SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Track & Field

San Diego Masters report

Metro sends four qualifiers to state meet

By Phillip Brents
Posted June 3, 2003

Mar Vista High junior Troy Swier did not drop to his knees to give thanks following his victory in the boys 1600-meter run at last Saturday’s San Diego Section CIF/Masters track and field championship meet at Poway High School.

Nor did he weep with joy after finally attaining a long-sought after goal.

He simply doused himself with a cup of water, bent over and let the profuse sweat drip from his face.

Deep inside, he felt pleasure replace the pain.

“It feels good. It feels great,” he said.

Swier had just swept aside any remaining ghosts that still haunted him from the previous year’s meet in which he had entered the event as the top-seeded runner but finished fourth — one spot away from advancing to the state championship meet at Cerritos College.

It just wasn’t to be his day.

This year, he made his strategy hold up after pulling away from the pack after the first lap to win by nearly six seconds.

His finals time of 4:14.20 more than made amends for last year’s fourth-place effort of 4:20.36.

“That was the point. I had to take it out fast. I had to run my race — not their race. If they were with me the last lap or 220 yards to go, their kicks might have got me. This was a quality field. That’s what happened to me last year,” said the Mariner wunderkind, who has pushed all season for a top 10 ranking in the state.

Swier, who captured the Division II title in the process in a complicated meet that concurrently awarded state qualifying berths and divisional championships, leads a contingent of four Metro Conference athletes to Friday’s state prelims in Norwalk.

Joining the Mar Vista distance king are Sweetwater senior Jordan Rosure (boys triple jump), Bonita Vista senior Russ Foster (boys shot put) and Baron sophomore Crystal Shields (girls high jump).

Foster (57-0.5) and Rosure (45-6) both finished third in their respective events after finishing fourth in the same events last year to just miss the state cut.

Shields — a first-time participant — finished third in her event.

Though not advancing to this weekend’s state meet, Castle Park senior Gene Smith walked off the field with the Division II title in the boys triple jump after placing fifth overall with a season-best effort of 44-4.5.

Swier finished with a regular season best of 4:17.92 to lead the section. He was followed by Bonita Vista junior Ryan Becijos at 4:19.05. Swier posted the top qualifying mark of 4:14.15 in the previous week’s prelims while Becijos turned in the third-best qualifying mark of 4:22.75 behind El Camino freshman A.J. Acosta (4:21.64). Acosta had ranked fourth in the section at 4:21.2 during the regular season.

Becijos clearly became a victim of Swier’s fast start. The Baron standout — the 2003 Mesa League champion in both the mile and 2-mile distances — went out with the Mar Vista runner after the first lap but could not hold his sizable lead on the rest of the pack as he approached the final gun lap. Becijos faded to last in the field of the nine “A” flight runners, timing 4:46.56 to rank 17th overall among the 18 entrants in the event, inclusive of both the “A” and “B” (non-state qualifying) heats.

“I went out with Troy. I thought this was all or nothing, so I decided to do it,” said Becijos, who finished more than 27 seconds off his best time of the season.

Ironically, the 4:19.05 he posted in the regular season still stands as the section’s second-fastest time this year.

The good thing about this year’s meet, of course, is that Becijos still has next year to rebound.

“Last year, I was supposed to go out fast but I did a 2:12 for my 800 split. It killed me,” said Swier in speaking from experience.

The 1600 field produced a convoluted finish as Sweetwater junior Edgar Llanez (ranked 29th in the reguar season) moved up from the rear to place fourth (second among Division I athletes) with a season best time of 4:24.26.

La Jolla junior Paul Coover (ranked 11 in the regular season) was second in 4:20.96.

“This was the race,” Swier underscored. “State will play itself out.”

A first-year track and field participant, Shields had set the section standard in the event with a clearance of 5-5 at the Mesa League championship meet on May 16 at Sweetwater High School. She qualified for the Masters flight with a jump of 5-1 at the CIF prelims on May 24 and qualified for the state meet with a height of 5-3 — a mark matched by Coronado sophomore Jamie Klages, who officially took second place.

Mt. Carmel sophomore Lindsay Whetstine won last Saturday’s Division I/Masters title with a jump of 5-5.

Whetstine failed in her subsequent three attempts at clearing 5-6.25 to set the new section lead.

The Baron sophomore remained somewhat unassuming about her accomplishment.
“I didn’t even know I would be doing the high jump until a little way into the season,” Shields said. “When I started doing well, going to state was my goal. I didn’t think I would do this well.”

Foster easily bettered last year’s Masters put of 52-6. His best regular season mark of 56-11 ranked fifth in the section. He recorded a winning put of 53-9.75 at the Mesa League finals. His prelim mark was 51-3.25.

