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Covina Track & Field
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Preseason Track in Full Stride
January 5, 2010
Preseason track has begun and the quest to another great season is underway. About 100 athletes not involved in winter sports have been training since Thanksgiving break getting a head start on the competition. The team is working harder than ever to make the 2010 season a memorable and successful one.
Boys and Girls Cross Country Make History
For the first time in school history, the Covina boys and girls are Valle Vista League Cross Country Champions. The Colts competed at league finals at Bonelli Park on Thursday, and took home most of the team awards as well as the individual ones. The girls completed a second straight undefeated season by beating Baldwin Park 24-46. Rachel Falomir dominated all three meets this season, and ran a personal best of 19:49 in this one. She was named Valle Vista League MVP. Natalina Lopez finished 2nd to Rachel in all three meets, and came in at 20:34.Denise Arciniega, Sam Alvarado, and Stephanie Fuentes were named to the All-League team. The boys were not able to stay with a Northview team who vastly improved since the first league meet in September, and settled for 2nd place Thursday. The score was 30-53. By virtue of their win in the first meet (Northview was third), and their two second place finishes, Covina tied Northview for the league title, both finishing with 13-2 records. It was the first time the boys had won the league title since 1993, and the first time the boys and girls have been league champions in the same year. As they have been doing all season, the boys and girls significantly improved on their team times from a year ago, the girls improving 9:00 and the boys improving 4:28. Frankie Gonzalez finished 2nd (16:21), but was named Valle Vista League MVP based on his overall performance in all three meets. Kevin Medina (16:46) and Daniel Valentin (17:04) were also All-League, finishing 8th and 12th. Also, Kevin Mejia was the highest finishing freshman in the boys varsity field. The boys and girls now prepare for CIF Prelims next Saturday.
Colts Tune Up at APU 2-Miler
Covina Cross Country competed at the Cougar 2-miler on Friday, as they tune up for Valle Vista League Finals this Thursday. The 2-miler provides a unique opportunity to run on the track during cross country season, and the Colts took advantage by running fast times and personal bests all night long. Frankie Gonzalez and Kevin Medina both led the field through the first mile, and finished at 10:20 and 10:21. Justin Salcedo came from behind to win his heat convincingly in 10:26. In the same race, 5th man Richard Stephenson finished in 10:39, giving the varsity boys a 19 second gap from 1st man to 5th man. The frosh-soph boys performed brilliantly with freshman Kevin Mejia coming in at 10:53, followed closely by Enrique Hernandez (11:00), Paul Gonzalez (11:01), and Brian Brenes (11:03).
The girls were led by Rachel Falomir and Natalina Lopez, who came in at 12:35 and 12:38. Denise Arciniega improved 2:32 over last season's time, coming in at 13:08. Both teams now prepare for league finals, where the girls will look to complete two straight undefeated seasons, and the boys will attempt to win their first league title since 1993. In Covina's history, the boys and girls have never won the league title in the same season. Be at Bonelli on Thursday as the Colts try to make history.
Girls Dominate League Meet #2, Boys Second to Northview
League Meet #2 is in the books, and while the Covina girls team dominated the competition once again, the Covina boys will have to face off against Northview at League Finals to decide the champion, after Northview came out on top at Bonelli Park on Wednesday. The girls defeated Baldwin Park 23-40, clinching their second straight league championship with one meet still to go. Rachel Falomir and Natalina Lopez were 1st and 2nd for the Colts, running 20:36 and 20:59 on the hilly, soggy course. Northview placed third at the first meet, but won this one convincingly, scoring 30 points to Covina's 56. In a dramatic finish, Covina senior Frankie Gonzalez passed Alfredo Folgar at the finish line to place first overall in 16:59. Gonzalez and Falomir are both in position to be named Valle Vista league MVP with Finals still to come. Team pictures are next Friday, October 23rd, and our next competition is the Cougar 2-Miler at APU on Friday the 30th.
Colts Conquer Course at SAC, Girls Bring Home Plaque
Covina Cross Country competed on the famed MSAC course for the first time this season, and continued to shine as all varsity boys ran in the 17's, and the girls team took home a plaque for third place in Division 2. Junior Kevin Medina led the way for the boys at 17:08 and junior Rachel Falomir reclaimed her #1 spot, coming in at 20:44. It was a solid performance from top to bottom, and also a preview for the Colts who will return to MSAC for CIF Prelims in November. The top 5 girls improved their team time at the same meet last year from 1:59:15 to 1:48:25. The top 5 boys improved from 92:09 to 87:19, with #3 man Daniel Valentin taking the SAT today. The top 7 performances are listed below with comparisons to last year's times. Covina now looks ahead to Valle Vista League meet #2 and the chance to clinch boys and girls varsity league titles for the first time in school history.
