Eagles close in on league titles

Rick Devereux

As the day faded away into night via streaks of orange and red above

Orange Coast College, the Golden West League track and field

preliminaries came to a close Monday.

The five-hour event did little to clarify which team had the

advantage for Thursday’s league finals, also at OCC.

The Estancia High boys and girls will finish with at least a share

of the league crown, due to both squads’ 6-0 record in league dual

meets, Eagles boys coach Dominic Lackey said.

“It’s going to be nerve-wracking on Thursday,” Lackey said. “We’re

counting on our distance runners, hurdlers and throwers to get us

some points. We’re also expecting [Bryce] McKendry to win three

events for us.”

McKendry, a senior in his first year on the track and field team,

has not lost during league in the high jump, long jump or triple

jump.

No field events were contested Monday.

As for Monday’s results, Estancia’s Ernesto Castaneda and Ryan

White were the only Newport-Mesa athletes with the top qualifying

times.

Castaneda was fastest in the 1,600 meters in four minutes, 32.19

seconds and White was first in the 110 high hurdles (16.74).

Castandea also qualified fifth in the 800 in 2:08.61 and White was

second in the 300 intermediate hurdles in 43.34.

Santa Ana had the most boys qualifiers with 16, followed by

Estancia (12) and Saddleback (11).

C.J. Buchmann qualified second in the 1,600 in 4:37.56 and third

in the 800 with a 2:06.83 clocking.

Josh Henrickson qualified third in the 300 hurdles (43.47) and

ninth in the 110 hurdles (18.47).

Ezekiel Villalrazo qualified fifth in the 110 hurdles (17.83),

while other Estancia qualifiers included Curtis Fisher (eighth in the

100 in 12.27), Geo Rodea (ninth in the 800 in 2:16.58) and Alex

Cahuantzi (12th in the 1,600 in 4:55.30).

Costa Mesa qualifiers were led by sophomore Asa Hawks, whose 53.24

clocking was third-fastest in the 400.

Gilbert Johnson (54.33 in the 400), Josh Lowe (12.08 in the 100)

and Ryan Lacy (2:10.17 in the 800) all qualified sixth.

“We’re in a rebuilding year,” Costa Mesa Coach Nicole Price said.

“Gilbert is a pleasant surprise. His times have been consistently

dropping all year [in the 400].”

This was Johnson’s first meet competing for varsity. He had been

on junior varsity all season.

“This is so different, so much harder, because everyone is so

fast,” he said. “This has taught me that I’ve got to work harder and

I’ve got to go to all the practices during the year.”

Five Costa Mesa girls qualified, while two Eagles earned finals

berths. Both Santa Ana and Saddleback had 13.

Not only did field events not compete, the girls did not run a

preliminary race in the 400 or 1,600 Monday because fewer than 16

participants were entered. All athletes scheduled to run the 400 and

1,600 automatically qualify for the finals.

Paula Negrette (2:36.15) and Okairy Lomeli (2:36.32) qualified

eighth and ninth, respectively, in the 800 for Estancia and Jennifer

Thomas qualified fourth in the 300 hurdles (52.33).

“I was really nervous. I didn’t want to race because I was sick

because I was so nervous,” said Negrette, a freshman. “I was happy

with my time because it was a [personal record].”

Negrette’s season was hampered by tendonitis in her knee. She

thought she would have to sit out the entire season, but made an

early recovery and has competed in about six meets, she said.

Qualifying for the league final as a freshman, despite an injury,

will help her prepare for next season, she said.

“I’m really happy I made it back to the team,” Negrette said. “I

know I want to work on my pacing when I run next year.”

Costa Mesa’s Jasmin Day, the reigning league champion in the 800,

3,200 and high jump, qualified third in the 100 hurdles (18.21) and

seventh in the 300 hurdles (53.79).