Rosure also bested his 2002 Masters mark (45-0.5) in making the step up a rung in this year’s standings. His best jump in the regular season this year had been his winning 45-11 jump at the Mesa League finals to rank third in the section. He qualified for the finals with a jump of 44.6-75.

At left, Sweetwater's Jordan Rosure competes in the boys triple jump.

Smith jumped 43-10.5 to win the South Bay League championship title en route to posting a 44-3.75 prelim mark. His best regular season mark ranked seventh overall.
In a meet that annually awards its share of heartbreak, South County athletes were not immune.

Eastlake senior Don Bonahoom recorded a season best throw of 167-11 in the boys discus to finish fourth in the Masters field. His season best had been 165-6. He was beaten out for third place — and the final state qualifying position — by El Camino senior Ronnie McFadden (171-5).

Bonita Vista senior Justin Hillery ranked fourth in the section in the boys 300 intermediate hurdles (39.1) but finished fifth at Masters despite bettering his time (39.00). The four place-finishers ahead of him all posted automatic state meet qualifying marks, led by race-winner Brandon Bornes of RBV (38.21).

Bonita Vista’s boys 1600-meter relay team had ranked second in the section for most of the season (3:24.67) before dropping to fourth overall heading into postseason competition. The Barons, however, finished a disappointing seventh in last Saturday’s Masters flight (3:26.01).

Eastlake junior Soli Gonzalez, who just missed last year’s state cut with a fourth-place finish in the girls shot put (37-9.75), finished seventh in this year’s field (37-5).

Swier, Foster and Gonzalez each qualified in two events each for Masters. Swier finished fourth in the 3200 meters (9:35.30) while Foster was seventh in the boys discus (155-7) and Gonzalez was 10th in the girls discus (110-0). Foster’s mark in the discus event was a season best.

Chula Vista senior Jackie Mandy, a participant in three events (girls 200 and 400 meters and long jump), also had her state qualifying hopes dashed on this very warm day.

San Diego Section CIF/Masters Championships
May 31 at Poway High School

Note: Top three place-finishers advance to state championship meet, June 6-7 at Cerritos College

Girls results
Running events/(electronic times)
100 meters: 1. Jolanda Diego (El Camino) 11.89 (Division I champion); 10. Niki O’Neal (Chula Vista) 12.51; 16. Laqisha Rodgers (Castle Park) 13.00. Division II champion: 3. Sparkle Anderson (Serra) 12.14.
200 meters: 1. Jolanda Diego (El Camino) 23.89 (Division I champion); 6. Niki O’Neal (Chula Vista); 12. Jackie Mandy (Chula Vista) 26.07; 13. Laqisha Rodgers (Castle Park) 26.47. Division II champion: 2. Shakara Lott (University City) 24.55.
400 meters: 1. Shakara Lott (University City) 56.04 (Division II champion); 13. Jackie Mandy (Chula Vista) 1:01.00; 16. Shenice Howard (Marian Catholic) 1:01.40. Division I champion: 2. Jasmine Winfield (Oceanside) 56.65.
800 meters: 1. Kelly McCann (La Costa Canyon) 2:11.75 (Division I champion). Division II champion: Marie Raffray (San Dieguito Academy) 2:15.80 (fourth Masters).
1600 meters: 1. Jessie Ooms (University City) 4:57.95 (Division II champion); 9. Kristen Gonzalez (Bonita Vista) 5:15.45. Division I champion: 3. Lorin Scott (San Pasqual) 5:00.31.
3200 meters: 1. Claire Rethmeier (San Pasqual) 10:35.24 (Division I champion). Division II champion: 5. Lauren Swigart (La Jolla Country Day) 11:17.42.
100-meter hurdles: 1. Jessica Eggleston (El Camino) 14.28 (Division I champion). Division II champion: 8. Krystle Shoate (Serra) 15.93.
300-meter hurdles: 1. Jessica Eggleston (El Camino) 44.88 (Division I champion). Division II champion: 6. Krystle Shoate (Serra) 46.08.
400-meter relay: 1. Morse 47.52 (Division I champion); Chula Vista DQ. Division II champion: 4. Serra 48.46.
1600-meter relay: 1. La Costa Canyon 3:56.91 (Division I champion); 16. Marian Catholic 4:11.93. Division II champion: 2. University City 3:57.49.