Kevin Medina 17:08 ('08 18:13)Frankie Gonzalez 17:17 ('08 17:49)
Richard Stephenson 17:21 ('08 18:01) Justin Salcedo 17:39 ('08 19:42)
Kevin Mejia 17:49 (freshman) Angel Castanon 17:53 ('08 18:24)
Enrique Hernandez 18:04 ('08 19:52)
Rachel Falomir 20:44 ('08 21:32) Natalina Lopez 21:11 ('08 22:25)
Denise Arciniega 21:37 ('08 27:32) Stephanie Fuentes 22:07 ('08 22:55)
Sam Alvarado 22:46 ('08 24:51) Monica Gonzalez 22:48 ('08 24:24)
Kim Lamadrid 23:19 (freshman)
No Letdown for Colts at Brea Invitational
Covina Cross Country continued to roll as they came off of their big win at league meet #1 with a strong showing at the Brea Invitational. The course at Carbon Canyon Park was 5k in distance (slightly longer than 3 miles)and also featured long grass, dirt and soft sand, but the Colts had solid performances from top to bottom. Frankie Gonzalez regained his status as #1 man and Natalina Lopez was #1 girl for the first time in her short career. Other highlights were freshman Kim Lamadrid moving into the #5 spot and freshman Kevin Mejia moving up to #3 for the boys. Sophomore Enrique Hernandez earned the #7 spot, and in the coaches race, Coach Starkey finished as 10th man on the team.The top 5 girls improved 8:34 over their team time on the same course last season, while the top 5 returning boys improved 5:48. The top 7 performances are listed below, with comparisons to last season's times. Our next competition is the San Gabriel Valley Challenge at MSAC on Saturday.
Frankie Gonzalez 17:56('08 18:39) Kevin Medina 18:21('08 19:27)
Kevin Mejia 18:37(frosh) Richard Stephenson 18:48('08 22:11)
Daniel Valentin 18:49('08 18:45) Angel Castanon 18:56('08 19:23)
Enrique Hernandez 19:25('08 20:55)
Natalina Lopez 21:48('08 23:07) Rachel Falomir 21:57('08 24:01)
Denise Arciniega 22:50('08 29:12) Stephanie Fuentes 23:08('08 23:36)
Kim Lamadrid 24:33(frosh) Nancy Contreras 24:38('08 23:04)
Sam Alvarado 24:41('08 26:21)
Colts Dominate in Valle Vista League Opener
Valle Vista League competition kicked off at Bonelli Park on Wednesday, and Covina Cross Country had a dominating performance in winning the boys and girls varsity races by comfortable margins. The girls, led by Rachel Falomir, placed 1-2-3-4, in scoring 20 points to Baldwin Park's 49. Natalina Lopez placed second, followed by Stephanie Fuentes and Denise Arciniega in third and fourth. 5th girl Monica Gonzalez placed 10th. The boys, who placed 4th last season, completely turned the tables on the league, scoring 28 points while second place Ganesha scored 61. Kevin Medina took first overall and was followed closely by Frankie Gonzalez. Daniel Valentin was sixth, Richard Stephenson placed eighth, and freshman Kevin Mejia was eleventh.
The Colts also did well in the JV and frosh-soph races. Alex Interiano led the boys JV team to victory (18:01), Enrique Hernandez and Paul Gonzalez led a one-point win in the boys frosh-soph race (18:06,18:07), and freshman Kim Lamadrid and sophomore Nathalie Aldaz (22:41,22:42) led the shorthanded JV girls to second place behind Baldwin Park. Our next competition is the Brea Invitational at Carbon Canyon Park on Saturday.The top 7 performances of the day are listed below, with comparisons to last year's times:
Medina 16:32('08 19:38) Gonzalez 16:44('08 18:25) Valentin 16:49('08 18:14)
Stephenson 17:11('08 18:34) Mejia 17:13(frosh) Castanon 17:23('08 18:52)
Salcedo 17:49('08 23:42)
Falomir 20:06('08 22:10)Lopez 20:21('08 22:31) Fuentes 20:51('08 22:26)
Arciniega 20:58('08 31:45) Gonzalez 22:17('08 26:02) Lamadrid 22:41(frosh)
Aldaz 22:42('08 26:47)
Colts Continue Strong Start at Woodbridge
It was "Fast Times at Woodbridge High" as Covina Cross Country competed in their second meet of the season. Despite the hot temperatures, personal bests were being set all day as the Colts tuned up for upcoming league competition. One of the biggest performances of the day was turned in by sophomore (but new to cross country)Melissa Simpson, who improved from 28:44 last week to 26:19 on Saturday. Also, junior Justin Salcedo went from 13th man on the team to 5th, as he ran 17:21, improving on last year's 18:57 on the same course. The top 7 performances are listed below with comparisons to last season's times.
