Staying on Track

Sierra’s Thomas Trzcinski, Manteca’s Isaac Macias, Manteca’s Phillip Herrera, and Sonora’s Steven Grolle battle for position at the start of the varsity boys 800 meters during Saturday’s Valley Oak League

By Jonamar Jacinto Sports Editor


Phillip Herrera and Emmanuel Elijah opted not to join their senior classmates at Magic Mountain Thursday night.

They instead stayed home to make a little magic of their own during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV/V Finals at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

Herrera, Manteca High’s distance standout, clocked personal best times in winning the 800- and 1,600-meter races, and Elijah led meet host Sierra with three top-two medals in the sprints.

The top five placers in every event are guaranteed berths to next week’s SJS Masters Meet at Elk Grove High. Athletes who meet at-large marks also qualify.

El Dorado (61 points) held off Sierra (56) to capture its second straight Division IV boys championship. Cosumnes Oaks earned the Division IV girls title. Manteca’s Valley Oak League champion boys team was also in the hunt, finishing fifth with 42 points.

The Division V titles went to the Modesto Christian boys and Riverbank girls. .

Injuries kept Herrera off the track for most of the 2012 season, but on Thursday he made up for lost time. He opened up a big lead over the final 250 meters in the mile, finishing in 4 minutes, 26.88 seconds.

Herrera then entered the 800 as an alternate after Sonora’s Steven Grolle scratched to concentrate on the 3,200, which he ended up winning.

“I thought I was just doing the mile, but my coach (Rick Cuevas) said to go ahead and do the 800 one last time, go all out and use the next week to recover,” he said.

Thursday’s 800 race is likely going to be his last, and he made it count with a new PR of 1:57.63. He will focus on advancing to the state meet in the mile next week, a feat achieved by his older brother Vincent in 2010.

Elijah’s busy night started with the 4x100 relay, which includes Jake Supinger, Jordan Lewis and anchor Nchekube Uwakwe. They barreled through swirling crosswinds to break their own meet record (42.50), set in Tuesday’s preliminaries, in 42.20. The previous record of 42.74 was posted by the 2011 Sierra relay. The current quartet’s season best time stands at 42.15.

Elijah went on to win the 100 (11.04), narrowly beating Weston Ranch’s John McDonald (11.05). Elijah hoped to finally get the better of the talented sophomore from Texas.

“We’ve been battling neck-and-neck the past few weeks,” McDonald said. “I had a bad start off the blocks and relied on my pickup speed to get back in the race. (Elijah) just pulled through and got it in the last second with his length and stride. Nothing I could do about it.”

McDonald dominated the 200, his strongest event, crossing the finish in 22.28 seconds despite a heavy headwind. Elijah was the runner-up in 22.49.

“He’s a heck of a kid,” Elijah said of McDonald. “He’s going to be scary his senior year.”

Elijah doesn’t regret skipping the senior trip.

“I had been (debating) about that, but I just couldn’t let my team down,” he said. “I came here and did what I wanted to do. We got the (4x100) record, I won the 100 and took second in the 200 — I’m real happy with how I did today.”

One of the meet’s favorites came away mildly disappointed. Sierra junior pole vaulter Onix Paredes looked to defend his home pit with three worthy challengers coming from El Dorado. Paredes settled for a second-place vault of 14 feet, 7 inches — well off his personal best of 16-00. He was in danger of falling out of the top three until he cleared 14-01 on his final attempt.

El Dorado’s Matt Johnson set personal records four times and won at 15-04.

“It’s a stepping-stone process,” Paredes said. “You’re going to have bad days, but right now it’s about the upcoming meet. There’s no point in being stuck on one day, you have to look at the bigger picture.

“I understand what it’s like to be in the zone, so I give (Johnson) his props; he’s having a real good day.”

Manteca sophomores Carl Chandler (43-06) and Lechi Nkwocha (43-07.75) set personal records while taking second and third in the triple jump, respectively. Daniel Clemons placed second in the shot put (48-04).

East Union’s Jordan McNeal sprinted to two top-three finishes, placing second in the girls 100 (12.62) and third in the 200 (26.79). Renee Royster-West of Weston Ranch was second in the 200 (26.67).

Sierra’s Nicholas Valdez advances in both hurdle events, finishing third in the 110 (15.36) and fourth in the 300 (41.13).

Ripon High harrier Eleanor Waters also moves on in multiple events. She took sixth in the mile (5:18.75) but qualifies with an at-large berth, and she placed fourth in the 3,200 (11:38.07). Teammate Taylor Spence competed in three events but qualified in just the 300 hurdles (third, 47.15).

