Track and Field: Aztecs and Trojans send multiple athletes to Prelims

BARSTOW — The Barstow High School track team looks to undergo a transformation after seven of its boys and girls runners qualified for the Division III prelim at Warren High School in Downey today.

That's good enough for the two track coaches, Mark Hassell and Jim Duarte, who said they felt they have experienced an off year with both teams.

“Everything was as expected,” Duarte said. “At this point in the season, you start taking a look at individuals and their performance, and find some satisfaction for the individual runner.”

Leading the way for the Aztecs in the DSL meet held at Ridgecrest was Anthony Solis, who continued his dominance from cross country with a new Desert Sky League record in the 3,200 meter run. Solis took a first place with a time of 9 minutes, 37.74.He barely beat out teammate Isaac Chavez, who finished in second place with a 9:49.86.

“Those two were right on top of each other,” Duarte said.

In the shot-put, Christian Jacobs won the event by throwing 41 feet, six inches. Wyatt Barnhart battled from a bruised back in the pole vault, winning with a jump of 11 feet, six inches.

“Those two kids have a lot of confidence in what they are doing,” Duarte said. “It wasn't based just on one meet; it was an overall level of performance that they've done. This performance is just going to give them that confidence.”

The girls track team had similiar results with runner Deanna Wilson and shot-putter Lacey Hill standing out on the girls side. Wilson led things for the Aztecs, winning the 100-meter hurdles in 16.8 seconds. In the pole vault, Heather Hooper took second with a leap of seven feet, six inches.

In the discus, Lacey Hill took third with 104 feet, four inches, trailing Burroughs' Kayla Kovar, who set a new DSL record with a throw of 150 feet, one inch.

She also took third in the shot put with a throw of 27 feet, 6.75 inches. Lotoya Henry took second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.33.

“I wasn't really surprised,” Hassell said. “I was, however, very pleased at how we did in our races. I think anything that we do at this point is icing on the cake.”

Of all of the performers, Hassell said he felt Wilson had some of the best times.

“We have a lot of people,” Hassell said. “It's nice whenever you are able to reward the ones that are working hard and able to give them some kind of bonus for all of the hard work that they have put in. It was a great ending to the season. That is something that I was hoping for as a track coach.”

Trojans improve from 2007 season

At the Desert Mountain League finals, the Silver Valley track team qualified six runners for the CIF-Southern Section Prelims that will be held today at Carpinteria High School.

“Our league is pretty competitive, and we are usually set high goals and try to surpass them,” coach Amy Campbell said. “My goal was to get four to qualify, and we were able to surpass that.”

On the boys side, the Silver Valley team qualified three boys. Josh Lute, Troizel Carr, and David Aponte all qualified in the 4X100 meter ralay. Aponte, who was named the DML Most Valueable Player, will also partcipate in the 300 hurdles, triple jump, and high jump. Tim Tims will be will running in three events including the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 300-meter dash.

On the girls side, Tanish Thomas qualified for the 800-meter run, and Anna Moody qualified for the 100-meter dash.

“I think we have a really good chance of making it to the CIF Finals,” Campbell said. “We are really hoping to go to the next round.”