By Leonard COUTIN

The final Pacific League dual meet for the Falcons was hosted by the Apaches at Arcadia on their state-of-the-art facility on April 19. Facing one of the strongest competitive meets of the season, the Apaches won both the boys and girls divisions by a wide margin. This brought the Falcons’ team standings to 5-2 for the boys and a 5-1-1 for the girls.

At Arcadia the Falcon boys were only able to win three events compared to the Apaches, who captured 13 golds, while the Falcon girls scored five wins compared to 11. Whenever the two teams meet, the competition is always fierce despite the life friendships that are often made on the track.

The Falcon boys won the 4×100 relay in a time of 45.74. Colin FitzGerald won the 3200m in 9:59.39, but took second in the 800m with a fight to the finish. FitzGerald, driving with all his might, fell forward as he fought his opponent at the finish, to run a quick time of 1:58.17 to Apache Dylan Che 1:58.07. Falcon teammate Artin Allahverdian placed second in the 3200m running a time of 9:59.07. Roy Choe won the high jump clearing 5-10 as well as placing second in the long jump with his 20-05.25. Falcon Aidan Foote won the pole vault with his 12-6 vault. Contributing to the Falcon score and taking second places were: Christian Burke in the 100m (11.76), Jaedin Springfield in the 200m (24.04), Nick Tralongo in the 400m (53.95), Anthony Zaragoza running 17.85 in the 110H and 44.53 in the 300H, and Leo Ohandjanian shot putting 39-01.50.

Final boys’ score: CV 25, Arcadia 110

The Falcon girl hurdlers managed to hold their own against the Apaches. Galvan Jestena won the 100H in a time of 15.94, while Kristina Carrillo won the 300H running 47.10. The field events by both Claire Codding and Clair Schlueter proved too strong for the Apaches. Schlueter won the long jump with her 16-09.75 jump and Codding won the high jump clearing 4-10, assisted by teammate Eileen Walker who took a valuable second with her 4-08 jump.

The Falcon girls won the last race of the day fighting off their rivals in the 4×400 relay in a time of 4:10.20. Contributing second places for the Falcon score were: Clair Schlueter running the 100m in 13.00 and taking second in the triple jump (34-06.00), Izzy Lieberman had outstanding performances in both the 200m (27.30) and 400m (63.58), Emily Perkins vault (9-0) and Naila Ortiz in the 1600m, (5:17.82). She also placed third in the 3200m (12:29.60).

Final girls’ score: CV 51, Arcadia 85

  Leonard Coutin