Field events
High jump: 1. Lindsay Whetstine (Mt. Carmel) 5-5 (Division I champion); 3. Crystal Shields (Bonita Vista) 5-3; 10. Esha McDowell (Eastlake) 4-10. Division II champion: 2. Jamie Klages (Coronado) 5-3.
Pole vault: 1. Kate Mattoon (Rancho Bernardo) 12-0 (Division I champion). Division II champion: 5. Christina Sloyer (La Jolla) 11-0.
Long jump: 1. Jessica Eggleston (El Camino) 19-7.25 (Division I champion); 11. Jackie Mandy (Chula Vista) 15-10.5. Division II champion: 2. Sparkle Anderson (Serra) 18-1.25.
Triple jump: 1. Sparkle Anderson (Serra) 40-0.75 (Division II champion). Division I champion: 2. Jessica Eggleston (El Camino) 39-7.5.
Shot put: 1. Uia Tupuola (Vista) 39-8.5 (Division I champion); 7. Soli Gonzalez (Eastlake) 37-5. Division II champion: 2. Christine Kennedy (USDHS) 39-6.25.
Discus: 1. Whitney DeWeese (RBV) 139-7 (Division I champion); 10. Soli Gonzalez (Eastlake) 110-0. Division II champion: 9. Samara Matthews (Ramona) 110-9.

Boys results
Running events/(electronic times)
100 meters: 1. Derrell Hutsona (Helix) 10.83 (Division I champion). Division II champion: 7. Baumar Brumfield (University City) 11.13.
200 meters: 1. Deun White (Helix) 21.63 (Division I champion); 14. D’Undre Byrd (Eastlake) 23.09. Division II champion: 7. Baumar Brumfield (University City) 22.47.
400 meters: 1. De’Sean Cunningham (University City) 47.19 (Division II champion); 18. Joe Gaines (Bonita Vista) 51.90. Division I champion: 2. Deun White (Helix) 47.56.
800 meters: 1. Miguel Villareal (Vista) 1:55.48 (Division I champion). Division II champion: 6. Jason McMurray (University City) 1:58.68.
1600 meters: 1. Troy Swier (Mar Vista) 4:14.20 (Division II champion); 4. Edgar Llanez (Sweetwater) 4:24.26; 17. Ryan Becijos (Bonita Vista) 4:46.56. Division I champion: A.J. Acosta (El Camino) 4:20.35.
3200 meters: 1. Babey Wagnew (Helix) 9:19.52 (Division I champion); 4. Troy Swier (Mar Vista) 9:35.30 (third Division II). Division II champion: 2. Brad Liber (University City) 9:26.22.
110-meter hurdles: 1. Bryon Barmer (Helix) 14.29 (Division I champion); 10. Daniel Chang (Bonita Vista) 15.42. Division II champion: 2. Jake Symons (Clairemont) 14.52.
300-meter hurdles: 1. Brandon Bornes (RBV) 38.21 (Division I champion); 5. Justin Hillery (Bonita Vista) 39.00. Division II champion: 10. Jake Symons (Clairemont) 39.94.
400-meter relay: 1. University City 41.86 (Division II champion); 14. Castle Park 46.08; Eastlake DNF. Division I champion: 2. El Camino 42.33.
1600-meter relay: 1. Helix 3:16.23 (Division I champion); 7. Bonita Vista 3:26.01; 15. Mar Vista 3:31.04. Division II champion: 2. University City 3:18.26.

Field events
High jump: 1. Desi Burt (Serra) 6-4 (Division II champion); 8. Mahta Yemane (Mar Vista) 6-0. Division I champion: 5. Alex Fuller (Orange Glen) 6-2.
Pole vault: 1. Billy Matthies (Rancho Bernardo) 15-5 (Division I champion); 5. Steve Nemecek (Chula Vista) 14-0; 7. Fernando Romero (Sweetwater) 13-6; 9. Joe Ziomek (Eastlake) 13-0. Division II champion: 8. Rob Low (La Jolla) 13-0.
Long jump: 1. Demetrious Westbrooks (Morse) 23-7 (Division I champion); 18. Gene Smith (Castle Park) 18-4. Division II champion: 6. Danny Thomas (Horizon) 21-5.5.
Triple jump: 1. Joey Hauser (Vista) 48-2.75 (Division I champion); 3. Jordan Rosure (Sweetwater) 45-6; 5. Gene Smith (Castle Park) 44-4.5 (Division II champion).
Shot put: 1. Jared Bray (Mission Bay) 61-6.25 (Division II champion); 3. Russ Foster (Bonita Vista) 57-0.5 (second Division I). Division I champion: Nick Allotta (Rancho Bernardo) 59-5.
Discus: 1. Daniel Schearer (Bishop’s) 178-3 (Division II champion); 4. Don Bonahoom (Eastlake) 167-11 (third Division I); 7. Russ Foster (Bonita Vista) 155-7. Division I champion: 2. Nick Allotta (Rancho Bernardo) 176-1.