SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Track & Field

East County athletes post standout marks at prestigious Mt. Carmel Invitational

The marks registered over the course of the history of the Mt. Carmel Sundevil Invitational are almost hallowed. This year’s event, held March 26, produced several meet records as many of the top athletes from the San Diego Section converged on the Rancho Penasquitos school to do track and field battle alongside elite athletes from out of the section.

Grossmont Conference athletes held their own. Helix’s Dax Danns won the boys 100-meter dash in 10.76 seconds while Monte Vista’s Daniella Thu captured the girls discus with a throw of 139 feet, 2 inches. Thu also placed sixth in the girls shot put with a put of 34-7.5.

Other high achievers included Granite Hills’ Chris Costa, Monte Vista’s Kyle Briggs and Helix’s Sharika Thompson, Janie James and Chastity Toilolo.

Costa finished second in the boys 110 high hurdles with a time of 15.19 and posted a second-place finish in the 300 intermediate hurdles in 39.39. The times were bests among section athletes on the day.

Briggs placed second in the boys long jump with a jump of 21 feet, 9.5 inches, while James finished second in the girls 400 dash with a section-leading time of 57.58 on the day and Toilolo was second in the girls shot put with a put of 40-1.25.

Thompson placed second in the girls 300 low hurdles with the top section time of the day of 46.84. She was also third in the girls 100 hurdles with a section-best of 15.47 on the day.

James, a transfer from Monte Vista who had to sit out all last season, also had the second-best section 200 dash mark of 25.93 but placed seventh overall inclusive of runners from outside the section.

The parade of good marks continued for East County participants. Granite Hills’ Scott Finley finished third in the boys pole vault with a height of 14 feet, 11 inches, while West Hills’ Ryan Shumaker placed third in the boys discus (155-3) and fourth in the boys shot put (50-7.5). Valhalla’s Leslie Noiseaux finished third in the girls high jump (5-2).

Finley, who won the Bronco Invitational the previous week with a height of 16-0, finished behind the new section record vault of 16-8 turned in by El Camino’s Derek Scott. Finely placed second to Scott at last year’s Division I section championship meet, with both clearing 15-6 to qualify for the state meet.

Granite Hills’ Curtis Smith finished with the fourth-best boys high jump of 6-2 behind the meet-record setting jump of 6-8.5 turned in by La Jolla’s Nathan Gwozdz.

Mt. Miguel’s Karlin Stewart placed fourth in the boys long jump (21-7.25) while Monte Vista’s Roberto Archibold finished fifth in the boys 300 hurdles (41.32) and Monarch teammate Jennifer Gamble finished fourth in the girls triple jump (34-0.5).

Monte Vista’s Virdal Moon was fifth in the boys 100 dash (11.16). Valhalla’s Anthony Bareno was fifth in the boys 3,200 meters (9:48.56). West Hills’ E.J. Brown recorded the fifth-best boys triple jump (42-5.75).

Monte Vista’s Walter Diego was sixth in the boys discus (143-7). Granite Hills’ Josh Sandoval was seventh in the boys 3,200 run (9:49.72).

In boys relay events, Granite Hills (3:30.28) was fifth in the 4x400 relay (second among section teams) while Monte Vista (43.91) was seventh in the 4x100 relay (fourth among section teams)

In girls relay events, Helix as (50.68) seventh in the girls 4x100 relay (fourth among section teams) while Granite Hills (4:20.87) was eighth in the girls 4x400 relay (fourth among section teams). Trailing Granite Hills were El Cajon Valley (10th, 4:21.77), El Capitan (11th, 4:21.78) and Monte Vista (12th, 4:22.06).

Up next on the invitational schedule are the Elmer Runge Classic at Patrick Henry High School and the Falcon Relays at Torrey Pines High School, both on Saturday, April 2.

Nineteen team entries have been accepted for the Elmer Runge Classic, including those from Granite Hills, Helix and West Hills. Also competing at Patrick Henry will be Calexico, Central Union, Chula Vista, Clairemont, Coronado (Henderson, Nev.), Hoover, La Jolla, Madison, Marian Catholic, Mira Mesa, Poway, St. Augustine, Sweetwater, University City, University of San Diego High School and the host Patriots.

The meet, which is designed to foster individual development of all athletes (hence, there are no team awards, starts at noon.