By Leonard COUTIN

The CV Falcons boys’ varsity track team claimed a victory on Thursday with a non-scoring league win over the Santa Clarita team from Golden Valley High School.

The first win came from the 400m relay team running 45.5 with strong contributions by CV’s Kenny Kang, Chris Cabrera and Hye Kim with dual gold wins. Kang won the 110m hurdles (15.7) and the 300m high hurdles (40.5). Cabrera not only won the long jump (19-9¼) and the triple jump (39-2¼) but also placed second in the 100m (11.3). Kim won the 100m (11.2) and 200m (23.1). Manav Vats took second in the 3200m (10:05) with Silas FritzGerald taking third (10:12). FitzGerald also placed second in the 1600m (4:39) followed by Philip Thomas in third (4:41). Jacob Poole and teammate Austin White grabbed much needed second and third places in the pole vault with 11-0. Arthur Akopyan took second in the shot put (42-11¼) and third in discuss (106-1). The Falcons successfully captured the last win in the 1600m relay with a time of 3:35.6.

Final score CV 71 vs. Golden Valley 65.

Though the Falcons girls worked well together despite missing key athletes, they fell short against the Golden Valley Grizzlies. CV’s Sammie Phinney not only had a win in the 100HH (15.1), but she also broke her own school record. Phinney also took third in the 100m (13.1). Teammate Natalie Smith placed second in the 100HH (18.4) and third in the 300H (55.1).

Megan Melnyk had a dual gold win in the 800m (2:20) and the 3200m (11:49). In the 3200m, Golden Valley runner Yovanna Gonzalez with CV’s Melnyk broke away from the pack until the last lap when Melnyk used her speed to overpower Gonzalez just before the finish line.

Sophomore Falcon Claire Schlueter brought important points to the Falcons taking three second place wins in the 100m (12.6), long jump (16-2¼) and the triple jump (31-6). Rebecca Mencia took third in the 3200m (12:16). Alisa Shinn captured second place wins in the shot put (33½) and discus with a throw of (90-2½). Last year Shinn had two fine performances at several of the invitational meets.

Falcons scored high in field events with Emmie Walker (5-0) and Grace Keller (4-10) placing first and second in the high jump. Jordin Springfield took second in the pole vault (8-0) and teammate Sylvia Giron placed third (7-0). The Falcons closed the day with a no contest win in the 1600m relay (4:27.1).

Final score 82 Golden Valley vs. CV 54.

Coach Evans congratulated his crew in beating the Grizzly team. The young CV frosh/soph teams have only competed for the second time this year and managed to show a lot of promise. Girls frosh/soph won 88-43; boys frosh/soph won 68-51.

  Leonard Coutin