Also qualifying for Masters were: East Union’s Haley Cook (girls 400, fifth place, 1:00.56), Manteca’s Regan Both (girls 200, fifth, 27.46), Sierra’s Mason Merilles (boys shot put, fourth, 45-10.50) and Lathrop’s Loreal Taylor (girls high jump, fourth, 4-11).

Jaliya Williams (long jump), Valerie Nestor (shot put) and Lewis (long jump), all of Sierra, qualified for Masters on Tuesday, as did Ripon high jumper Bryan Vincent.

Sprinting Ahead

By Jonamar Jacinto Sports Editor


The Valley Oak League isn’t traditionally known for its sprinting, but the 2013 class is poised to make some noise.

Led by Weston Ranch’s John McDonald, the area’s top short-distance runners turned in some impressive times in Saturday’s VOL Championships held at Sierra High.

McDonald blazed to a time of 10.82 seconds in the 100-meter dash and backed that up with a 21.91 in the 200. His 100 mark puts him at fourth fastest in the Sac-Joaquin Section, according to times posted on Athletic.net. The sophomore’s season best 200 time of 21.89 is ranked No. 2 in the section. He also helped the Cougars’ 4x100 relay qualify for next week’s SJS Division IV-V Preliminaries with a third-place finish.

The top three performers in each event automatically advance for the divisional meet that will also be hosted by Sierra on May 14 and 16. Competitors can also qualify by meeting or surpassing at-large standards.

Emmanuel Elijah spearheaded the Sierra boys 4x100 team’s head-turning effort. The section’s No. 1 quartet dominated a competitive field in 42.16 seconds. Elijah — the runner-up to McDonald in the 100 and 200 — was joined by Jordan Lewis, Jayson Manuta and Nchekube Uwakwe.

East Union sophomores Haley Cook and Jordan McNeal each qualified in two individual events while earning VOL titles. Both were part of a loaded group in the 200 won by Weston Ranch’s Renee Royster-West (26.15). McNeal took second, and Cook finished fifth but moves on as an at-large entry. Cook garnered the gold in the 400 (1:01.51), as did McNeal in the 100 (12.31). Both of East Union’s girls relays also advance.

Phillip Herrera of Manteca High paced area distance runners with first places in the 800 (2:04.35) and 1,600 (4:28.43). He and McDonald are the only Manteca Unified competitors to win multiple events.

Sierra led area schools with the most first-place finishes. Nicholas Valdes won the 300 hurdles (41.44) and was second in the 110. Jaliya Williams is another two-event qualifier after claiming the girls long jump (15 feet, 10 inches) and taking third in the triple jump.

Onix Paredes and Jojo Macias went 1 and 2 in the boys pole vault, respectively. Paredes took it easy, as his first-place mark of 13-00 is 3 feet shorter than his section-leading measurement. Also in field events, the Valeries shined in the shot put with Valerie Nestor winning with a 37-foot toss and Valerie Westover ending up second.

Manteca’s Daniel Clemons was the boys shot put victor (49-3 ¾), while Loreal Taylor won the girls high jump (5-00) to become Lathrop High’s first varsity track and field champion.



Frosh-Soph
Lathrop High’s Delicia Higares was among the meet’s top lower-level performers Saturday. She won the 100 and 200 while leading the Spartans’ mile relay to a title.

Mahir Pepic of Manteca doubled up in the distance events, winning the mile- and two-mile races.

Other first-place finishers from the area were: East Union’s Humberto Andrade (boys triple jump), Olivia Vezaldenos (girls high jump), Maliah Watson (girls shot put) and Cassidy Smith (discus); Sierra’s Johnny Machado (boys 300 hurdles) and Anthony Santiago (boys shot); Manteca’s Trevor Crippen (3,200); and Lathrop’s Terrina Phillips (400, 4x400).

BACK TO BACK VOL TITLE WINS

BACK TO BACK VOL TITLE WINS




TRADITIONAL END OF SEASON CRAZY SOCKS DAY

MANTECA BOYS SOAR PAST EU FOR TITLE

By Jonamar Jacinto Sports Editor
jjacinto@mantecabulletin.com

The top sprinters on the Manteca High boys track and field team were nursing injuries in the Buffaloes’ final Valley Oak League dual meet at East Union Wednesday.

No matter.

Their teammates picked up the slack elsewhere to beat their crosstown rival 82-53 and capture another league championship. East Union’s girls dominated 93-38 to finish in third place with a 5-2 record.

“Our sprinters are hurting right now, but the jumpers, throwers and distance runners put the hammer down to solidify their second straight VOL title,” Manteca coach Sean Hogan said.

Carl Chandler led the Buffaloes with wins in the high and triple jumps. His 6-foot leap in the high jump is a new personal record. Teammate Ryan Fox won the long jump.

Daniel Clemons paced the throwers with a 46-foot heave in the shot put. Phillip Herrera took first in the 800 and the mile, and Brandon Galan claimed the 3,200.

