TOUGHER COMPETITION? -- International athletes dominated last year's running events Jonatan Muñoz, International
Can Griffins keep it up?
Track meet will test league traditions
The good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise (again), the postponed opening of the 2008 track season will finally take place this Friday and Saturday (March 28-29). And the big question will still be: Can International continue its near total domination of this sport?
The Griffins have won every championship that has been up for grabs in the three years since the inception of the league in 2005, in both boys and girls, and will be bidding to do so again with many of last year’s stars back for another run under the tutelage of track coach Elizabeth Vilar. But at the same time many medal winners have graduated.
The two day meet starts at 3:30 on Friday with the running events at Tahuichi Stadium. and then continues Saturday morning at 10 at International with the field events -- long jump. high jump, shot put and discus.
This first meet of the season will be much more important this year than in past years, when it has served mainly as a tune-up for the second meet, which determined the championship. This year the points scored in both meets will be totaled to determine the championship. The order of finish in the first meet will also be used to determine lane assignments in the second meet, to be held at the end of March.
Last year the Griffins amassed 237 points in the two-day championship meet, well ahead of second place Cooperative, which had 200 points, and Christian Learning, which posted 177 points. Cambridge brought up the rear with 113 points.
International’s dominance of track and field has been accomplished very simply: They have had faster, better trained runners than anyone else. Last year Griffins won 10 of the 14 running events (100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500 meters, plus 4x100 and 4x400 relays) in the championship meet. And in the four events they lost, a Griffin placed second in three.
International had much less success in the field events, winning only two of eight events last year.
Boys 1500 to be "featured race" Saturday
A track meet is a very difficult event to forecast because of the large array of events and competitors involved, but there may be a test of International’s dominance in the opening event Friday, the boys 1500 meters, which will also probably be the featured race of the day.
Last year, Martin Fernandez of International, Pablo Taborga of Cooperative, and Danny Canaviri of Christian Learning all flashed across the finish line within less than two seconds of each other. Fernandez was the winner, clocked at 5:01.5.
All three are eligible to be back this year, and there will be money placed on some dark horses as well.
Fernandez dominated the boys distance events last year, winning both the 1500 and 800, as well as running on International’s triumphant 4x400 relay team. If someone were to catch him in the 1500 it would be a sign the International is facing a serious challenge.
Each school was asked to name the athletes they had the highest hopes for in track and field this year. Here is what they reported so far:
International has a strong core of proven winners
Besides Martin Fernandez in the boys distance events, the Griffins have last year's 100-meter champion, Jorge Harriague, as well as Nicolas Bedoya, league record holder in both the high jump and long jump.
Track meet will test league traditions
The good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise (again), the postponed opening of the 2008 track season will finally take place this Friday and Saturday (March 28-29). And the big question will still be: Can International continue its near total domination of this sport?
The Griffins have won every championship that has been up for grabs in the three years since the inception of the league in 2005, in both boys and girls, and will be bidding to do so again with many of last year’s stars back for another run under the tutelage of track coach Elizabeth Vilar. But at the same time many medal winners have graduated.
The two day meet starts at 3:30 on Friday with the running events at Tahuichi Stadium. and then continues Saturday morning at 10 at International with the field events -- long jump. high jump, shot put and discus.
This first meet of the season will be much more important this year than in past years, when it has served mainly as a tune-up for the second meet, which determined the championship. This year the points scored in both meets will be totaled to determine the championship. The order of finish in the first meet will also be used to determine lane assignments in the second meet, to be held at the end of March.
Last year the Griffins amassed 237 points in the two-day championship meet, well ahead of second place Cooperative, which had 200 points, and Christian Learning, which posted 177 points. Cambridge brought up the rear with 113 points.
International’s dominance of track and field has been accomplished very simply: They have had faster, better trained runners than anyone else. Last year Griffins won 10 of the 14 running events (100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500 meters, plus 4x100 and 4x400 relays) in the championship meet. And in the four events they lost, a Griffin placed second in three.
International had much less success in the field events, winning only two of eight events last year.
Boys 1500 to be "featured race" Saturday
A track meet is a very difficult event to forecast because of the large array of events and competitors involved, but there may be a test of International’s dominance in the opening event Friday, the boys 1500 meters, which will also probably be the featured race of the day.
Last year, Martin Fernandez of International, Pablo Taborga of Cooperative, and Danny Canaviri of Christian Learning all flashed across the finish line within less than two seconds of each other. Fernandez was the winner, clocked at 5:01.5.
All three are eligible to be back this year, and there will be money placed on some dark horses as well.
Fernandez dominated the boys distance events last year, winning both the 1500 and 800, as well as running on International’s triumphant 4x400 relay team. If someone were to catch him in the 1500 it would be a sign the International is facing a serious challenge.
Each school was asked to name the athletes they had the highest hopes for in track and field this year. Here is what they reported so far:
International has a strong core of proven winners
Besides Martin Fernandez in the boys distance events, the Griffins have last year's 100-meter champion, Jorge Harriague, as well as Nicolas Bedoya, league record holder in both the high jump and long jump.
