Yuba City boys, River Valley girls win in key league meet

His coach calls him a "beanpole," a boy with PVC pipes for limbs. His wire-rimmed glasses are constantly falling off his nose, causing him to reset the spectacles mid-stride. The weight room is on the agenda eventually, but right now River Valley's Swarnjit Boyal is too preoccupied beating everyone.

It happened Wednesday in the 1600 meter run, when he upshifted on the final lap, turning a race into a waxing. Same in the 3200, when the next closest runner crossed 45 seconds behind the sophomore. The high jump? Sure. He set a personal record and walked away steamed he couldn't go higher.

"When he fills out and becomes a man ..." said Falcons coach Paul Odegard, thinking blissfully toward the future. "He's just a boy."

He was also one of the day's biggest standouts as the Falcons hosted Yuba City in a Tri-County Conference dual meet. The home team fell 87-40, as they just didn't have the bodies to sprint with the Honkers. But in the distance events, it was all Boyal, a 5-foot-11 motor who produced an unmatched cruising speed in his size 101⁄2 Nikes.

The 1600 came and went in 4 minutes, 42.5 seconds. The 3200, gone in 10:33.2. Neither are near his goals, and his 5-foot, 4-inch mark in the high jump had him groaning and asking for another shot after the competition ended. He wanted to prove to himself he could clear that bar at 5-6.

"Awww come on," he said. "Put it (back) up for me, I need to get this."

Across the field, Yuba City's Davis Harper scowled. He's a football player in the fall, and apparently a very unsatisfied shot-putter come springtime. His technique wasn't good, he said, grumbling about not hitting 45 feet.

All this, and he won easily. No other competitor came within 2 feet of his 43-3 heave. Being by far and above the best against Yuba City's top rival didn't satisfy.

"Today wasn't my day," he said.

The optimist would remind him he's rather new. He joined up late last season after baseball didn't pan out. Squatting 400-plus and impressing with his power cleans led to an invite from the track and field team.

It's a similar story for one of the Honkers' top sprinters, Greg Pugh. He took the 100 (11.7), 200 (24.3) and 400 (59.4), a haul that wouldn't have seemed plausible when he joined up to throw the discus. One day, Yuba City needed an extra runner in the 1600 relay. He felt the rush of the exploding from the blocks, and henceforth was a sprinter.

Bernell Barmore and Kym Crosby are the usual suspects, the pair who commands attention. They both have resumes stuffed with invitational wins, and turn dual meets like this into an exhibition.

Yuba City's Barmore owned the 110 hurdles (14.8), long jump (19-9) and triple jump (44-6), taking each by a cavernous margin.

The matriarch of River Valley track, Crosby made the most of her final home meet by helping the girls team win 64-38. She's well-liked and respected among track circles — most realize it's a foregone conclusion she's going to win.

"Hey Kim, you going to tear it up?" a teammate asked before retracting the statement. "That was kind of a dumb question, wasn't it?"

Moments later Crosby won the 400 (1:02.8) by more than 12 seconds. The triple jump (32-10) and 200 (26.3) came without challenge as well. In a way, it was one final victory lap for Crosby on the track that helped her morph into a collegiate-level athlete. (She'll run for Chico State next year.)

"Whoo," Crosby said, a half exclamation, half sigh. "I try not to think about it because I don't want to start crying."

Other winners

Yuba City's boys

Jo an Fernandez (800, 2:08.3); Louis Moyers (300 hurdles, 45.1); 400 relay (45.7) ;1600 relay.

Yuba City girls

Cindy Haymore (100, 13.5); Niyia Sims (800, 2:41.2); Raeann Magill (long jump, 13-3).

River Valley boys

Wade Debartolo (discus, 124-6).

River Valley girls

Vanessa Kennedy (100 hurdles, 17.8; 300 hurdles, 51.8); Leanne Jarvis (1600, 5:35.3; 3200, 12:50); Fenny Descutan (discus, 69-8); 400 relay (56.9); 1600 relay (4:37.4).