in the girls’ shot put with a throw of 29-09 behind winner Priscilla Murillo of Burroughs (33-02) who won the discus with a throw of 90-07.50.

In the girls’ triple jump, CV’s Clark took the win (31-05.75) followed by teammate Angela Kim (26-09.75). Burroughs’ Martinez-Reese won the long jump (15-06.75) followed by Falcon Lieberman (14-07) and Clark (13-11.50).

In the last event of the day, the 4×400 relay, CV won both the girls’ (4:25.14) and boys’ (3:43.91) events.

Final varsity boys’ score: CV 115, Burroughs 19

Final varsity girls’ score: Burroughs 74, CV 61

CV will next face Glendale High at Glendale today, Thursday, March 7 starting at 3:30 p.m.

  Leonard Coutin