Santa Barbara High track & field wrapped up Spring Break by competing at the Simi Valley Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
“It was a great weekend of track and field,” Dons head coach Olivia Perdices said. “We had the opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best athletes in California and it brought out some big performances for us.”
The Santa Barbara High 4×400-meter relay squad of Kik Van Engelen, Matthias Everest, Christopher Lopez and Carter Battle earned a first-place finish to round out the competition on Saturday.
Battle had a strong individual day as well with lifetime bests in the long jump (21-1.25) and high jump (6-4), finishing second and fourth, respectively.
“[Battle] is back like he never left,” Perdices said. “Those are great numbers and his track season is barely getting started.”
Matthias Everest turned in a lifetime-best time of 2:02.86 for second place in the 800-meter race.
“[Everest] has been racing really well and picking up one PR after another,” Perdices said.
Malachi Johnston had a solid day in the throws, taking second place in both the shot put (48-2) and the discus (147-9). Emmanuel Malpica came in fifth in the discus at 133-3.
“It’s great to see both boys putting together consistently big throws,” Perdices said.
As for the girls, Elina Stump came in second place in the triple jump with a mark of 36-1.5. She also tallied a lifetime best of 17-3.5 in the long jump.
“[Stump] is still just a sophomore and out there every week lining up with some of the best girls in Southern California,” Perdices said.
In the Friday Distance Carnival, William Covington placed third in the 1,600-meter race with a lifetime best of 4:30.72.
“Will has been racing so well. I’m excited to see how the season plays out for him,” Perdices said.
The Dons will compete in the Crosstown Showdown against Dos Pueblos and San Marcos on Wednesday at Scott O’Leary Stadium at 3 p.m.