SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Track & Field

Eastlake, Otay Ranch double up in winning league dual titles

By Phillip Brents
Posted May 12, 2005

The Eastlake High School boys and girls track and field teams scored a rare double — in Mesa League competition, at least – by sweeping to dual meet league championships this spring. None was more proud than first-year head coach Joe Stubbs, who said he was concerned about finding enough student-athletes at the beginning of the season to fill in team depth.

“We had graduated a lot of good seniors last year. We were shaking the trees trying to find athletes for both the boys and girls teams,” said Stubbs, whose team will be out to cement its dominance at Friday’s Mesa League championship finals at Otay Ranch High School.

The South Bay League will hold its finals concurrently. Selected field events start at 3:30 p.m. Running events start at 5 p.m.

Stubbs, who had served as an assistant coach before taking over the reins of both the cross country and track and field teams this season, said he recruited players from the school’s basketball team and roller hockey team as well as made discoveries on the spot in physical education classes.

“We put together a group of kids who were dedicated and hungry,” Stubbs said. “For me, it was a pleasure to work with a group of student-athletes who were willing to do what you asked of them, never complained and did their best.”

The dual meet showdown that gave Eastlake its twin banners was set up May 4 when the Titans hosted Sweetwater in the final regular season meet. Both the Eastlake and SuHi boys teams entered the high profile encounter with undefeated Mesa League records; the Titan girls team was seeking another win to complete an undefeated campaign and secure sole possession of this year’s league championship.

Eastlake’s 90-55 victory in the boys meet broke Sweetwater’s string of six consecutive league championships. The Titans won the girls meet by a 103-28 score.

Many of Eastlake’s “finds” were put on display for the conference as a whole during Tuesday’s conference prelims at Otay Ranch.

Anette Dela Rosa, one of the favorites in the girls 300-meter hurdles, is a freshman who was discovered in physical education class.

Freshman Ravin Nash stepped off the basketball court while Casey Shotwell entered Thursday’s junior varsity finals as one of the favorites in the boys sprints.

Field events were byed to Friday’s finals. Luc Ruiz leads the team’s pole vaulters with a height of 14-0. Esha McDowell tied a career best with a clearance of 5-4 in the girls high jump in the dual meet against Sweetwater.

Anthony Feaster owns a season-best triple jump mark of 43-1.5. Dante Franks ranks among the conference’s top sprinters.
Stubbs’ tree-shaking looks to have set up Eastlake nicely for the future. The Titan coach estimated the makeup of this year’s girls team to be about 30 percent freshmen, 30 percent sophomores, 20 percent juniors and 10 percent seniors. Stubbs estimated the boys team to be comprised of 25 percent freshmen, 30 percent sophomores, 30 percent juniors and 15 percent seniors.

The San Diego Section prelims and finals follow the Metro Conference finals on May 21 and May 28 at Mt. Carmel High School. The top three place-finishers in each event at the CIF finals, plus those who meet pre-determined time standards or distance marks, qualify for the state championships June 3-4 in Sacramento.

“I think we’re going to do well at the league finals. These kids are very young. But going beyond that they might be a year away. But with athletes this young, you never know,” Stubbs said.

The Titans will not be the only team high-stepping it on Friday. Second-year Otay Ranch swept both the boys and girls dual meet titles in the South Bay League this season. The Mustangs are still without a senior class.

Otay Ranch head coach Ian Cumming said he felt very fortunate to be surrounded by such a hard working and talented group of student-athletes.

Britney Bennett is the team’s force in the sprints along with teammate Kandy Wilmore while Charay Savage ranks among the section leaders in the girls hurdles. The Mustangs have traditionally been strong in the distances.

“We have been lucky to have a group of very talented young ladies and men to coach. More importantly, though, we are happy that they are such great people. Also, I can’t stress enough what an incredible job our other coaches do of preparing our athletes to compete at a very high level. I would like to close my comments by saying thank you to our kids, coaches, school staff and our administrators for setting a climate where success is not just encouraged but supported,” Cumming said.

Mesa League standings
Boys: 1. Eastlake; 2. Sweetwater; 3. Bonita Vista; 4. Chula Vista; 5. Southwest; 6. Montgomery.
Girls: 1. Eastlake; 2. Bonita Vista; 3. Chula Vista; 4. Sweetwater; 5. Southwest; 6. Montgomery.