LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) – Whether against Sacramento Valley League competition or 29 other teams at Chico’s Nor Cal Small School Invitational, the Pierce boy’s track team has found success at all levels so far this season.
Starting last week at Arostegui Stadium in Live Oak at the third SVL meet, the Bears accrued 149 points to win the varsity boys division, separating themselves from second place Live Oak by over 40 points.
Two double winners paced Pierce with Nathan McIntosh winning the 100 and 200 meters in times of 11.2 and 23.5 respectively, while Adrian Carillo swept the hurdle races finishing the 110-meter distance in 17.6 and the 300 meters in 45.8.
Also posting a top finish in an individual race was Erick Montanez, who concluded the 400 meters in a time of 53.3.
Pierce also picked up a win in the 4×100 relay with the team of Drew Burnum, David Aguirre, Montanez and McIntosh completing the race in a hand time of 44.5.
Adding to the Bears’ point total with second place finishes were Aguirre (11.4) in the 100 meters, Daniel Bustamante (39’5”) in shot put, Alfonso Orozco (133’1”) in discus and Burnum (5’4”) in high jump.
Meanwhile, SVL rival Colusa turned in some noteworthy performances as well, with Isaiah Travis winning the high jump after clearing 5’9” and Charlie Santana setting a personal record in long jump with a mark of 19’7.5”.
Additionally, the RedHawks had a trio of athletes garner second-place including Aiden Selover (11.4) in a tie in the 100 meters, Benji Granados at the 3200 distance with a personal best time of 10:57.7 and William England setting a new personal record of 37’10” in the triple jump.
Both teams then participated two days later in Chico, where Montanez (53.11) crossed the line first in the 400 and the Bears’ 4 x 100 relay team ran their fastest time yet, a 44.58, to claim victory.
Travis won the high jump with a mark of 5’8”.
In the varsity girls’ competition, neither Pierce nor Colusa recorded any top three finishes at the Nor Cal Invitational, although both did at the SVL meet in Live Oak.
For the Bears, Karina Grajedra was a double winner completing the 800 meters in a time of 2:49.0 and the 1600 meters in 6:06.5, while Macey Myers (1:07.2) raced to a narrow victory in 400 meters and Carla Moreno (2:56.0) was second in the 800.
As for the RedHawk girls, Danica Chavez (1:07.4) was second in the 400 meters, while Rajdeep Shoker ran to a pair of second place finishes with a 6:08.5 in the 1600 and a 14:33.6 in the 3200.
Up next for both Pierce and Colusa is the West Valley Invitational in Cottonwood.