By Leonard COUTIN

The Falcons faced a competitive track and field dual meet on Thursday against the Burbank Bulldogs that had the crowds on their feet until the final event.

Coming into the Pacific League meet 5-0, the Falcons worked to get every point when they hosted the Bulldogs. For the varsity girls, a winning outcome rested upon the 4×400 relay, the last event of the day.

The Bulldogs already had the advantage of winning nine of the 16 events by the time arrived for the 4×400 relay. The Falcon team, composed of Jestena Galvan, Izzy Lieberman, Ily Nelson and Kristina Carrillo, knew they needed a win to alter the final score. Galvan, who has run many 300H races, faced a strong competitor on the first leg of the relay. The advantage went to the Bulldogs as they grabbed the lead by several meters. Lieberman, who has been running sprints most of the meets, has been branching out by running some open 400m and 800m events. It was she who had the pressure to make up the distance. With a strong burst of speed, she not only closed the gap in the last 100m, but also successfully brought back the lead to her team as she handed off the baton to her teammate Nelson. The third handoff did not go well for the Bulldogs and Nelson managed to separate herself and she increased the lead when she passed off to anchor Carrillo. Carrillo, who was successful all season in running the 300H, faced the Bulldog’s top runner Kira Bochard, who won the 110H and the 300H earlier in the day. Carrillo felt confident and kept her cool, knowing she would be challenged in the final meters of the race. Holding strong, Carrillo brought the gold in for the Falcons. The final outcome produced a 68-68 tie.

CVHS Coach Mark Evans was clearly astonished by his girls’ efforts.  

“I have never seen a tie at all,” he said. “This was very unusual. It was also a tight meet and it took us winning the 4×400 to secure that tie. We had some really good performances on the girls’ side.”

The Falcons started with a no contest win in the 400m relay (50.78).  Both Naila Ortiz and Claire Schlueter produced strong dual wins in their events. Ortiz won both the 800m (2:27.53) and the 1600m (5:35.63). Schlueter won the long jump 17-12 and the triple jump 34-2 as well as taking second place in a close finish in the 100m running 12.32 against Burbank’s sprinter Haleigh Cusumano. Bulldog Cusumano produced the only triple win for the day for Burbank in the 100m (12.29), 110H (14.6) and the high jump (5-0).

 CV’s Jennifer Saengsri won the 200m (26.43).

Contributing to the success of scoring the tie were many key individuals for the Falcons: Eileen Walker in the high jump (4-10), Emily Perkins in the pole vault (9-0), Kristina Carrillo in the 300H (47.62), Jestena Galvan in the 100H (15.41), Ily Nelson in the 800m (2:31.84), Karen Weir shot put (28-7) and Jade Winicki in the 400m (62.92).

Both Kira Bochard and teammate Clara Bishop had dual wins in their events. Bochard won the 300H (46.8) and 400m (61.07) and Bishop won the shot (32-0) and discus (91-5.5)

Final girls’ team score: CV 68, Burbank 68

The Falcon varsity boys took their first loss of the season against the Bulldogs. They are 5-1 in League.

As the Bulldogs scored 10 wins to the Falcons’ six, the advantage came in the field and sprints for the Bulldogs.

The Falcons took the first event in a no contest win of the day in the 400m relay (44.78). Gold winners for the Falcons were Dylan Wilbur, Artin Allahverdian, Aidan Foote, Roy Choe and Zach Johnson. Freshman Wilbur had his second high performance race of the season in the 800m (2:02.8). Teammate Allahverdian, a junior, raced to a strong win in the 3200m (9:53.56) upsetting Burbank’s Elijah Parrott, who held the lead most of the race until the last 100m. Allahverdian had a strong finish, outdistancing his opponent to the finish line. Foote won the pole vault (12-0), Choe won the high jump (6-0) and Zach Johnson raced one of his best 1600m times (4:30.85).

Unfortunately for the Falcons, their top middle and long distance runner Colin FitzGerald entered the Mt. Sac Invitational Friday in the mile run where the competition was keen; he needed his rest. FitzGerald raced to a top time of 4:17.14 and placed sixth in his race behind winner Cooper Teare from St. Joseph ND who won in a record time of 4:00.16. This type of race bode well for FitzGerald’s future experience.  

Commenting on the meet Coach Evans remarked, “This was a pretty close meet. We knew they were tough in a couple of the boys’ field events and we just couldn’t pull away in more of the running events to make up for that.  We really competed well and had some outstanding performances. We are getting better. We will have everyone ready for League prelims and finals.”

Top second place CV contributors were Allahverdian in the 1600m (4:33.34), Anthony Zaragoza in the 110H (17:47), Jaedin Springfield 100m (11.7), Nick Tralongo in the 200m (22.96), Roy Choe in the long jump (20-3.5) and Zach Johnson in the 800m (2:03.63).

Bulldogs’ Vedavit Shetty took home the only triple win of the day, in the 400m (52.8), the long jump (20-5.25 and the triple jump (43-11). Teammate Byron Hopson had the only dual win for the Bulldogs in the 100m (11.1) and the 200m (22.71).

Final boys’ score: CV 60, Burbank 78

  Leonard Coutin