Frankie Gonzalez 16:19 ('08 dnr) Daniel Valentin 16:57 ('08 17:26)
Kevin Medina 17:05 ('08 17:38) Kevin Mejia 17:12 (freshman)
Justin Salcedo 17:21 ('08 18:57) Angel Castanon 17:33 ('08 17:47)
Richard Stephenson 17:38 ('08 17:42)
Rachel Falomir 19:54 ('08 20:54) Natalina Lopez 20:25 ('08 21:08)
Denise Arciniega 21:02 ('08 26:44) Sam Alvarado 21:30 ('08 dnr)
Stephanie Fuentes 21:30 ('08 20:42) Monica Gonzalez 21:50 ('08 dnr)
Nathalie Aldaz 22:20 ('08 24:07)
The top 5 girls who competed at Woodbridge in '08 and returned in '09 (Falomir,Lopez Arciniega,Fuentes,Aldaz)improved their team time from 1:53:35 to 1:45:15. The top 5 boys who competed at Woodbridge in '08 and returned in '09 (Valentin,Medina,Salcedo,Castanon,Stephenson) improved their team time from 89:30 to 86:34. Actual team times this year were 84:54 for the boys and 1:44:25 for the girls. Our next competition is Valle Vista League Meet #1 at Bonelli Park on Wednesday,September 30th. The girls will be attempting to defend their league title while the boys will be looking to improve on last year's 4th place finish.
Covina Cross Country Stampedes in Season Opener
After a long summer of training, Covina Cross Country had a memorable day in their first competition of the season, the Don Bosco Tech Invitational at Santa Fe Dam in Azusa. Senior Frankie Gonzalez (16:33) led the boys to a huge improvement over last year's boys' team time, while junior Rachel Falomir (20:16) did the same for the girls. The top 5 boys who ran at Bosco last season and returned this year(Gonzalez,Valentin,Medina,Stephenson,Cas tanon) improved their team time team time to 85:07, a 3:57 improvement over last year's 89:04. The boys actual team time Saturday was 84:53. The girls top 5 who competed at Bosco last season and returned this year (Falomir,Lopez,Fuentes,Contreras,Arciniega) improved 7:50, going to 1:45:40 from 1:53:30 last season. The girls actual team time Saturday was 1:44:56. With league competition beginning soon, the boys put themselves right in the title hunt, finishing well ahead of a solid Northview team, with Baldwin Park also expected to be strong. The girls will also be gunning for the title, and expecting a challenge from Baldwin Park. The top 10 performances are listed below, with comparison's to last year's times:
Frankie Gonzalez 16:33 ('08 17:38) Daniel Valentin 16:44 ('08 17:42)
Kevin Medina 16:55 ('08 17:45) Richard Stephenson 17:19 ('08 17:52)
Kevin Mejia 17:23 (freshman) Angel Castanon 17:37 ('08 18:21)
Eric Segura 17:54 ('08 18:07) Paul Gonzalez 17:59 ('08 19:50)
Enrique Hernandez 18:04 ('08 20:17) Alex Interiano 18:21 ('08 19:00)
Rachel Falomir 20:16 ('08 21:04) Natalina Lopez 20:42 ('08 23:02)
Sam Alvarado 21:05 (injured in '08) Stephanie Fuentes 21:15 ('08 21:21)
Nancy Contreras 21:38 ('08 21:06) Denise Arciniega 21:45 ('08 26:57)
Monica Gonzalez 21:59 ('08 26:16) Belle Chiu 23:11 ('08 26:11)
Nathalie Aldaz 23:23 ('08 24:39) Kimberly Lamadrid 23:35 (freshman)
Sophomore Enrique Hernandez had the biggest improvement for the boys (2:13) while sophomore Denise Arciniega had the biggest girls improvement (5:13!). The Colts' next competition is the Woodbridge Invitational next Saturday.
