PARADISE, CA (MPG) – Sacramento Valley League track teams made their way to Paradise last Wednesday where despite the increase in altitude, the Pierce varsity boys and Colusa varsity girls bested the competition in their respective divisions.
Continuing their quest to defend their Northern Section Division III title, the Bears looked strong, taking the top two spots in the 100 meters, long jump and triple jump in addition to winning the 4 x 100 relay and finishing first in both hurdles races.
Drew Burnum (11.59) and Jonathan Vazquez Hernandez (11.60-PR) went one-two respectively in the 100, then combined with Thomas Sweet and Nate Macintosh for a team best time of 44.82 in the 4 x 100 relay.
Continuing to finish ahead of the pack in the hurdles, JR Figueroa finished first in both the 110 and the 300 meter races after posting subsequent times of 17.7 and 45.26.
Vazquez Hernandez won the long jump with a mark of 19-04.5, while teammate Jamison Porter’s 19-02.5 was good for second.
In the triple jump, Sweet (40-10) took the top spot and was followed by Porter (38-03).
Having accumulated 197 points at the meet, it was a runaway win for Pierce, although fourth place Colusa had a double winner in Benji Granados who continued to dominate the distance events, crossing the line first in the 1600 in a time of 4:52.63, then setting the pace in the 3200 with a 10:33.31.
Meanwhile, the RedHawk girls edged Willows 107.7-103.5, although complete individual results were not available.
Colusa did however sweep the relays with Shaheen Orr, Aaliyah Williams, Itzel Cruz and Kendall Marengo taking the 4 x 100 relay in a time of 52.56, while Danica Chavez, Josslyn Garcia, Marengo and Cruz finished the 4 x 400 race in 4:37.17.
Orr (19.44) was also first in the 100 meter hurdles.
Third place Pierce had three race winners including Lyla Maldonado (2:44.49) in the 800, Karina Grajedra (6:12.85) in the 1600 and Alina Rodriguez (14:59.52-PR) in the 3200.
This week the Bears and RedHawks were in Winters on May 8 for the SVL Championships.