SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Track & Field

Metro Conference report

Brons, Titans dominate Mesa League finals

Mesa League championship finals results

By Phillip Brents

NATIONAL CITY, May 16, 2003 -- The Bonita Vista and Eastlake track teams met May 8 in an emotional roller coaster ride that went down to the last triple jump to decide the Mesa League’s dual meet titles. It was no surprise then that the spotlight dual encounter served as an appropriate spring board for Friday’s league championship meet at Sweetwater High School. The two eastside schools combined to win 20 league titles. The Barons left Gail Devers Stadium with 12 titles while the Titans earned eight, including four in both the boys and girls competition.

Bonita Vista, which finished second to Eastlake by a 64-63 score in girls competition for this year’s league dual title and won the boys dual title with a 71-56 win against the Titans, dominated the league finals meet behind multiple-event victories by Kristen Gonzalez (girls 880 run, mile), Kayleigh Knudson (girls 100 low and 330 high hurdles) and Ryan Becijos (boys mile and 2-mile). Other Barons winning titles included Joe Gaines (boys 440, 52.1), Justin Hillery (boys 330 intermediate hurdles, 39.3), Russ Foster (boys shot put, 53-9.75), Tiffany Caddell (girls 2-mile, 12:03.4) and Crystal Shields (girls high jump, 5-5).

Bonita Vista also won the mile relay events in both the boys and girls side of the meet.

D’Undre Byrd led Eastlake by capturing championships in both the 100-meter dash (11.0) and 220-yard dash (22.4) while teammate Don Bonahoom won the discus throw (160-9) to highlight individual performances in the boys meet. The Titan 4x100 relay team also emerged victorious.

Eastlake dominated the girls field competition by claiming league titles in four of the six events. Mariana Pastrana won the pole vault by matching her season best effort of 9-6 while Solie Gonzalez (shot put, 37-3), Shannon Young (discus, 108-1.25) and Tiara Rae (triple jump, 34-2) all repeated as league champions (in making the successful jump from South Bay League to Mesa League competition this year).

Chula Vista’s Jackie Mandy delivered the powerpacked individual performance of the meet by winning the girls 220 (26.0), 440 (1:02.5) and long jump (16-7).

Meet host Sweetwater had four event champions, with Jordan Rosure doubling in the boys long jump (21-8) and triple jump (45-11). Teammates Javier Diaz (boys 880, 2:01.7) and Fernando Romero (boys pole vault, 14-0) also claimed individual titles.

Rounding out the league’s parade of champions were Chula Vista’s Derek Gunter (boys 110 high hurdles, 15.1), Julian Smith (boys high jump, 6-2) and Niki O’Neal (girls 100, 12.5).

Smith, Gonzalez (mile, 5:27.2), Becijos (mile, 4:32.6) and Foster all repeated as league champions in their specialty events.

The top two place-finishers in each event from the Mesa League championships, plus those who met pre-determined standards, advanced to the San Diego Section divisional prelims May 24 at Poway High School (10 a.m. start). The division finals are scheduled May 31 with that meet also serving as a qualifying meet for the state finals June 6-7 in Cerritos.

Mesa League Championships

Boys Top Marks
Running Events
100: D’Undre Byrd (Eastlake) 11.0.
220: D’Undre Byrd (Eastlake) 22.4.
440: Joe Gaines (Bonita Vista) 52.1.
880: Javier Diaz (Sweetwater) 2:01.7.
Mile: Ryan Becijos (Bonita Vista) 4:32.6.
2-mile: Ryan Becijos (Bonita Vista) 10:20.4.
110HH: Derek Gunter (Chula Vista) 15.1.
300IH: Justin Hillery (Bonita Vista) 39.3.
440 relay: Eastlake 44.7.
Mile relay: Bonita Vista 3:31.9.

Field Events
High jump: Julian Smith (Chula Vista) 6-2.
Pole vault: Fernando Romero (SuHi) 14-0.
Long jump: Jordan Rosure (Sweetwater) 21-8.
Triple jump: Jordan Rosure (Sweetwater) 45-10
Shot put: Russ Foster (Bonita Vista) 53-9.75.
Discus: Don Bonahoom (Eastlake) 160-9.

Girls Top Marks
Running Events
100: Niki O’Neal (Chula Vista) 12.5.
220: Jackie Mandy (Chula Vista) 26.0.
440: Jackie Mandy (Chula Vista) 1:02.5.
880: Kristen Gonzalez (Bonita Vista) 2:27.4.
Mile: Kristen Gonzalez (Bonita Vista) 5:27.2.
2-mile: Tiffany Caddell (Bonita Vista) 12:03.4.
100 HH: Kayleigh Knudson (Bonita Vista) 16.1.
300 LH: Kayleigh Knudson (Bonita Vista) 49.9.
440 relay: Chula Vista 50.6.
Mile relay: Bonita Vista 4:27.2.

Field Events
High jump: Crystal Shields (Bonita Vista) 5-5.
Pole vault: Mariana Pastrana (Eastlake) 9-6.
Long jump: Jackie Mandy (Chula Vista) 16-7.
Triple jump: Tiara Rae (Eastlake) 34-2.
Shot put: Solie Gonzalez (Eastlake) 37-3.
Discus: Shannon Young (Eastlake) 108-1.25