Lindhurst blazing way to league track title
From the swift feet of senior sprinter Lurrell Johnson to the drive and determination of freshman standout Jurrell Davis, the Lindhurst High varsity boys track and field team staked its claim as the Golden Empire League's best team from top to bottom.
Johnson swept the sprint events by placing first in the 100-meter run (11.09 seconds) and 200 (23.15) and Davis overcame an injured back to claim the 800 (2:15) and 1600 (5:11), and the Blazers moved closer to a GEL title by blowing past Capital Christian and previously undefeated Highlands in a double-dual meet at Dean Miller Stadium on Wednesday.
"It gets us one step closer," Lindhurst track coach Rob Castleman said. "We're predicting to beat Golden Sierra next week and that will clinch the co-championship. Then it will come down to the league meet."
The Blazers easily topped Capital Christian 89-38, but it took the second to last event of the day for them to get by Highlands 70-59. Freshman Diego Villasenor clinched the victory by breaking away from the pack in the final 800 meters to take first in the 3200 (12:00).
"Diego sealed the deal. After he won that, we didn't have to run the 1600 relay," Castleman said. "It was very impressive. He's only a freshman and he's getting better each week."
Although he's just a freshman, Villasenor knew the circumstances entering the event.
"Coach said we needed the points so I had to dig down deep," said Villasenor, who also took second to Davis in the 1600 (5:16). "Usually I don't run this event, but I'm strong at it and we needed the points."
Also putting the Blazers over the top was a strong performance in the throwing events. Kameron Dansby took first in the discus (92-feet, 2-inches) and Zach Trindad won the shot put (34-3-1⁄4).
Taking second for the Blazers' boys was freshman Jarrade Davis (400, 54.97 and 800, 2:18), Nick McCoubrey (110 hurdles, 17.24 and 300 hurdles, 44.70), Kenny Teasley (long jump, 18-9 and triple jump, 39-2), Kenderick Jones (high jump, 5-10) and Fred French (shot put, 33-1⁄2).
Led by four first-place finishes by Ariel Caporale, the Blazers' girls team defeated Capital Christian 65-20, but lost to Highlands 89-38 in their double-dual.
Caporale, a junior, breezed to wins in the 100 hurdles (19.83), 300 hurdles (56.16) and shot put (23-7) before entering her favorite and best event — the discus.
"This will be a fourth win — I guarantee it," Caporale said with a big grin. "I love the discus. I practice at it so much and it's something that I'm naturally good at."
True to her word, Caporale won the discus with a throw of 81-10 — as she was the only one competing in the event.
Beronica Perez took first in the 800 (3:01), and second in the 400 (1:18) and triple jump (22-3), Danielle Daniel was second in the shot put (231⁄2) and 3200 (16:45) and Fabiola Rivera was second in the 800 (3:06) and 1600 (6:47) to round out the scoring for the Blazers.
Lindhurst's frosh-soph team lost to Highlands 52-29 and blanked Capital Christian 31-0 behind first-place finishes from Osvaldo Batista in the 110 hurdles (23:04) and 300 hurdles (55:42). Terence Bowens placed first in the discus (57-4) and shot put (27-101⁄2).
