By Leonard COUTIN

The Crescenta Valley Falcons hosted the Canyon Cowboys in a non-scoring dual track and field meet on Thursday. Canyon Coach Paul Broneer brings many years of experience to the track; he ran the Glendale High School Dynamiter program for 17 years, then was at Burroughs High School before moving to Santa Clarita.

Since the ’80s, the Canyon High School team has proven itself as a strong track and field competitor. The Cowboys boys have won more than 20 championships league titles starting in 1979 and their girls have taken a dozen league championships since 1985.

“We have a young team this year, we are building a strong program for our future,” said Broneer. “Last year our seniors who excelled in league and CIF graduated.”

The Falcons scored valuable points in the running, but the Cowboys dominated most of the field events.

“I thought we competed very well against Canyon,” said CV Coach Mark Evans. “[I’m] very impressed with Kyle [Dickerson] finally getting under 2:00 in the 800m. Grace [McAuley] is improving with each race. We moved some people around and gave them a chance to run some different events.

Jestena [Galvan] looked good in winning the 200m. Boys’ 4×400 ran a season best time. Claire Schlueter is recovering from being sick but is looking better with each meet.”

Kyle Dickerson proved he could go the distance, winning gold both in the 1600m with a time of 4:43.80 and scoring a PR time in the 800m running 1:59.26 and anchoring the 4x400m relay. Grace McAuley improved her time by five seconds over last week’s PR time finishing with a time of 5:25.00 in the 1600m and also went strong to win the 3200m (11:50.90). She ran the 4×400 relay as well.

Kenny Kang won the 110HH running 15:80, while teammate Jeremy Grinnell took second (16.60). In the absence of Kang, Shawn Grinnell took first in the 300IH in 43.00 while brother Jeremy captured third (43:90).

In the 3200m, Falcon Phillip Thomas got an early start in front of the pack to win his gold with a time of 10:14.70. Junior Claire Schlueter, who enjoyed a remarkable season last year, won a dual gold in the long jump (15-06), capturing a win over teammate Jessy Shelton (12.80) in a last minute lean-in running 12.70. Schlueter took second in the triple jump at a tied distance of 30.05.00 and contributed to the 4×100 relay team.

Jestena Galvan won the 200m (25.30) and placed second in the 110LH (17.10). Hanna Lienes had one of her best races of the day placing second in the 800m (2:36.90) with teammate Briana Jimenez taking third (2:59.80).

Claire Codding was off her mark in the high jump to take second with a jump of 4-6, and capturing third in the triple jump (30.01.50).

CV swept the pole vault. Emily Perkins scored with a vault of 8-6.00, while Sidney Pontius and Elizabeth Hart captured second and third at 8-00. Armin Cardenas made valuable points for CV by taking third in the 800m (2:06.70) and second in the 1600m (4:46.00).

Senior Ethan Walch won the boys’ triple jump (39-02.00) and Arthur Akopyan took second in the shot put (47-00.00). John Lapides scored another solid gold in the high jump (5-8) while teammate Hratch Abrahamian placed second at the same height.

Girls’ final score: Canyon 79, CV 57

Boys’ final score: Canyon 79, CV 57

The Falcons on March 26 will attend the Meet of Champions at Azusa Pacific. The schedule will vary from morning to late afternoon and early evening for many of the varsity runners.

  Leonard Coutin