SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Track & Field

Metro Conference 2K5 Report

Castle Park runners setting records

Posted April 7, 2005

Julia Hernandez, who finished second among South Bay League girl runners at last fall’s Metro Conference cross country championships, continues to have an outstanding debut track season after setting a new school record in the 3,200-meter run at last Saturday’s Trabuco Hills Invitational.

Hernandez ran identical 1,600-meter legs in 5:59 to complete the 3,200 run in 11:58.44. She ran a personal record of 5:33 earlier in the day in the 1,600 event.

"It was just amazing to see her going under 12 minutes for the first time. I am very surprised to see her run that fast for two miles, since her mileage is only 25 miles per week," said proud father Hector Hernandez, an assistant coach with the team and seven-time All-American collegiate runner.

The Trojans also came away from the Trabuco Hills meet with a school record in the boys 4x1600-meter relay of 18:58.00. Relay legs were turned in by Jorge Diaz (4:34), Diego Martinez (4:41), Enrique Silva (4:52) and Eli Ledezma (4:49). Castle Park had an average time of 4:44 per runner.

"It’s nice to have seven guys running under five minutes and frustrating at the same time to decide who is going to run the 4x1600 meters. They are very close to each other," the elder Hernandez said.

Hilltop's Munoz wins middle-distance showdown

The Castle Park Trojans’ two mid-distance aces — Hernandez and Gonzales — had the chance to compete head-to-head against the league’s reigning distance queen, Hilltop senior Selena Munoz, in Wednesday’s South Bay League dual meet. The trio’s matchup in the 800 and 1,600 meters did not disappoint.

Hernandez led after the first lap of the 1,600 before Gonzales made a big move on the third lap. With 150 meters to go, Hernandez held the lead. However, Munoz’ speed proved better in the final 30 meters, with the race going to the Hilltop runner in 5:43. Hernandez timed 5:45 and Gonzales 5:52.

In the 800 run, Gonzales went out in 1:08 but again Munoz passed up her competition in the final 20 meters. The tale of the tape: Munoz (2:39), Gonzales (2:40) and Hernandez (2:54).

Hernandez came away with the victory in the 3,200 run in 13:18. Gonzales was third in 14:05. Hilltop, however, handily won the team score, 99-27.

The dramatic finishes in both the girls 800 and 1,600, however, brought the meet to a more personal level.

"To me, it was very special moment because we got to see our top three South Bay middle distance girls compete and I had no doubt that Selena, Julia and Veronica would push each other to their limit. Those three girls are awesome student athletes and to have them together at our track was something to admire," Hector Hernandez said.

In the boys distance events, Castle Park’s cross country standouts soared with 1-2-3 finishes in an 87-40 victory. Ledezma and Martinez both timed 2:10 and Edgar Medina clocked 2:12 in the 800 run while Diaz was first in the 1,600 in 4:54, Martinez was second (4:55) and Medina was third (4:56). Diaz finished the 3,200 in 11:14.

Metro runners stand out at Elmer Runge Invitational

With a month gone by in the high school track and field season, a number of South County athletes have begun to make a name for themselves in San Diego Section-wide invitationals. That name-dropping continued at the Elmer Runge Classic April 2 at Patrick Henry High School.

Sweetwater’s Ernest Pierce turned in the top boys long jump of 21 feet, 7 inches while snaring the fourth-fastest time pf 22.77 seconds in the boys 400 dash.Red Devil teammate Donald Groves posted the second-best mark (50 feet, 3.75 inches) in the boys shot put and the fifth-best mark (131-5) in the boys discus throw.

Pierce’s nearest challenger in the long jump was West Hills’ E.J. Brown, who jumped 21-0 to win his flight. Patrick Henry’s James Malone was third overall (second in Pierce’s flight) with a mark of 20-11.

Groves trailed the winning shot put mark of 52-5 turned in by Rob Smithson of La Jolla by just more than two feet.

Marian Catholic’s Janelle Millner was second in the girls 400-meter run, timing 1:00.93 in the fastest flight of four heats. Crusader teammate Shanice Howard won the third heat in 1:02.50 to post the fourth fastest time in the event.

Millner finished with the eighth-best time in the 400-meter dash in 27.58 while Howard (2:33.55) finished eighth in the girls 800 run.

In other top performances, Sweetwater’s Azael Gomez was third in the boys 800 run (2:07.13) and fourth (4:38.55) in the boys 1,600-meter run while Chula Vista’s Gabby Garcia recorded the third-best girls shot put (35 feet, 3 inches).

Chula Vista’s Virginia Madero was fourth in the girls 100-meter dash with a clocking of 13.14 -- 0.45 second off the winning time of University City’s Shakara Lott (12.29). Madero came back to post the fifth-fastest time overall in the 400 run in 27.28 (once again behind Lott’s winning time of 24.79).

Sweetwater’s Ferrari Welch (15.84) was fifth in the boys 110 hurdles while Chula Vista’s Leo Holmes was fifth in his heat of the boys 400-meter run (seventh fastest time overall). Welch (44.84) won his heat in the boys 300 hurdles (ninth fastest overall). Holmes later ran the 11th fastest time of 23.52 in the boys 400 dash.

Chula Vista’s Roberto Hernandez was seventh in the 1,600 run (4:42.88) and ninth in the 800 run (2:07.46). Spartan teammate Mikkel Conver(2:08.86) was 11th in the shorter distance.

Sweetwater’s Jeron Blackwell (11.58) was eighth in his heat of the boys 100 meters (11th fastest overall).

In frosh/soph events, Sweetwater’s Raul Isais (4:55.66) was fifth in the boys 1,600 run.

In other performances, Sweetwater’s Karina Rios timed 2:34.77 to win the B-heat in the girls 800-meter run while Sweetwater’s Francisco Villasana was second in the boys 1,600-meter B flight in 4:51.33 and ninth in the boys 3,200-meter A flight in 10:40.27. Red Devil teammate Abraham Alem (16.64) was second in the boys 110 hurdles second flight while SuHi’s Alex Castaneda (55.65) was second in the boys 400 meters second flight.

Sweetwater (4:46.05) was sixth in the 4x400 girls relay while Chula Vista (4:58.15) was eighth.