SD Prep Sports: Track & Field

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By Phillip Brents
Posted May 12, 2004

Challenges always have something to offer, especially if one is aiming at the state championships. Chula Vista High senior Steve Nemecek has taken that challenge. So far, so good.

Nemecek entered Tuesday’s Metro Conference track and field prelims at Otay Ranch High School as the conference leader in the boys pole vault with a clearance of15 feet, 0 inches. His best last year was 14-0.

The standard to qualify for this year’s state meet is 14-7.5.

“I wanted 15 feet. But after Orange Glen, I saw just how much that new pole helped me out. I think I can get 15-7, 16-0 now,” he said.

Making use of a longer pole, Nemecek (third at last year’s Metro finals) placed second at the April 30 Orange Glen Invitational — seven inches behind the meet record set by Escondido senior Jon Hori and a full foot ahead of Eastlake’s Joe Ziomek, who finished in a tie with the third-best mark at the meet.

With Ziomek (14-6) and Titan teammate Shawn West (13-0) both vaulting to new bests this season, Nemecek looks to have some competition on his hands heading into Friday’s conference finals at Otay Ranch High School (4 p.m. start). But that’s just fine with the Spartan standout, who also competes in the discus and triple jump events.

“I’m motivated by competition. Going against some teams in dual meets, I don’t seem to get the competition but against Eastlake I definitely felt it. We were pushing each other,” said Nemecek, who was ranked fifth in the section.

The Eastlake vaulters must have felt the same way after besting Nemecek that day.

“I want to make it to the state meet, that’s my personal goal. I know I need to get over 14 to do that,” said Ziomek, who placed second last season in the Mesa League finals at 13-6 before going on to finish ninth at the CIF/Masters championships.

If Ziomek holds to his yearly progression, he might meet that goal. A four-year performer on the Titan track and field team, he vaulted 10-6 as a freshman and 12-6 as a sophomore. His best last year was 14-0. He bettered that mark with a clearance of 14-1 in Eastlake’s 116-20 dual meet victory April 15 and has since extended that to 14-6.

He said the biggest challenge to vaulting is mental. “People need to know how to rock back into the bend of the pole,” he said.

Ziomek, whose 14-6 ranked sixth best in the section before Nemecek eclipsed it at the Orange Glen Invitational, cleared 13-6 to take fourth place at the Mt. Sundevil Invitational March 27 and placed second with a clearance of 12-6 at the Elmer Runge Classic April 3 at Patrick Henry High School.

Ziomek is joined this season on the Eastlake pole vaulting team by Nick Nelson, West, Bobby Simpson and Aaron Doria. West placed fourth at last year’s league finals at 12-10 while Nelson tied for sixth place at 11-8.

Eastlake’s Marina Pastrana led the girls team’s vaulters with a conference-leading mark of 10-0 — a mark that ranked 11th best in the section. She won last year’s Mesa League title with a clearance of 9-6.

Pastrana cleared 9-0 to capture first place at the Elmer Runge Classic and was fifth at the deeper Mt. Carmel Invitational by clearing 9-6.

Who to watch
State medalist Troy Swier of Mar Vista is the favorite in any event he chooses to run. Look for him in the distance events. The South Bay League champion in both the mile and two-mile events last year, he finished fourth in the 1600-meter run at the 2003 state finals. Other distance standouts include Bonita Vista’s Ryan Becijos (defending Mesa League 3200 meters champion), Sweetwater’s Javier Diaz (defending Mesa League 800 champion) and Chula Vista’s Ivan Villarreal. Bonita Vista’s Eric Avila looks to conclude a sensational freshman season with an elite finish in the 3200 meters.

Top girls sprinters are Otay Ranch’s Britney Bennett and Trecia Owens, Castle Park’s LaQuisha Rodgers (defending South Bay League champions 100- and 200-meter dash champion) and Chula Vista’s Niki O’Neal (defending Mesa League 100 meters champion). Bonita Vista’s Joe Gaines is the returning boys Mesa League champion in the 400-meter dash.

Hilltop’s B.J. Roberson returns as the defending boys 110 high hurdles South Bay League champion while Hilltop’s Jameela Alneyadi returns as the girls champion in the mile.

In the weight events, Eastlake’s Solie Gonzales is the defending Mesa League shot put champion. Other Titan athletes earning showcase status this season include Lisa Malchow, who topped her heat of the girls 100-meter hurdles at the Mt. Carmel Invitational with a time of 16.14 and Esha McDowell, who won both the girls high jump (5-0) and triple jump (34-5) at the Elmer Runge Classic.