East Union (3-4) was spearheaded by Nick Pulos, who won both hurdle events while taking third in both the triple and high jumps. Angelo Zerbini won the 100-meter dash and anchored the winning 4x100 relay.  Jeremiah Preston earned first-place honors in the 400, took second in the 200 and was part of both winning relays.

Jordan McNeal highlighted the Lady Lancers’ dominant effort in the sprints. She won the 100, 200 and punctuated the 4x100 relay team’s victory. Hayley Cook was the runner-up in the 200 but won the 400 and took part in both relays.

Manteca’s boys track team eying in VOL title

Phillip Herrera of Manteca competes in a long-distance event. The Buffaloes improved to 6-0 with a VOL victory over Lathrop on Wednesday, 102-30.

By John-Joel Griffiths
jgriffiths@mantecabulletin.com


Manteca moved that much closer to repeating as Valley Oak League boys track and field champions on Wednesday.

The Buffaloes continued their dominance of VOL competition as they knocked off Lathrop, 102-30. The girls improved to .500 in the conference after a 69-62 win over the visiting Spartans.

“The varsity boys dominated again, leaving only our meet against East Union as the final step to winning back-to-back VOL titles,” Manteca head coach Sean Hogan said. “Next week is going to be a challenge.”

Manteca could win a second straight conference title with a victory over EU on Wednesday in a cross-town rivalry. Jordan Lyons won the 100-meter dash with an 11.30 and the 400. Eddie Smith won the 200 with a 23.71. Brandon Galan won the 3,200 meter race with an 11-minute, 30-second finish. Martin Ponce took second for the Buffaloes (6-0 VOL).

Carl Chandler won the long jump and triple jump for Manteca’s boys while Summer Kirby won the long jump for the girls. Lathrop’s Akilah Lesley won the triple jump. Ivan Chacala won the discus for Manteca boys and Daniel Clemons took the shot put.

Lathrop’s KV Singh won the high jump for boys and Taylor Lreal won it for the Spartans’ varsity girls.

For Manteca’s girls, Jade Griffin and sophomore Illiana Calderau had stellar performances. Griffin won the 100 and 200 and anchored both winning relay teams. Calderau won the shot put and Sophie Barragan won the 400 (1:06). Sophia Serrano won the 300 hurdles for Manteca (3-3 VOL).

The Manteca boys frosh-soph team beat Lathrop 88-44. The Spartans’ lower-level girls won, 85-34.

Stanford Invite coming up this Sat. March 30th

Stanford Invitational is Saturday March 30th.

CLICK HERE FOR ORDER OF EVENTS

Husky Invitational March 23rd

Husky Invite Schedule

By Jonamar Jacinto Sports Editor

Manteca High appears to be on its way to a second straight Valley Oak League title run.

The Buffaloes started out the regular season with three strong opponents and have  vanquished them all, the latest being visiting crosstown rival Sierra in Wednesday’s 76.5-59.5 victory. Sierra’s girls won, 71.5-54.5.

“Today we went into the meet knowing that we had to score well in each event,” Manteca coach Sean Hogan said. “The kids that we were counting on responded with some amazing performances.”

Manteca’s boys (3-0) picked up big points in the triple jump, sweeping behind the 1-2-3 finish of sophomores Carl Chandler and Lechi Nkwocha along with Ben Tolman.

Emmanuel Elijah, Sierra’s Sac-Joaquin Section Masters qualifier in the sprints a year ago, settled for runner-up finishes in the 100- and 200-meter dashes won by Tylo Both and Jordan Lyons, respectively. Lyons also took the 400.

Phillip Herrera doubled in the 800 and 1,600. Daniel Clemons set a personal record with a 47-foot, 10-inch first-place toss in the shot put, and Joe Eavenson won the discus.

Nick Valdez was the top performer for the Timberwolves (2-1), as he won the 110 and 300 hurdle events and anchored the winning 4x400 relay. Justin Patton placed first in the high jump and second in the 400.

Hayley Silva put forth a big effort for Sierra’s girls, winning four events — 800, mile, two-mile and 4x400.

The Timberwolves dominated the field events.  Jaliya Williams won the long and triple jumps. Valerie Nestor was first in the shot and second in the discus, while Valerie Westover was the runner-up shot putter and winner in the discus.

Freshmen Jade Griffin and Regan Both were 1-2 in the 100 and 200 for Manteca.

  

Frosh-soph girls

Manteca 75, Sierra 23

Marissa Ringwood spearheaded Manteca sweeps in the 100 and 200. The Buffaloes also swept in the 100 hurdles won by Stephanie Salemi.

