Going against crosstown rivals raised the level of competitiveness among the track & field athletes at Wednesday’s All-City Meet at Santa Barbara High’s Cunningham Track at Peabody Stadium.
The reaction of Santa Barbara High multi-event standout Davis Flanagin winning the boys 100 meters exemplified the thrill of beating local Channel League rivals. Flanagin held his arms out and expressed a feeling of satisfaction after finishing ahead of San Marcos’ Evan Perez and Dylan Orquiola in a time of 11.11.
“These cross-town meets are fun, lots of close finishes and great competition all over the track and field,” said Santa Barbara coach Olivia Perdices.
Flanagin was a triple winner as he also captured the long jump (22-0.50) and triple jump (42-11.75). He was fourth in the 200 meters.
“That’s a nice day for him and a good lead-in to him competing in the Invitational long and triple jump at the Arcadia Invitational Saturday,” said Perdices.
In an exciting boys 400, Conor Dolan of Dos Pueblos out-kicked Jonas Strand of San Marcos in the last 50 meters to win in 52.06. Strand’s time was 52.30.
Makenzie Fauver of San Marcos was in terrific form as she won three events and finished second in another.
Fauver dominated in the 300 and 100 hurdles (48.97 and 15.84, respectively), cleared 4-9 to win the high jump and triple jumped 33-3 to place second behind Santa Barbara’s Gianna Stump, who posted a personal record of 36-2.50.
“Makenzie continues to dominate the hurdle races,” said San Marcos coach Marilyn Hantgin. “ She is undefeated in the hurdles the last three years. She is such a valuable part of our team.”
Perdices was thrilled to see Stump set a PR in the triple jump.
“That was a huge jump. She’s been so close all season and it came together for her today,” said the coach.
Stump also cleared a PR of 4-5 in the high jump
Santa Barbara’s Anne Knecht looked powerful in winning the girls 400 in a personal best of 1.01.50. She came back a little more than a hour later to capture the 3200 (PR of 11.49.59) for an out-of-the-ordinary track double.
“It’s an odd combination of events, but Anne has a lot of range and we were trying to work on some different things. Both are personal bests,” said Perdices.
San Marcos sprinter Ava Carter showed that she’s getting stronger as the weather warms. She won the 100 in 12.79 and the 200 in 26.27.
“Ava is looking better and better. She had a late start to her season. She’s looking stronger and stronger,” said Hantgin.
San Marcos sophomore hurdler Ethan Ball was the class of the boys hurdles events, sweeping the 110 (16.18) and 300 events (42.00).
Dos Pueblos’ Ellie Gleason doubled in the 1600 (5:27.28) and 800 (2:28.71). Kiala Haas of San Marcos was second in both races and anchored the Royals’ winning 4×400 relay.
Dos Pueblos won the boys 4×100 and 4×400 relays. The 4×100 team of Cole Adair, Gabriel Runyen, Joel Felix and Dylan Orquiola won in 44.06. The time places them No. 2 in league rankings behind Oxnard’s 43.49.
The Chargers’ 4×400 quartet of Andy Brennan, Andrew Gentry, Conor Dolan and Dylan Orquiola won in 3:35.91, which ranks third in the league.
San Marcos thrower Clara Tracewell won the shot put (34-5) and discus (99-3) to give the Royals four athletes with multiple individual event victories.
In the team scoring, San Marcos swept its rivals. For the girls, the Royals beat Santa Barbara, 86-41, and Dos Pueblos, 97-30. The boys won 66-61 over Santa Barbara and 70-57 over DP
Santa Barbara’s girls beat DP 80-47 and the Dons boys won 64-60.
The San Marcos teams swept Dos Pueblos.
“It was a total team effort today,” said Hantgin. “We were down a few key athletes, and the rest of the team had to step up to score some points.”
The pole vault isn’t scored in the Channel League, but Santa Barbara’s Sierra Gronquist won the girls event with a personal best 10-0.
“She’s had some great attempts at that height and it was awesome for her to get it today,” said Perdices.
In the boys pole vault, Dos Pueblos’ Eoghan Gloster and Joey Snodgress both set PRs. Gloster cleared 12 feet to win the event and Snodgress was second at 11 feet.
“Today was a great day for a track meet,” said Hantgin. “The weather was nice and there was great competition all around by all three teams.”