Cross Country News
After a long summer of training and a memorable week at camp in Pismo Beach, the 2009 Covina Colts Cross Country Team now prepares for the season. The boys and girls varsity teams and coaches are pictured here at "the stadium" at Camp French in Arroyo Grande. It was quite a week. Doing two-a-days all week, the Colts completed some very challenging runs,including "Jurassic Park", "Mount Everest", "Suicide Flats", and "Monster" (all named by the runners).We also joined up with Coach Rickets (who has run a 1:52 half-mile) and the Arroyo Grande cross country team for stride drills and a beach run. The runners also got a surfing lesson from former Covina cross country coach Dave Fair. And finally, Coach Starkey (who has also run a 1:52 half-mile) could be heard screaming at the top of his lungs at the Mustang Waterpark. Our first competition is the Don Bosco Tech Invitational at Santa Fe Dam on September 12th.
Cross Country Coaching Change
After leading the girls cross country team to its first-ever league title in 2008, Coach Andy Frogue has resigned as head boys and girls cross country coach. Girls head track coach Erik Starkey will replace Coach Frogue, and Bert Sandoval will remain in his role as long-time assistant coach. Mr. Frogue will continue teaching on campus, and will also be an assistant track coach in the spring.
Severin Takes 6th in CIF! (video below)
May 23, 2009
Scott Severin took on the best in CIF this past Saturday in the Division III pole vault finals at Cerritos College. Scott had a fine day as he placed 6th in the division clearing 13'3" on the hot afternoon. Severin, only a junior, looks to work hard in the off-season and make a repeat appearance at CIF Finals next year. Watch his first clearance of the day below. Congrats to Scott!
Covina Alums Win Nationals/Place in State!
May 23, 2009
Monti Sutton, a 2006 graduate of Covina High Track & Field just won the NAIA triple jump competition this past Saturday. Competing for Azusa Pacific, Sutton, a previous All-American in the event, won his first personal national title competing at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in St. Louis jumping 50'1/2". As a team, the APU Men's team also took first place! Sutton competed for CHS for only his junior and senior years after Coach Glaspy finally convinced him to come out and try some events. After taking a liking to the triple jump and with great coaching from Coach Wong, Monti eventually took 2nd place in the triple jump his senior year in CIF. He also helped the team to an overall 3rd place finish as a team that season in division 3, the highest ever for the Colts. On behalf of the Covina Track family we would like to congratulate Monti and his awesome success he is having in college. Sutton Clinches Title for Cougars!
Another Covina graduate, Secoral Yanez, who just completed her freshman season competing for Mt. Sac, also had a great season. She placed 5th and 4th in the California Community College State Meet in the 100m and 200m. Fresh off of last seasons league championship team, Yanez continued to impress at the next level running 24.4 in the 200m. She will continue her magnificent season running in the Junior Nationals meet in Oregon in June. Congratulations Secoral!
CIF in the O.C.!
May 16, 2009
Covina Track competed at CIF Prelims at Estancia High School on Saturday, and the season rolls on for one Colt. 23 athletes qualified for Prelims, one of the Colts' largest groups in years, and at the end of an overcast day in Costa Mesa, pole vaulter Scott Severin had tied his personal best to advance to CIF Finals next week.
Congratulations to all the Colts who qualified for CIF Prelims: Remontay McClain, Tyler Hopkins, Julian Ruiz, Ryan Bedford, Scott Severin, Kyle Chiu, Tyrone Crump, Nikki Cooper, Jackie Ford, Payton Trollman, Suzan Burmayan, Marie Catalogo, Monica Gonzalez, Ashli Baddorf, Raven Dixon, Erika Tornero, Michelle Lopez, Janessa Espinoza, Natalina Lopez, Daniela Martinez, Katie Perez, Emily Sanchez, and Marleny Cifuentes. The awards banquet will be held at CHS on May 25th.
Boys and Girls shine at League Finals
At the Valle Vista League Finals on Thursday, Covina Track once again proved that it is one of the outstanding boys/girls programs in the San Gabriel Valley. Brushing aside the disappointment of finishing second in dual meets this season, the Colts won eleven individual league titles. By the time it was over, two Covina athletes had stolen the show-Tyler Hopkins and Jackie Ford.
