Remarkable is the best way to describe Culver City High School’s track and field performance at the Ocean League finals on a chilly night inside the Jerry Chabola Stadium last Thursday.
From the beginning to the end, the Centaurs proved again they have one of the best track and field programs in Southern California.
The boys and girls varsity and the boys soph/frosh teams won Ocean League championships. The girls soph/frosh team placed second.
It all started with the 400 meter relays and ended with Culver City’s multi-sport star Steven Ashby running back and forth from the long jump pit to the other side of the field to compete in the high jump.
Ashby won the long jump with a leap of 22 feet and his winning height in the high jump was 6 feet. He also won the 300 meter hurdles, but he was not the star of the meet.
Culver City sophomore Arman Rostamian took those honors. He ran his way into track and field history when he won the 1600 meter run in one of the most thrilling races in Culver City High School history. He outlasted Lawndale’s Joshua Velasco and two other El Segundo runners to win the race in 4:31.91. The next three runners ran in the 4:32’s.
Rostamian placed second in the 800 meters in 2:02.74 behind Santa Monica’s Brighton Mills who ran 1:59.87.
“I am really proud of myself and my coaches,” said Rostamian after he won the 1600 meters. “As a sophomore I always wanted to win the 1600. The prelims on Monday really helped me. They showed me I needed to run on the outside not the inside. That is what my coach (Rayfield M. Beaton) told me to do.”
Rostamian started running cross country in middle school. “I always had the passion for running,” he said. “But I was not that good when I was younger.
“I am so excited. Last night I said to myself if I win the 1600 I will be so happy.”
\Rostamian and the rest of the varsity boys and girls who qualified for CIF will compete in the prelims at Moorpark High School Saturday. “We are extremely pleased with the Centaur athletes tonight,” said Coach Jahmal Wright. “I would have liked to have won all for divisions but maybe next year.
“This is what we work so hard for. I just want to thank the parents, teachers, athletic department, coaches and the student athletes. It’s a team effort.”
Baseball Finale
The baseball team will play their final home game of the regular season today against Beverly Hills at home at 3:15. They are 10-14 overall and 5-3 in the Ocean League. They will continue their season in the CIF playoffs next week.
Girls softball is 12-11 and 6-3 in league. They are in third place. If first place Santa Monica beats El Segundo, the Centaurs will be tied for second place with El Segundo going into the CIF playoffs.
The boys volleyball team played their second CIF playoff game last Tuesday.
The boys and girls lacrosse teams lost their playoff games last week.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com