By Leonard COUTIN

The CIF Division 1 track and field prelims were held on May 4 at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo. The athletes had to endure five to six heats for individual races, other than the 3200m, making for a long day that boasted high temperatures. Runners had to pace themselves and adjust their strategies to place in the first and second positions. Their times were a key factor in qualifying for the CIF finals that will be held May 16 at El Camino College.

With seven Falcons competing at the prelims, Crescenta Valley High school Coach Mark Evans hoped to see his athletes make it to the next round of competition. Junior Dylan Wilbur ran in the first heat of the 1600m, the first and only Falcon to qualify, running a personal best time of 4:16.98 to win his heat. At the CIF finals, athletes typically run times between 4:08 and 4:11 to win this event.

Returning for the 800m race, Wilbur was sluggish and could not repeat his league final time of 1:54.73 and, in heat No. 2, placed seventh running 1:58.70.

Teammate Grant Lauterback, a senior, ran his last race as a Falcon in the 1600m with a time of 4:41.39. Though he won’t move onto CIF finals, his contributions all year long, both in cross-country and on the track, added many valuable points to the varsity team in the dual meets.

Senior Manan Vats placed ninth in heat No. 1 in the 3200m (9:30.73).

For the girls, junior Sophia Atin placed 16th in the 1600m, heat No. 3, running 5:32.81; in the 3200m, heat No. 2, she placed 12th running 11:32.60.  Teammate Samantha Moore, a junior, placed 11th in heat No. 1 of the 1600m running 5:22.31. Junior Ily Nelson placed sixth in the 800m, heat No. 2 running a time of 2:21.56. Priya Riley placed fifth in heat No. 4 running 49.88 in the 300H.

Reviewing his athletes’ performances, Evans had many praises.

“Dylan moves to CIF finals for the second consecutive year. He ran a very good race to win his heat and automatically qualify for CIF finals. All of our athletes competed very well. Grant has had a great season. He gave it his best effort but was fighting a cold all week that affected his ability to race.  Manan ran a very good race in the 3200m. He was just four seconds off his PR in the race. Anytime one can do that in a CIF prelim they had a fine performance. While we did not qualify anyone else, our girls are all returning and gained valuable experience,” said Evans. “CIF prelims are a very tough meet. Only nine athletes out of Division 1 qualify for CIF finals. Considering the schools and individuals in Division 1, this is a tough task.”

Burbank High School sophomore Jayla Flowers qualified in two events, the girls’ long jump (17-09.00) and the triple jump (38-03.75). Senior Julius Reyes from Glendale High School had a strong showing with a discus throw of 152-01 and Burroughs’ sophomore Eli Gault-Crabb made the qualifying height of 14-03.00 to make it to Saturday’s finals. 

Muir High School advanced to Division 4 for the prelims with several of their girls and boys qualifying for the finals. Jenesis Sanford ran the 100m in 12.25 and also qualified in the 200m with a time of 25.04. Deniya Fields made the qualifying height in the high jump with a 5-00 mark. Teammate Cynthia Hill ran 16.3 in the 100H and also qualified in the triple jump with a 14-02.00 jump. Muir also qualified two of its boys for the finals. Reggie Myles has a dual placement both in the 110H running 15.66 and 300IH in 40.09. Teammate Bernardo Brito had a shot put of 46-07.00 to qualify for the finals.

The CIF finals will be held at El Camino College on Saturday, May 11, with the pole vault starting at 10:30 a.m. and running events beginning at 1 p.m.

  Leonard Coutin