The boys began the meet by winning the 4x100 relay. The team of Ryan Bedford, Tyler Hopkins, Julian Ruiz and Remontay McClain is on its way to CIF. Tyler Hopkins was not finished winning, as he later won both the 100 and 200 meters. Scott Severin was league champion in pole vault for the second straight season. The boys finished the day strong when Kyle Chiu and Tyrone Crump placed 2nd and 3rd in triple jump.
The girls had a spectacular day, as 16 athletes qualified for CIF. Jackie Ford came out on top in a heated duel with San Dimas rival Katherine Salcido in high jump. Ford also won triple jump, long jump and the 300 hurdles. She was the only athlete at league finals to win 4 individual events. Marleny Cifuentes won both the 1600 and 3200 for the second year in a row. Katie Perez was league champion in pole vault. Also, the girls 4x100 team of Ashli Baddorf, Ericka Tornero, Emily Sanchez and Raven Dixon made it to CIF with a season-best time. The boys frosh-soph team also had three league champions-Charles Cooper in the 110 hurdles & triple jump, Joe Carillo in pole vault, and Mason Yarber in the high jump. CIF Prelims will take place at Estancia High school next Saturday. More info to come.
Season Finale a Winner!
April 29, 2009
Covina Track closed out the dual meet season with a decisive sweep of Ganesha. The Colts finish the season 2nd to Northview's boys and 2nd to San Dimas' girls. The boys' victory was highlighted by a sweep of the pole vault by Scott Severin, rapidly improving Deville Keir and Brandon Mannino. Also, freshman Ryan Bedford led a sweep of the 400, and helped Covina to a season-best time in the 4x400.
The girls' win included Jackie Ford clearing 5'2" on her first attempt, a big p.r. for the junior. Also, freshman Ashli Baddorf won the 400 in her first time running that event. Covina now prepares for Valle Vista League Prelims and Finals, taking place next Tuesday and Thursday.
SGV Meet Brings Best Out of CHS
April 25, 2009
On Saturday, Covina competed in the 4th annual San Gabriel Valley Championships at West Covina High School. The Colts were up against local rivals such as Northview and South Hills, as well as upper division large schools such as Claremont and Arcadia. When the final scores were tallied, the girls varsity team was feeling deja-vu, as they took home the runner-up plaque for the fourth year in a row.
Highlights for the boys included the return to action of sprinter Remontay McClain, as well as a 13-foot clearance in pole vault for Scott Severin. Kyle Chiu and Tyler Hopkins also performed well. At the frosh-soph level Kevin Medina had a big personal best in the 16oo meters. As for the girls, Rachel Falomir (1600) and Natalina Lopez (800) had personal bests for the frosh-soph team. The varsity team had contributions from all over as they placed second to Division I school Arcadia for the second year in a row. Jackie Ford and Emily Sanchez were both over 34 feet in triple jump, Nikki Cooper and Suzan Burmayan scored in the hurdles, and discus thrower Michelle Lopez had a big personal best of 94 feet. Covina finishes the league season at Ganesha next week.
Colts Back on Track vs. Braves
April 23, 2009
Covina Track regained the familiar feel of victory on Thursday after sweeping visiting Baldwin Park. The boys score was Covina 91 BP 47, and the girls score was Covina 112 BP 20. Both 4x100 relay teams were victorious to start the meet. In the boys' race, freshman Ryan Bedford ran a great anchor leg, substituting for Remontay McClain, and the new look girls team of Tornero, Trollman, Sanchez and Dixon ran a seasonal best time.
Other highlights were Philip Ramsey and Janessa Espinoza throwing personal bests in the shotput, Justin Salcedo and Frankie Gonzalez going 1-2 in the 800 against a strong Baldwin Park distance crew, and freshman Natalina Lopez claiming another victory in the 800. The Colts will finish league competition at Ganesha next week. Saturday Covina heads down the street to West Covina High School to compete in the San Gabriel Valley Championships. The girls team has finished 2nd in this meet for three straight years.
Saints Prayers are Answered vs. Colts
April 16, 2009
In a showdown which had been anticipated for a year, the girls team suffered a heartbreaking defeat to San Dimas, who had improved dramatically over the last two seasons. The final score was San Dimas 70 Covina 66. The boys team won comfortably 81 to 54. The girls had previously won 22 straight league meets, but San Dimas will likely be crowned the new champion at the end of the season. Helping the girls stay even all day were distance runners Marleny Cifuentes, Rachel Falomir and Natalina Lopez. The Colts also swept the 300 hurdles thanks to Nikki Cooper, Payton Trollman and Jackie Ford. Janessa Espinoza and Jazmin Arrant came up big in the throws.
