As the season gets closer to league finals and CIF competition, track and field athletes are fine tuning to make sure they’re at their best for the big meets.
Connor Reck’s idea of improving his CIF title hopes in the 800 is doing the strength-zapping 400-800 double. The Santa Ynez star said he’ll be running both events Saturday at the Santa Barbara County Championships at Carpinteria’s Memorial Stadium.
Reck has the fastest 800-meter time in the county (and 21st best in the state) at 1:55.58. He started the 4-8 combo training at last weekend’s Russell Cup and did quite well. He ran the 400 in a PR of 49.60, which won the event. He finished second in the 800 in 1:56.81. His county-best mark is 1:55.89
“I’m pretty happy with my time,” he said after the Russell Cup. “I can defintely feel that 400 had a toll on me, but I thought I finished really strong (in the 800). Once I drop that 400 by CIF I’ll be able to drop five seconds off that time. I’m doing the 4-8 combo to train.”
Reck’s teammate, Cody Uhrig, has the county’s top time in the 400 at 48.80.
In the 800, Reck will be pushed by DP’s Jacob Bartholomew (1:56.25, 27th in the state) and Graham Ashby (1:57.57).
The Harvard-bound Reck also is part of the fastest boys 4×400 relay team in the county. The Pirates clocked 3:23.84 last weekend to set a meet record. They will be challenged by San Marcos, which ran a season-best of 3:24.45 at last week’s Mt. SAC Relays.
The San Marcos girls will be looking to lower their county-best time in the 4×400 relay. The team (Elysia Hodges, Marie Brashears, Kaylin Koopmans, Hannah McDaniel) enters the meet with the seventh fastest time in the state at 3:53.34.
The Royals are the leaders in county-best marks, holding seven in girls events (100, 200, 400, 800, 300 hurdles, high jump and 4×400 relay) and four on the boys side (100, 300 hurdles, high jump, triple jump).
McDaniel is the leader in three individual events: the 200 meters (25.91), 400 (58.80) and high jump (5-6).
The high jump competition should be a good one between McDaniel and St. Joseph basketball star Aly Beebe, who’s also gone 5-6.
The girls 100 also figures to be close with county leader Elysia Hodges of San Marcos (12.43) and No. 2 Jessica Escalante of Dos Pueblos (12.63). Hodges won Wednesday’s dual meet battle.
Another tight competition is expected in the girls shot put between Kelly Jarrett of St. Joseph (40-2.75) and DP freshman Stamatia Scarvelis (39-11).
In the boys competition, the 100 meters should be a close battle with San Marcos teammates Andrew Thayer (10.93) and Randee Harvey (10.98), and Cate soccer star Ema Boateng (11.0).
The 1600 figures to be a tight race with leader Briggs Deardorff of Santa Barbara (4:19.44), DP’s Sergy Sushchikh (4:24.01) and a trio from Cabrillo, Daniel Pena, Joe Velazquez and Steven Villinueva.
Sushchikh has the fastest 3200 time (20th in the state) at 9:12.32.
In the high jump, four athletes share the top spot at 6 feet: Shein Meinhold of DP, Dustin McDonald of Righetti, Shane Rowan of San Marcos and Nick Lahr of St. Joseph.
There are a couple of events in which county athletes are among the best in the state.
DP’s Nick Scarvelis is the leader, and No. 3 in the nation, in the shot put at 64-5.50, and Rowan ranks in the top 15 in the state in the triple jump at 45-10.50.
COUNTY LEADERS
BOYS
100 — Andrew Thayer, San Marcos, 10.93
200 — Joshua Yaro, Cate, 22.44
400 — Cody Uhrig, Santa Ynez, 48.80
800 — Connor Reck, Santa Ynez, 1:55.89
1600 — Briggs Deardorff, Santa Barbara, 4:20.95
3200 — Sergey Suschikh, Dos Pueblos, 9:12.32
110 HH — Steven DeComarmond, Santa Maria, 14.77
300 IH — Tristan Lake, San Marcos, 39.49
4×100 relay — Righetti 43.80
4×400 relay — Santa Ynez, 3:23.84
HJ — Four tied at 6-0: Shein Meinhold, DP, Dustin McDonald, Righetti, Shane Rowan, San Marcos, Nick Lahr, St. Joseph
LJ — Jalen Davenport, Cabrillo, 21-7
TJ — Shane Rowan, San Marcos, 45-10.50
PV — Parker Johnson, Santa Ynez, 13-6
D — Nick Scarvelis, DP, 174-3
SP — Nick Scarvelis, DP 64-5.50 (No. 1 in state)
GIRLS
100 — Elysia Hodges, San Marcos, 12.43
200 — Hannah McDaniel, San Marcos, 25.91
400 — Hannah McDaniel, San Marcos, 58.80
800 — Marie Brashears, San Marcos, 2:20.4
1600 — Erin Campbell, Dos Pueblos, 5:13
3200 — Quetta Peinado, St. Joseph, 11:28
110H — Elysia Hodges, San Marcos, 16.34
300H — Elysia Hodges, San Marcos, 44.70
4×100 relay — Dos Pueblos 49.16
4×400 relay — San Marcos 3:53.34
HJ — Aly Beebe, St. Joseph, 5-6, Hannah McDaniel, San Marcos, 5-6
LJ — Ellen Sandin, DP, 18-3.75 (wind aided)
TJ — Rebecka Miranda, Cabrillo, 36-06
PV — Marina Plesons, DP, 11-0
D — Rachel Szyeller, Santa Ynez, 124-10
SP — Kelly Jarrett, St. Joseph, 40-2.75
