By Leonard Coutin

Attendees of the Pacific League track and field finals on May 6 witnessed many CV Falcons posting their personal best times on Arcadia’s track.

Those who qualified with top running and field events were seated in CIF Southern Sectional prelims held on Saturday at Trabuco Hills High School in Irvine. The Falcons qualified in 13 events.

“CIF competition is always a varsity level competition. Athletes qualify only out of varsity events,” said Coach Mark Evans of the qualifying process.

The Falcon 4 x 100m relay team was led by Parker Averill, Levi Walker, Bryan Yaung and James Maturan. CV took on its biggest competition of the season and placed third (44.08) behind first place Muir (43.06) which was anchored by start sprinter Daityvon McFadden. Pasadena secured second with an impressive 43.28.

The 1600m was a victory for CV’s Mike Duncan against the Apaches distance stronghold runners. Duncan started solid in the first two laps, carrying the momentum forward in the final 100 yards for a sprint finish to win the event. He ran his personal best time this year of 4:23.70. Arcadia took the next three places while Bob Anderson placed fifth (4:31.18).

In the high jump, Nick Ruiz took third with 5-10 behind Muir’s Tevin Polk who secured first with 6-02 followed by Ismail Naeen (6-00) from Arcadia. Falcon lead jumper Andrew Roide slipped on the runway, landing on his tailbone and was not able to make his opening height.

Falcon lead hurdler Josh Straschewski placed a second (15.89) in the 100m hurdles behind Ian Grant who grabbed first place (15.31) followed by Burroughs in third (16.31), CV’s Parker Averill in fourth (11.33) and James Maturan placed sixth (11.41).

James Maturan took fifth in the 200m (23.69). Falcon Levi Walker had a stellar night taking a dual win in the long jump (21–00.50) and triple jump (42-08). Although Bryan Yaung placed second in the triple (41-08) his jump did not qualify him to move on in the prelims. Duncan, Ruiz, Straschewski, Walker and the 4 x 100 relay participants moved on to the CIF prelims.

The CV Falcon girls, who were seated in several events, performed with excellence at the league finals. The 4 x 100 relay team consisting of Kayleigh Carrillo, Claudia Sepulveda, Noel Wong and anchor Jessica Beerman won with a time of 50.23. Arcadia took second (50.33) and Burroughs third (50.63). Cali King placed second (5:15.520) behind star runner McKenzie Paul who took away first with a personal best (5:05.54). Arcadia grabbed third (5:19.67). Anneke Kakebeen, who had been injured after prelims, secured fourth (5:22.56).

Kakebeen, who will be graduating in June, has proven herself as an outstanding representative of the Falcon running team. Her ability to run distances, hurdles and sprints (400m) throughout the season gained her team valuable points.

Teammate Claudia Pham (11:39.95) placed second in the 3200m behind Arcadia junior Alejandra Quintero (11:29.11). Brooke Moultrie came in third (11:44.24).

Unfortunately for CV runners, injuries were abundant. In addition to Roide’s fall and Kakebeen’s apparent incomplete recuperation, Beerman pulled her hamstring after winning the 100m (12:74). She dropped out of the 200m to rest, returning with a strong showing to anchor the winning leg of the 4 x 400 relay team consisting of Tiernan Hebron, King, Carrillo and Beerman.

Hebron saw a victory in the 400m, the longest sprint, leading her competitors to a win with a time of (59.79). Teammate Carrillo won second (1:00.41) as she edged out Arcadia’s Irma Nugroho (1:00.67) at the finish line.

Sepulveda’s false start in the 100 hurdles disqualified her and she came back to place second in the 300 LH (47.86) behind Glendale’s Sophia Amodia (45.78) and Paige Hollis of Hoover who took third (48.46).

“I am very pleased with how we did as a team – quite a few [had] seasonal bests,” said Evans. “There are always a few setbacks, however. We need to learn from these and move on. Those moving on are very capable of improving on their best marks. I am excited about how well we have done this season.”

At a glance

A review of the CV winners Pacific League track and field finals on May 6:

Mike Duncan – 1600

Boys 4 X 100 Relay – Levi Walker, Bryan Yaung, Parker Averill, James Maturan

Levi Walker – long jump and triple jump

Nick Ruiz – high jump

Josh Straschewski – 110 high hurdle

Cali King – 1600

Claudia Pham – 3200

Brooke Moultrie – 3200

Tiernan Hebron – 400

Kayleigh Carrillo – 400

Claudia Sepulveda – 300 low hurdles

Jessica Beerman – 100

Girls 400 Relay – Noel Wong, Claudia Sepulveda, Kayleigh Carrillo, Jessica Beerman

Girls 1600 Relay – Kayleigh Carrillo, Cali King, Tiernan Hebron, Jessica Beerman

Frosh/soph division

In the frosh/soph competitions, CV also posted some high marks at the league final. The 4 x 100 relay team of William Wang, Hayden O’Burke, Jake Dempsey and Han Lim won first (45.49).

Wang took third in 100m (11.64) with O’Burke placing sixth (11.75) then came back to take second in the 200m (23.80).

Nick Beatty pulled away from the pack and won the 800m (2.04.99). Alex Damla placed third in the 400m (54.32) and Cole Johnson took sixth (55.19).

In the 1600m Aaron Esparza placed fifth (4:40.36) and Beatty grabbed eighth (4:45.63). Bobby Warren nailed second in the 110 hurdles (17.99) and teammate Jeff Saengsri took fourth (18.89). Saengsri also placed second in the 300m hurdles (44.34).             CV boys had a fight on their hands in the 4 x 400 relay, placing second (3:43.60) behind Arcadia. Beatty took the baton in fourth and ran his best race to move up his team to second place.

Shannon Green placed seventh in the 100m and 200m dashes with Kyra White of Arcadia winning (13.01).

Lindsey Heckman took a fourth in the 400m (1:04.01) while Burbank’s Kayla Martil won first (1:00.47). Katie Callister placed fourth in the 800 meter (2:36.80) behind Arcadia Alyson Watkins taking the win (2:29.64).

In the 1600m Kieran O’Neil placed fourth (5:53.05 with teammate Jen Crotty taking seventh (6:05.28). Jenna Schroeder, who won most of her pre-season events, placed second in the 100m hurdles (18.44) behind Arcadia’s Sarah Wang (18.31).             Cassandra Huezo won third place in the 300m hurdles (54.80) with teammate Sarah Lapides taking fourth (55.03), and Jenna Schroeder grabbed fifth (55.57).

CV girls concluded their season with strong effort against Arcadia in the 4 x 400m relay, taking second place (4:21.90). Heckman, who was gaining on lead Arcadia runner, got boxed in sprinting to the finish line.  That team consisted of Katherine Smith, Heather Robertson, Katie Callister and anchor Lindsey Heckman.

Arcadia winning time was (4:21.28).