The boys were led as usual by sprinter Remontay McClain, who fought hard for his victories in the 100 and 200. Kyle Chiu also had two wins, and Frankie Gonzalez and Justin Salcedo took first and second in the 800. Selected athletes will compete this weekend at the MSAC Relays, and league competition continues next week.
Remontay Rocks at Covina Invitational
The crowds were huge and the number of participants was unprecedented at the 2009 Covina Invitational. A big thank you goes out to all parents, athletes, and other volunteers who made it possible for the meet to go smoothly, and (miraculously)finish on time! The meet was boosted by the appearance of two 2008 State Championship participants, Karynn Dunn of Diamond Ranch, and Damien's Taylor Herrera. But Covina's own star Remontay McClain was not to be outdone. He began the day by anchoring the boys frosh-soph 4x100 relay, as they ran down Damien in the final stretch to break the meet record and school record in the event. McClain also broke records in the 100 and 200 to earn athlete of the meet honors, and lead the boys frosh-soph team to second place overall. Kyle Chiu was also instrumental in the boys trophy-earning efforts. Another highlight of the day was Jackie Ford going 34'10" in the triple jump to place second behind Dunn. Ford is inching closer to the school record set by Sachi Ezaki way back when Coaches Glaspy and Starkey were running for the Colts.
Parents and athletes, spring break practice will take place at 9:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. All athletes are expected to attend. Our next competition will be home against San Dimas the Wednesday after break. This contest will likely decide the 2009 girls league title.
Red Devils No Match for Covina
April 1, 2009
On Wednesday, Covina overwhelmed visiting Pomona in the second league meet of the season. The final boys score was Covina 112 Pomona 23. The girls defeated the Red Devils 118 to 18 to run their dual/tri meet record this season to 8-0. Kyle Chiu won two events for the boys, while Remontay McClain won three, including another win for the 4x100. The team of Kegan Sherman, Tyler Hopkins, Julian Ruiz and McClain has not lost in a dual or tri-meet this year. Justin Salcedo won the 1600 and Angel Castanon won the 3200. Emily Sanchez had her best time of the year (12.9) in the 100 meters, and also won the 200. And Suzan Burmayan ran 16.6 in the 100 hurdles and later triple jumped 31 feet 8 inches. Both were personal bests. Monica Gonzalez won the 400 and helped the 4x400 stay undefeated in league. Now the Colts prepare for what is expected to be a huge turnout at the Covina Invitational this Saturday. If you are available, see Coach Glaspy about lending a helping hand at the meet.
Colts Taste Victory at Chino Relays
Covina Track competed at the Chino Relays Saturday, and solidified its reputation as one of the best boys and girls programs in the San Gabriel Valley. The girls team beat Monrovia to win the Division 3 title for the 3rd time in 4 years, and with the boys placing 2nd to Monrovia in Division 3, the Colts took home the boys/girls combined Sweepstakes trophy as well. The boys and the girls were seemingly everywhere, from distance events to sprints to the field in outscoring Monrovia's combined boys/girls total.
The day began with the boys and girls winning the shuttle hurdle relays, anchored by Tyler Hopkins and Nikki Cooper. Hopkins would help on several sprint relays throughout the day, while Cooper would help the girls dominate the jumping events. Distance runner Justin Salcedo had a breakthrough performance, leading the 4x800 to 2nd place, while Natalina Lopez anchored the girls to 2nd in the same event. Also, Scott Severin and Daniela Martinez led the pole vaulters to 1st place for boys and girls. Other outstanding performances came from rising star Remontay McClain and the recently on-fire Rachel Falomir. And finally, newcomer Jazmin Arrant had the top mark of the day in shotput (34 feet), and joined with Janessa Espinoza (pictured)to help the Colts win both throwing events. Covina now prepares for its 2nd league meet, vs. Pomona, and also the upcoming Covina Invitational.
Girls Roll to Victory, Boys League Streak Ends
Covina opened league competition at Northview on Thursday, and it was a bittersweet day for the Colts. The boys showdown with the Vikings came down to the wire as expected, but the girls contest was one-sided. The boys score was Northview 69 Covina 67, ending a seven-year winning streak for the Colts. The girls score was Covina 95 Northview 41.