Frosh-soph boys

Manteca 75, Sierra 56

The Buffs swept in the long jump behind Edward Gomez. Francisco Alcantar took second in the event and was first in the triple. Trevor Crippen added wins in the mile and two-mile races.

Jordan Thompson won the 100 and 200 for Sierra.

Manteca 93.5, Oakdale 53.5 Boys

 

 By Jonamar Jacinto Sports Editor
 

Manteca 93.5, Oakdale 53.5 (Boys)

Oakdale 92, Manteca 36 (Girls)
 

The Buffaloes continued their march for a second straight Valley Oak League title with some dominant performances. The team swept the 100 and 800 and excelled in the mile, both hurdles and the jumps.

Philip Herrera paced the 800 sweep with a time of 1 minute, 59 seconds. Carl Chandler improved his personal best mark in the triple jump with a 42-4.

 

 

 

 

Trevor Crippen PR'd in the 1600 with a 4:58 and Brett Kovacs bested his 1600 with a 5:15



Port City Invitational - 2nd Place Boys Varsity

By Jonamar Jacinto Sports Editor

 

Manteca High’s boys track and field team continued its strong start to the season Saturday, placing second in the Port City Classic hosted by Bear Creek of Stockton.

 

The Buffaloes made up for their lack of quantity with quality efforts. Jordan Lyons won the 400-meter dash in 51.22 seconds and joined Eddie Smith, Tylo Both and Elijah Cooper on the winning 4x100 team that edged Franklin of Elk Grove by two-tenths of a second with a time of 44.46.

Both was also fourth in the 100 in 11.71. John McDonald of Weston Ranch won the event, blazing to a time of 11.46.

 

Joe Eavenson set a personal record in the discus throw with a mark of 130 feet, 10 inches, good for fifth place. Sophomores Carl Chandler and Lechi Nkwocha showed well in the jumps. Chandler took fourth with a 41-foot triple jump, and Nkwocha wasn’t too far behind at 40-09 ½. In the long, Nkwocha got the better of his teammate with a fifth-place mark of 19-05. Chandler was sixth with a 19-04 ½.

 

Manteca’s girls did their damage in the relays, as Sophie Barragan, Jade Griffin, Summer Kirby and Raygen were the runners-up in the 4x400 (4:35.02) and fourth in the 4x100 (54.21).

 

Manteca 92, Kimball 46 (B)

By Jagada Chambers
Staff Reporter


Manteca 92, Kimball 46 (B)

The Buffaloes VOL season opener went their way Wednesday, handling a talented Kimball team with relative ease to open league play.

Jordan Lyons raced to a first place victory in the 100-meters and assisted the 4x100-meter team to a first place finish. Joe Eavenson (discus) and Daniel Clemons (shot put) earned first place finishes for the throwers, while Carl Chandler bested the 41-foot mark to win the triple jump. He also earned a first in the high jump.

“We had a good evening and got a good early season win against a speedy Kimball team,” Manteca head coach Sean Hogan said. “They set some good early season marks.”

Manteca had clean sweeps of the top-3 places in the 800-meters and the 2-mile and nabbed the top two spots in the mile.

Buffs off to a hot start

By Jonamar Jacinto

Sports Editor

Manteca High’s defending Valley Oak League champion boys track and field team had a strong first showing of the 2013 season Saturday in the 9th Annual Sacramento State Classic. 

Senior Jordan Lyons was in on three top-seven finishes. He placed third out of 56 runners in the 400-meter dash, clocking a time of 49.93 seconds. 
He also took sixth in the 200 (22.61) and anchored Manteca’s 4x400 relay team that finished seventh in 3 minutes, 31.97 seconds — which eclipsed its fastest 2012 time of 3:32.14. Joining Lyons on the mile relay were Evan Fisk, Eddie Smith and Cameron Crippen.

Sophomore Carl Chandler put together a promising start to the season, marking a personal best 41-foot, 2 ½-inch leap for a fifth-place finish in the long jump. He also ended up eighth in the high jump, topping out at 5-10. Tylo Both sprinted to a time of 11.34 to take sixth in the 100, and Daniel Clemons took ninth in the shot put with a measurement of 44-8.

The Manteca girls also left their mark and were led by a pair of freshmen. Jade Griffin checked in at 13.3 for a 10-place finish in the 100 and was the fastest freshman competitor. She was also 15th with a 27.69 time in the 200. Raygen Both was 22nd (13.71) and 24th (28.34) in the 100 and 200. 

Griffin and Both teamed up with fellow freshman Summer Kirby and sophomore Sophie Barragan in the 4x100 relay. They placed ninth in 53.23.
Jessy Talarico set a personal record in the pole vault, where she finished fifth with a mark of 8-6.

Manteca begins the VOL season at home Wednesday against Kimball.

9th Annual Sac State Track Classic March 2, 2013

Sacramento State Track Classic