By Leonard COUTIN

The Pacific League track and field prelims were hosted on Friday on the Arcadia track under a blistering sun. Endurance was demanded for the more than seven hours of three heats in each race. The top nine athletes move on with the exception of the 800m and 1600m races that will have 12 athletes competing. Athletes will return Friday, May 8 for the conference finals starting with field events at 5 p.m.

The Falcon athletes qualified in several events. Megan Melnyk posted top times in the 1600m (5:21.36) and the 800m (2:17.47) while Apache Phillip Rocha did the same in the men’s races, running 4:25.33 in the 1600m and (1:54.65) in the 800m. Grace McAuley’s time of 5:40.35 in the 1600m allows her to move forward as well.

The FitzGerald brothers, Colin (4:36.21) and Silas (4:33.49), both qualified in the 1600m along with teammates Jason Crosthwaite (4:39.26) and Manav Vats (4:39.38). Sammie Phinney posted the fastest time in the 100m hurdles (15.78) and placed third in the 300H (48.13). Fellow Falcon Elizabeth Filipian ran 16.98 to qualify with the third fastest time. Melanie Smith also qualified in the hurdles (18.80).

Kenny Kang placed sixth in the 110H 16:61 and fourth in the 300H (42.17). Grinnell brothers Shawn (17:00) and Jeremy (17:69) took the eighth and ninth spots in the 110H. Shawn also posted the fifth fastest time in the open 400m (52:50). Courtney Iannello moved on after posting a time of 1:01.1 in the 400m. Clair Schlueter’s time of 13:44 captured fourth and Kelly Im (13.93) placed seventh in the 100m dash.

Silas Fitzgerald placed fourth (2:04.02) in the 800m, followed by Armin Cardenas in fifth (2:05.09). Crosthwaite took seventh (2:06.95). Grace Keller placed fourth (50.08) and Elizabeth Filipian eighth in the 300H.

Coach Mark Evans was pleased with the results. “We have a good group moving on.  We are peaking at the right time and look forward to having good groups move on to CIF prelims.”

In the soph/frosh field events, ninth grader Claire Codding took dual wins. First she cleared 4-10 in the high jump and won the girls’ triple jump at 31-06.50. Hratch Abrahamain placed third in the boys’ high jump (5-04) and Charles Park took fourth (4-10).

In the pole vault, Emily Perkins took second clearing 8-00, Sydney Pontius placed third also clearing 8-00 followed by teammate Mara Niesyt who placed fourth at 7-06.

Aidan Foot took fourth in the boys’ pole vault (10-06). Kristina Kruegermann took fifth in the girls’ long jump (14-07)). Jonathan Lee captured the win with a jump of 19-07.50, Josh Kong placed third (18-10) and Roy Choe fifth (18-02).

In the boys’ triple jump, Lee took second (38-03), followed by a tie between Choe (35-08) and Hratch Abrahamain (35-08). In the girls’ discus Michelle Sinani took fourth (73-11), Karen Weir (73-00) fifth and Allison Smith sixth (72-11). Smith, a ninth grader, won the shot put (28-10.50) and Karen Weir took fifth (26-08.50). Idean Samirami took fourth place in the boys’ shot put (40-03.50).

The soph/frosh field events and the 3200 were the only events considered as the final for League standing.

  Leonard Coutin