With the league title on the line, the boys had several athletes step up with big performances. Daniel Valentin ran a courageous race to score a crucial point in the 1600, and later Frankie Gonzalez and Justin Salcedo went 1-2 in the 800. Kevin Medina finished out a big day for Coach Frogue's distance runners by placing 2nd in the 3200. Remontay McClain picked up 3 wins for his team, and was helped by Tyler Hopkins. The last event of the day turned out to be the triple jump. With 15 out of 16 events tallied, and darkness falling, sophomore Kyle Chiu stepped forward with a gallant effort, jumping his personal best, only to be outdone by all three of Northview's jumpers. Kyle also won the 110 hurdles. The boys now focus on winning the rest of their league meets, and seeing how the standings turn out.
The girls could not keep up with Northview's improved 4x100 relay team, but after that event, it was all Covina. The girls hurdlers ( Nikki Cooper, Payton Trollman, Suzan Burmayan, Jackie Ford)) swept both hurdle events, while the jumpers (Ford, Cooper and Emily Sanchez) swept the long and triple jump (All three were well over 15 feet in long jump). There was also a sweep in the 1600 as Rachel Falomir, Marleny Cifuentes, and Melissa Spolar went 1-2-3. Janessa Espinoza also had a big day, winning both shotput and discus. Covina travels to Chino for the Chino Relays on Saturday.
Girls Stay Undefeated, Another Close Call for Boys
The Colts continued preparation for the opening of league competition next week by contesting Monrovia and Charter Oak at home on Thursday. The girls team won by a comfortable margin, while the boys found themselves in another nail-biter, this time with Monrovia.
The girls had to contend with Charter Oak's star sprinter, Sierra Brooks, as well as a well-balanced Monrovia team, but Covina's depth prevailed in the end. The score was Covina 87 Monrovia 51 Charter Oak 26. Two freshmen came up big for the Colts in the win. Emily Sanchez scored in both the 100 and 200 in very strong fields, and also placed second in triple jump. Belle Chiu had a big breakthrough in triple jump, going over 30 feet for the first time. Marleny Cifuentes won both her races, and Jackie Ford was a surprise winner in the 300 hurdles, running that event for the first time.
The boys were seeing green all day, as Monrovia continued to stay even until the end of the meet. Covina needed to win the 4x400 relay to pull out the win, but this time they came up short. The final score was Monrovia 70 Covina 66 Charter Oak 34. Remontay McClain continued to look very strong for the boys in winning the 100 and 200. McClain is currently ranked in the top ten in the state, and is the #1 ranked sophomore. Scott Severin, Justin Salcedo and Kyle Chiu also picked up wins. The Colts prepare for the showdown with Northview next week that likely will decide the '09 boys league champions.
Cougar Classic a Big Hit!
On Saturday, Covina High School, along with Azusa Pacific University, hosted the 2nd annual Cougar Classic. The meet doubled in size from last year's inaugural event, and as expected, Division I powerhouses Trabuco Hills and Los Osos swept most of the team awards.
Varsity highlights for the Colts included sophomore Remontay McClain anchoring the boys 4x100 to second place, and finishing second in the 100. On the girls' side, Daniela Martinez continued her strong start by winning the pole vault.
Both boys and girls frosh-soph teams were terrific for the Colts, just as they were a week ago at the Downey Relays. The young squads both finished third overall. Kyle Chiu led the boys' effort, breaking Chris Rosales' high jump meet record, and placing second in the 110 hurdles. Justin Salcedo placed second in the 800, and the 4x100 team of Contreras, Cooper, Robledo, and Bedford placed second. The girls were led by a strong group of half-milers. Natalina Lopez placed second, followed closely by Nancy Contreras in third, and both Stephanie Fuentes and Rachel Falomir ran identical times to earn medals. Falomir also scored points in the pole vault. Finally, the 4x100 team of Saykham, Seresinhe, Benitez and Baddorf had another solid performance, placing third. Covina now prepares for their third tri-meet, this time at home vs. Monrovia and Charter Oak.
Colts Squeak By Raiders and Bearcats
Both girls' and boys' varsity teams remained undefeated after a tri-meet against Bonita and Rowland at Bonita High School. The girls team built a double-digit lead early in the meet and cruised to victory, but the boys won it in thrilling fashion in the last event. The girls score was Covina 75 Rowland 54 and Bonita 41. The boys score was Covina 60 Rowland 58 Bonita 50.