In addition, their squad includes Christopher Saltzieder, who placed third in the 400 behind two runners who have graduated, and Juan Estenssoro, who likewise finished third in the 200 behind two runners who have graduated.
Jaguars have Sofia Sotelo – and more
Perhaps the most impressive story in track last year was the dominance of 7th grader Sofia Sotelo in the 1500 meters, which she won handily in both meets, setting a league and school record with a clocking of 5:56.76 in the second meet.
Her rate of improvement was as impressive as her victory margins. She cut more than
20 seconds off her time between the first and second meets last year. She’s older now – 8th grade – and has presumably not gotten any slower.
But she faces a threat this year, from another eighth grader, at her own school. Newcomer Hailey White has reportedly been going stride for stride with Sotelo.
And they are not the only Jaguars who will be going for gold this year. Senior Pablo Taborga is a threat to win in the 1500. Aldana Roda and Alexia Handal are both proven performers in shot put and discus.
Christian Learning not lacking in talent
The Eagles graduated some of their biggest stars in track, but some impressive performers are still around, including the aforementioned Danny Canaviri in the 1500. The others include Esteban Eguez, who won the discus and took second in the shot put, and Alejandra Valencia, who placed second in the girls shot put. Jeff Stabler finished right behind Eguez in the discus
Whitney Belovicz placed third in the 800 last year, and could be poised to move up. Katie Beth Wilcke could do the same in the 1500, in which she placed third last year. In addition, Christian Learning will have a lot of middle school athletes who have not competed before, among who it hopes there will be some point-winners.
Cambridge hopes distance runners can fuel resurgence
The last place finishes of the Knights has been as regular an occurrence as the championships of the Griffins, but this year track coach Vivian Salcedo is hoping for a turnaround.
Her hopes are pinned in part on two of Cambridge’s swimming champions who have been retooled as distance runners – Osvaldo Kinn and Alexander Nagel. Kinn, a senior, finished only a few seconds off the pace in both the 1500 and 800 last year. Nagel will be making his track debut.
The Knights will also have a contender in the girls 1500, where Maria Fornaguera finished second last year behind Jaguar phenom Sofia Sotelo. Fornaguera also won the 800 in last year’s opening meet, beating Sotelo, but pulled up lame in the 800 at the championship meet.
Cambridge has hopes in both boys and girls 100-meter dashes. Its colors will be carried by soccer star Junior Sanchez in the boys, and senior Moira Vaca in the girls. Sanchez will be competing for the first time, and may also run in a distance event. Vaca finished sixth last year in the 100-meter dash, just half a second behind the winner.
Cambridge will not have Andrea Saba this year. Saba, who graduated in November, decisively won shot put and discus last year.
Jaguars have Sofia Sotelo – and more
Perhaps the most impressive story in track last year was the dominance of 7th grader Sofia Sotelo in the 1500 meters, which she won handily in both meets, setting a league and school record with a clocking of 5:56.76 in the second meet.
Her rate of improvement was as impressive as her victory margins. She cut more than
20 seconds off her time between the first and second meets last year. She’s older now – 8th grade – and has presumably not gotten any slower.
But she faces a threat this year, from another eighth grader, at her own school. Newcomer Hailey White has reportedly been going stride for stride with Sotelo.
And they are not the only Jaguars who will be going for gold this year. Senior Pablo Taborga is a threat to win in the 1500. Aldana Roda and Alexia Handal are both proven performers in shot put and discus.
Christian Learning not lacking in talent
The Eagles graduated some of their biggest stars in track, but some impressive performers are still around, including the aforementioned Danny Canaviri in the 1500. The others include Esteban Eguez, who won the discus and took second in the shot put, and Alejandra Valencia, who placed second in the girls shot put. Jeff Stabler finished right behind Eguez in the discus
Whitney Belovicz placed third in the 800 last year, and could be poised to move up. Katie Beth Wilcke could do the same in the 1500, in which she placed third last year. In addition, Christian Learning will have a lot of middle school athletes who have not competed before, among who it hopes there will be some point-winners.
Cambridge hopes distance runners can fuel resurgence
The last place finishes of the Knights has been as regular an occurrence as the championships of the Griffins, but this year track coach Vivian Salcedo is hoping for a turnaround.
Her hopes are pinned in part on two of Cambridge’s swimming champions who have been retooled as distance runners – Osvaldo Kinn and Alexander Nagel. Kinn, a senior, finished only a few seconds off the pace in both the 1500 and 800 last year. Nagel will be making his track debut.
The Knights will also have a contender in the girls 1500, where Maria Fornaguera finished second last year behind Jaguar phenom Sofia Sotelo. Fornaguera also won the 800 in last year’s opening meet, beating Sotelo, but pulled up lame in the 800 at the championship meet.
Cambridge has hopes in both boys and girls 100-meter dashes. Its colors will be carried by soccer star Junior Sanchez in the boys, and senior Moira Vaca in the girls. Sanchez will be competing for the first time, and may also run in a distance event. Vaca finished sixth last year in the 100-meter dash, just half a second behind the winner.
Cambridge will not have Andrea Saba this year. Saba, who graduated in November, decisively won shot put and discus last year.
