SHS senior nearly matches PR in 800 meters; also, Lady Acorns
place sixth in Quicksilver Classic
ARCADIA — Alan Rios has a month and a half before he can try to execute his seasonlong goal of winning the 800 meters in the Central Coast Section Championship meet.
Rest assured, the Sobrato High School senior will be ready to go May 28.
That much was clear Saturday in Los Angeles where Rios placed fourth in the top heat and fourth overall at the Arcadia Invitational, one of the state’s largest prep track and field events. Rios’ time of one minute, 56.22 seconds — a season best — was less than two seconds off the winning mark (1:54.81) and a half second off his personal-record time set at CCS Finals a year ago.
Several locals spent Saturday competing in the “Don Bell” Quicksilver Classic at Leland High School. The four-person Live Oak High School girls contingent placed sixth out of 27 schools and won two events, and the SHS girls finished 19th.
The Lady Acorns were led by senior sprinter Erika Rodriguez, who won her first 400-meter race in 59.46 and took second in the 200 meters (27.28). Classmate Stephanie Armstrong cleared 5 feet, 2 inches to take first overall in high jump for the second straight weekend.
Freshman Fa Saulala and senior Nikki Dronek both were in the ring; Saulala placed fourth in shot put with a PR throw of 35 feet even, and Dronek was 19th (23-05). Dronek also had the 15th best mark in discus (73-11).
Marrisa Benjamin headlined the Lady Bulldogs, taking fifth in the 100 meters (13.58) and fourth in the 200 (28.27).
The Sobrato girls also sent three pole vaulters. Jennifer Hinman launched 8 feet even to finish eighth, and freshmen Kayleen Meldrum and Amanda Bodgen tied for 16th (6-06).
The Live Oak boys placed 10th with as many athletes. Jacob Daw took third in high jump (5-08) and was joined on the podium by his team’s 1,600-meter relay, which placed second in 3:32.59.
The Acorns came away with eight other top-20 marks. Taylor Alonzo provided two of those individually, placing 14th in the 100 (11.98) and 18th in long jump (17-03). T.J. Ornduff did the same in the 200 (18th, 24.88) and 400 (14th, 54.71) and also clocked the 25th fastest (12.37) 100-meter sprint. Jacob Montoya was 11th in the 400 (53.83), and Kenny Lee 14th in long jump (17-06). Dominic Leach leaped 34-10 in triple jump to take 18th.
Live Oak’s mile relay placed third (46.21) in its heat and eight out of nine teams.
The Sobrato boys’ lone track entry was senior Ralph Jackson, who raced to eighth in the 400 (53.51) and 19th in the 200 (24.94).
Also for the Bulldogs, Billy Berry cleared 8-06 in pole vault, which was good for seventh.
