By Leonard COUTIN

The Pacific League track and field finals got underway in Arcadia Friday despite the closure of the Ventura (134) and Glendale (2) freeways due to the nearby fires. The Crescenta Valley High School Falcons have been working all year and when they took the field on Friday, the athletes were determined to have a good showing.

The girls’ 4×100 relay qualified in third position (49.84) behind Arcadia  (48.80) and Pasadena (49.18).

In the high jump, the Falcon girls took the top three positions. Emmie Walker remained the league champion, jumping 5-03 with teammate Grace Keller placing second (4-11) and Emily Beglarian third (4-11).

Senior Noel Wong had her personal best jump and won the girls varsity long jump (16-8.50) with Arcadia’s Caira Benton taking second (16-02.00) and Burbank’s Elizabeth Gevorkian placing third (15-05.00).

Senior Hannah Ruby came through with a great win in the 1600 running 5:21.57 with teammate Megan Melnyk capturing second (5:22.82) and Burroughs’ Gracia Innocentia taking third (5:23.12).

In the 800m, sophomore Melnyk won (2:19.36) in an all out race against Arcadia Apaches Glindyll Mancia who placed second (2:21.23) followed by Falcon Ruby (2:23.95).

Falcon Kayleigh Carrillo ran her personal best in the 400m dash, taking the win (57.26) against Apaches Kyra White (58.57) and Kayla Martil of Burbank (58.94). Carrillo then took second place in the 200m (26.13) behind Kyra White of Arcadia and Pasadena Camara Blount (26.81).

Sarah Lapides, who has been the lead varsity girl Falcon hurdler, qualified for third in the 100H (16.67) behind winner Racheal Richardson of Pasadena (15.83) and Muir’s Jordyn Davis-Scott in second (16:65).

Falcon sophomore Haley Witzeman placed a strong second in the 3200 (11:34.6) behind Indian Innocentia who won at (11:22.3) and Leana Setian of Glendale who took third (11:34.8).

CV upset Arcadia in the girls 4×400 relay, winning the event in record time of (3:57.10) with the team of team Melnyk, Walker, Carrillo and Courtney Iannello while Arcadia placed second (4:04.15) and Burbank took third (4:15.42).

Falcon senior David Shahmanyan qualified in the 110HH by placing second (15.90) behind Arcadia Victor Cheung (15:90) and ahead of Burbank senior Dennis Palacio (15:92).

Nick Beatty captured second in the 1600 with a personal best time of 4:21.27 behind Arcadia Philip Rocha (4:20.15) and ahead of Hoover’s Kenneth Trejo (4:23.44). Beatty returned later to win the 800m (1:58.12) in front of Burbank’s Arsen Mkrtchyan in second (1:58.69) and Falcon Matt Manalo in third (1:59.41).

CV’s Gabe Collison, who concentrated solely on the 3200m, won that contest running ahead of the pack (9:30.51), with second being handed to Bernie Corea of Burbank (9:39.00) and third taken by Rocha (9:40.33).

The Falcon boys’ team of Shahmanyan, Beatty, Alex Damla and Matt Manalo won second in the 4×400 relay in a time of 3:26.64 behind winner Arcadia (3:24.04). Burbank took third (3:29.34).

Coach Evans said he was “very happy with overall results.”

“We competed very well. We have a number of athletes who are capable of moving on from prelims into finals. I believe we are running our best right now and will do well in prelims.”

The Falcon frosh-soph girls and boy teams also performed well. Rebecca Mencia, won

three of her events, the 1600 (5:36.91), 800m (233.45) and 3200m (11:48.05) and Kyle Dickerson won the 800m (2:05.25).

The CIF prelims for Division 1 will be held at Trabuco High School in Mission Viejo on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. for field events. Note that Muir and Pasadena move to another division to compete at the finals.

  Leonard Coutin