The Culver City High School boys and girls track and field teams hope to continue their dominance in the Ocean League Thursday night in the finals hosted by the Centaurs.
Culver City is poised to win all four divisions against tough competition from Beverly Hills, El Segundo, Lawndale, Hawthorne and Santa Monica. The league finals start at 5 in Jerry Chabola Stadium.
If last Monday’s Ocean League prelims are a barometer, the frosh/soph and varsity girls teams and the frosh/soph and varsity boys teams should win l championships.
During the regular season the both boys teams and the girls varsity were undefeated. The girls frosh/soph team did not lose until the last meet, against Beverly Hills.
Culver City always has been strong in the sprints and hurdles. This team continues the tradition.
Of the 80 spots in last Monday’s 100, 200 and 400 meters, and the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, the Centaurs qualified in 46. Impressive when running against the top track and field programs in South Bay and the Westside.
Veteran sprinter Veronica Mendez, a senior, leads the girls varsity. Mendez had the fastest qualifying time in the 200 meters and the second fastest time in the 100. She will also run on both the 400 and 1600 meter relays.
“I am very emotional right now, and very happy,” Mendez said after her success. “These are my last few meets. I am a little sad to be leaving my friends, my teammates, coaches and teachers.
“We as a team want to represent Culver City and do the best we can. We are going to push hard.”
Senior Nia Garcia is enjoying a huge season. She is expected to win the 100 and 300 hurdles, the long jump and the triple jump. She is extremely competitive, an aggressive hurdler. “I like to get out fast and attack the hurdle,” said Garcia. “Our teams are doing really well right now. We just want to continue to improve.”
Freshman Marilyn Hernandez is the biggest surprise of Culver City’s track season in the 800 meters.
Under the guidance of longtime distance coach Tom Fritzus, Hernandez is unbeaten in the 800 meters. “She has won six races in a row, and that’s counting one cross country race,” said Fritzus. “This is the best distance running we have seen in the Ocean League in over 10 years. It only will get better.”
In the frosh/soph girls division, Culver City placed 1-2-3 in the shotput. Alexis Douglas won, followed by Opal Emelio and Anastasia Holbert.
In the boys varsity, multi-sport star Cahlil Hooper and his brother Cameron should score a lot of points for the Centaurs tomorrow night. Both will compete in the 100, 200 and 400 meters, and the 400 and 1600 meter relays. “Hard work is paying off,” said Cahlil. “I just want to keep improving. Although I have only been at Culver City for two years, it seems like four years because of all of the nice people. It feels like one big family.”
Hurdler Samuel Robert is one to keep an eye on. He will run the 110 and 300 meter hurdles.
During the finals in the long jump and shotput on Monday, Justin Cox, another football player, placed third in the long jump. Cameryn Newman, who plays football, was third in the shotput.
In the frosh/soph division, Nick Bradley and Kevin McGuire had the two fastest qualifying times in the 100 meters. McGuire won the long jump while Robert Simon placed second.
Elsewhere
The first-place boys baseball team, 6-0 in the Ocean League, is at Hawthorne tomorrow at 3. They are 14-7 overall. The Centaurs are home against Beverly Hills on Tuesday at 3.
The girls softball team, 4-2 in league, is tied for second with Santa Monica. At 11-10-1 for the season, the Centaurs are home against the Vikings on Thursday at 3.
The boys volleyball team 5-4 in league, and 10-13, hopes to make the playoffs.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com