Locals run strong in Norwalk
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

The CIFSouthern Section Divisional Finals took place last weekend in Norwalk and many athletes from the area posted top times.

Senior Cory Primm of Westlake High defended his Division II title in the 800 when he ran a time of 1:50.90, a state record that had stood for 27 years. Primm also won in the 1,600, where he posted a mark of 4:14.42.

Westlake's 1,600 relay team led by Primm, along with seniors Cooper Shockley, Max Macat and Mauro Ormedilla, took third place at 3:19.28, but the time was good enough to break the school record, which stood at 3:20. Overall, the Warriors came in fifth place with a score of 26 points.

"I ran a faster time at the Arcadia Invitational earlier in the year, so I knew I could beat the record in the 800," Primm said. "I felt really good running that race, but I was more surprised at how well we did in the relay event and how we broke a school record. I'm more proud of that event because it is a team event."

Other Marmonte League teams doing well on the day included Royal High, who saw senior Hudson Andrews come in first place in the Division I 1,600 race with a time of 4:11.02. Teammate Jun Riechl came in fifth place at 4:18.97.

The Highlanders' success continued in the Division I 3,200 race, where junior Alex Routh finished in fourth place while senior Michael Cybulski finished in sixth. Overall, the Highlanders came in ninth place in the boys' Division I rankings with 22 points.

Anna Sperry of Simi Valley continued her storied career by coming in second place in both the girls' Division II 1,600 and 3,200. Sperry's time in the 1,600 was 4:45.56, while she posted a time of 10:17.22 in the 3,200. Freshman Liberty Miller placed eighth in the 1,600 at a mark of 5:07.15.

While Sperry did well in Division II, Calabasas was strong in Division III thanks to juniors Brittany Harper and Clayton Graham. Harper finished in third place in the 400 with a time of 55.42. Harper also placed third in the 200 with a time of 24.80. Graham helped lead the boys in the 800 by placing seventh with a mark of 1:58.80.

Newbury Park was led by seniors Patrick Alami and Amanda Lee. Alami finished in seventh place in the Division II 110 hurdles with a time of 14.79. Alami finished third in the high jump at 6-04. Lee contributed for the Panthers by placing sixth in the 300 hurdles with a time of 45.37 and seventh in the high jump with a mark of 5-01.

Tying Lee for seventh in the high jump was Moorpark's Rachel Olinyk. Freshman Lauren Rohach came in seventh place in the long jump with a mark of 16-03.75. Nick Karam was second in the triple jump with a mark of 46-02. Tazwell Finley was part of a fourway tie for first in the pole vault with a mark of 14-03.

Tying Finley in the pole vault was Thousand Oaks senior Jeff Altizer. Junior Garrett Demirjian contributed for the Lancers by tying for sixth in the high jump with a mark of 6-02.

Agoura's Derek Johnson won the Division II discus throw with a mark of 196-04.

In the girls Division III standings, Oak Park placed sixth overall with 31 points. Leading the way for the Eagles was freshman Tayler Johnson.

Johnson placed sixth in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.63, good enough for a new school record. She also placed fifth in the 100 with a time of 12.47 and second in the high jump with a mark of 5-03.

"I'm a little surprised she is doing this well as only a freshman," Oak Park head coach Kevin Smith said. "But at the same time, you see her in practice and you can tell she is something really special."

Johnson wasn't the only one helping out Oak Park on Saturday. Junior Courtney Lightfoot placed seventh in the 1,600 with a time of 5:06.92. Lightfoot was one of three Eagles dominating the 3,200 by placing ninth, while senior Bree Strenkowski and freshman Melissa Skiba also placed in the top 10.

Aubree Stark led OPHS in the pole vault by placing first with a mark of 11-06.

Although the girls' team performed well, the boys' team at Oak Park was no slouch either.

Junior Doug Bettisworth came in second place in the 800 with a time of 1:55.69. Senior Kareem Maddox placed second in the high jump with a mark of 6-04.

While the Oak Park girls' placed sixth in the Division III standings, Oaks Christian placed fifth in the girls' Division IV rankings with 29 points, just ahead of La Reina High, who came in sixth place with 28 points.

Oaks Christian was led by junior Roseanne Fleming, who came in first place in the 1,600 with a time of 5:04.10. Fleming continued her great day by coming in fourth place in the 800 with a time of 2:18.18. Junior Shannon Armstrong placed fifth in the high jump, while junior Lauren Radke placed first in the pole vault with a mark of 11-00.

On the boys' side, the Lions had contributions from Malcolm Jones, who placed fifth in the 110 hurdles. Junior Chris Owusu placed second in the 100 with a time of 10.66, and third in the 200 with a time of 21.71. Jules Sharpe placed fourth in the high jump with a mark of 6-02.

La Reina placed seventh in the 4x100 relay with a time of 50.29. Leading the way for the Regents was Sasha Blanchard, who placed fourth in the 100 hurdles with a time of 14.58, third in the 800 at a mark of 2:16.78 and seventh in the 300 hurdles with a time of 46.64.

Freshmen were in full force for La Reina, as Sarah Pearson placed fourth in the 3,200 with a time of 11:31.92, while Rosie Spinks finished in sixth place in the 400.