The girls' effort was led by freshman Emily Sanchez, who anchored the 4x100 to victory, and came back later to win the 100, 200, and place 2nd in the long jump. Janessa Espinoza had a big day, throwing a personal best in discus, good enough for 1st place. Also, Daniela Martinez won the pole vault with a personal best of 10 feet, which tentatively qualifies her for a spot at the Arcadia Invitational.
The boys found themselves in their most difficult struggle in years, as both Bonita and Rowland stayed right with the Colts until the end. As Rowland gradually pulled ahead, the boys found themselves down one point going into the 4x400. Chris Rosales, who had just won the high jump at 6 feet, led off and ran a brilliant leg, handing off to freshman Ryan Bedford with a comfortable lead. Bedford extended the lead, and gave it to Matt Castellanos. Matt ran a gutsy leg, but both opponents closed on him in the last straightaway. Remontay McClain, who had earlier won the 100, 200, and anchored a come-from-behind victory in the 4x100, got the stick. In dramatic fashion, he pulled away down the last straightaway, giving the boys the hard-fought victory. Other important performances came from Justin Salcedo(1st in the 800), Tyrone Crump (2nd in long jump), and Greg Reid (2nd in shot-put). Next, the Colts co-host the Cougar Classic with Azusa Pacific on Saturday. The Colts will have their entire roster competing for the first time this season.
Colts Represent Well in Downey Meet With Titles!
Covina continued its strong start to the season at the Downey Relays Saturday. The girls varsity won the overall team title, while both the girls and boys frosh-soph teams took home 2nd place trophies. The highlight of the day for the boys varsity team was another strong performance in the 4x100 relay (Kegan Sherman, Tyler Hopkins, Julian Ruiz who ran with a broken nose, and Remontay McClain).
The boys frosh-soph team was led by Kyle Chiu who scored points both on the track and in the field events. Omar Maldonado led the throwers, and Ryan Bedford gave the team solid legs in all the sprint relays. Also, the frosh-soph distance runners, led by Richard Stephenson and Justin Salcedo performed well for the Colts.
The girls frosh-soph team began the day with a victory in the shuttle hurdle relay, anchored by Rachel Falomir, who also ran in several distance relays. The 4x100 relay also won, anchored by Ashli Baddorf, and Belle Chiu led the Colts jumpers to medals in three events.
The girls varsity team made it four years in a row that they have won at least one Saturday invitational. Team captain Nikki Cooper once again led the way, anchoring the victorious shuttle hurdle team, and joining with Jackie Ford, freshman Emily Sanchez and Suzan Burmayan to dominate the field events. Marleny Cifuentes led the distance runners as they also contributed to the point total. Our next competition will be against Bonita and Rowland at Bonita this Thursday.
Are you ready to RUN CHS???
Are you ready to RUN CHS? The Colts have been steamrolling through practices in recent weeks and the fever has spread into the Covina High front office. (from the left) Principal Claudia Karnoski, Dee Williams, Kim Sheehan, Wendy Travis, Aimee Smolik, and Cydna Spellman all sport their "RUN CHS" shirts on Friday. They add to the already 200 member squad ready to take on the Valle Vista League. The season starts next week on Thursday 3/5 at Azusa Pacific University as Covina takes on South Hills and Northview High School in a pre-season tri-meet. Go Colts!
Greg Reid Signs Scholarship!
February 5, 2009
Covina Track & Field thrower and football team offensive tackle Greg Reid signed a letter of intent to play football for the University of Southern Uta h this week. We are all proud of Greg and his accomplishments in athletics. We wish him the best of luck! Greg will finish up his high school athletic career by throwing the shot put and discus for the Colts this spring.
Colts Get a Head Start In Preseason!
Pre-season practice for the Colts has grown to enormous numbers this year. A total of about 120 team members, new and returning, have already started to get a head start on the 2009 track season. Coach Starkey, Glaspy, and Frogue have been slowly getting this excited group ready to defend their league championship titles.
The distance runners took a short break from a successful fall cross country season where the girls team won their first ever league championship. After a good Thanksgiving break, the team has begun training for track season. The rest of the team has started to put themselves in serious training mode with a lot of weight room time as well as track and technique workouts. Altogether, these Colts definitely are getting a head start on the season and opponents!
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