Mira Costa boys excel at South Bay Championships
Mira Costa’s Xavier Court (yellow jersey) prepares his strategy to win the 800-meter race passing Redondo runners (from left) Cade Erikson, who finished second, Farooq Tariq (5th) and Benjamin Tait (4th). Photo
In preparation for the Mt. SAC Relays and Bay League track and field championships, Mira Costa’s boys squad proved its strength by winning the South Bay Championships held at El Camino College on Saturday.
The Mustangs had seven top three finishes in their respective competitions, including champions Xavier Court (800), Billy Atkinson (3200) and Cody Kallenbach (300 hurdles).
Mira Costa scored 78.5 points to win the team title over West Torrance (58) and Redondo (54.5).
The highlight of Saturday’s action came in the boys 800 race when Court’s time of 1 minute, 56.12 seconds bested Redondo’s Cade Erikson (1:57.10) and Culver City’s Arman Rostamian (1:58.46).
Redondo had four runners among the top 10 finishers including Benjamin Tait (4th, 1:58.96), Farooq Tariq (5th, 1:59.45) and Alberto Aguilar (10th, 2:00.60).
Mira Costa’s Cole Gamble placed 6th with a time of 1:59.80, followed by Santa Monica’s Nicholas Faires (2:00.22), West Torrance’s Rory Abberton (2:00.35), Palos Verdes Nate Lantz (2:00.52) and Aguilar.
Mira Costa also enjoyed top-three finishes, from Cy Chittenden in the 1600 (2nd, 4:29.64), Calvin Oury (15-0) and Andrew Sandberg (14-0) who finished 2nd and 3rd in the pole vault along with Kallenbach who placed 3rd in the 110 hurdles (15.13).
Other Mustangs finishing among the top 10 in their respective competitions were Andrew Nieto (4th, 400, 50.62), Robert Craig (5th-place tie, high jump, 5-06), Ryan Pogson (6th, triple jump, 40-02), Nicholas Parson and Alexander Beaudin (6th and 7th in the pole vault, 12-0) and Thomas Velvin (7th, 1600, 4:33.43).
Redondo also had top-three finishes, from Vernon Pierce, who captured the discus competition with a toss of 131-02.5 and John Welder III who placed 3rd in the shot put with a mark of 44-06. Pierce also finished 4th in the shot put with a toss of 43-06.
The Sea Hawk’s Nathan Ladabouche finished 5th in the high jump (5-06), 7th in the 110 hurdles (16.02) and 9th in the 300 hurdles (43.58).
Also among the top 10 were Justin Yaskowitz (4th, high jump, 5-08), Anthony Bass (5th, 3200, 9:51.03) and 10th, 1600, 4:34.67), Ariel Rodriguez (6th, 1600, 4:30.99) and Redondo’s 4×100 relay team (10th, 44.68).
In girls competition, Carson won the overall title with 71 points besting Redondo (47) and Mira Costa (44).
Redondo enjoyed a 1st-place performance by Kylee Kallick who won the high jump competition with a mark of 5-0 feet.
In the triple jump Akaylah Hill (36-11.75) and Mahkaia Lee (36-03.25) finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Lee also placed in the top 10 competing in the long jump (4th, 17-06.25) and 100 (10th, 12.67).
The Sea Hawks also enjoyed strong performances by Necole Ellis who finished 4th in the discus (87.03) and 8th in the shot put (3-09.5), Ashley Rodriguez (5th, shot put, 32-02.75) and (7th, discus, 77-03), Kaitlin Ward (5th, pole vault, 10-0), Analise Asaro (7th, 100 hurdles, 16.37), Isabella Landry (9th, 800, 2:29.59) and Paige Threadgill (9th, discus, 74-04.25).
Mira Costa was led by pole vaulter Brigette Grau who placed 3rd with a mark of 11-0 along with multiple top-10 finishers Amari Fraser (4th, 110 hurdles, 15.85) and (5th, 300 hurdles, 48.98), Aaliyah Graves (5th, 100, 12.53) and (7th, long jump, 16-03.5) and Samantha Ealy (5th, long jump, 16-07.75) and (7th, triple jump, 33-10).
The Mustangs also had fine performances from their distance runners in the 1600 and 800 races. In the 1600, Mira Costa was led by Brooke Inouye (4th, 5:11.69), Olivia Hacohen (6th, 5:14.54) and Lucy Atkinson (10th, 5:23.91).
In the girls 800, Lucy Konsmo (6th, 2:27.29) and Pnina Tofler (8th, 2:29.43) enjoyed top-10 finishes.
Sadie Beaumont placed 9th in the high jump (4-08) while the Mira Costa relay team finished 4th in the 4×400 (4:12.68) and 9th in the 4×100 (49.36).
Athletes will face tougher competition Saturday when the 60th Mt. SAC Relays take place. The event will be held at El Camino College while construction continues on Mt. SAC’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium.
“We will have a strong showing at Mt. Sac as usual,” Leetch said. “We will be in the Relays 4×100, 4×200 and 4×800 relays. Also several of our top athletes will compete in individual events as well. Junior Amari Turner will be back from her college visits during Spring Break to compete in the pole vault and several relays.”