TRK: Royals beat Chargers on final 4×400 relay

Tyson Miller and the Royals edged Dos Pueblos 64-63 on Wednesday. (Presidio Sports Photos)

Tyson Miller and the Royals edged Dos Pueblos 64-63 on Wednesday. (Presidio Sports Photos)

 

Walker Odell, Jacob Barrett, Joseph Estrada and Tyson Miller vaulted San Marcos to victory on Wednesday by winning the day’s final event together in a 64-63 decision over Dos Pueblos at Warkentin Stadium.

The foursome’s time of 3:29.80 topped the Chargers’ 4×400 relay team by 0.70 seconds and tipped the scales in San Marcos’ favor. The Royals’ girls team also won its Channel League dual, topping the Chargers 94-24.

COMPLETE RESULTS

Many of the top athletes have the Arcadia Invitational on Friday and Saturday and didn’t overextend themselves with that in mind.

Erica Schroeder, one of the top 800 runners in the state, ran a 2:28.60 on Wednesday and added a win in the mile and the 4×400 relay. Schroeder’s season-best time of 2:14.06 in the 800 is 10th fastest in California so far this spring.

San Marcos freshman Jennifer Nnoli sprints to victory in the 100 meters.

San Marcos freshman Jennifer Nnoli sprints to victory in the 100 meters.

“Today I was just trying to score points and I didn’t want to waste too much energy,” Schroeder said.

The open division race in the 800 at Arcadia is Saturday night.

San Marcos freshman Jennifer Nnoli piled up an equal amount of points for winning the 100 and 200-meter sprints, and anchoring the winning 4×100 relay team.

Nnoli said she felt herself fall behind ever so slightly in the 100 before finding the right gear.

“When we got off the blocks, I saw everybody leave before me and I had to push so hard and keep myself in the drive phase, and then I had to pass them,” Nnoli said.

Nnoli is another headed to Arcadia and her times weren’t close to her season bests of 12.40 (100) and 25.79 (200).

Dos Pueblos’ girls team got wins from Carmen Villarruel in the pole vault, Alanna Ochoa in the discus and Sofia Janotti in the long jump.

The upcoming Arcadia meet didn’t interfere with the dramatic boys finish. Miller crossed the finish line for the victory-clinching 4×400 relay team, capping a day in which he also won the 200 and 400 for the Royals. Cameron Shinn also turned in two individual wins in the long jump and triple jump.

Dos Pueblos countered with Hunter Clark’s distance double in the 1600 and 32oo with times of 4:31.21 and 9:55.50, respectively.

Dan Noffrey, who won the high jump on Wednesday, is DP’s only individual competitor at Arcadia. His goal is to jump 6’6″, which would break the Dos Pueblos school record of 6’5″ set in 1983.

“I wanted to practice coming in a higher height because Arcadia is where I’m going to be dealing with the pros,” Noffrey said. “It’s a work in progress. This is definitely a training meet for me.”

The Chargers swept the high jump and the 100 meters. Blayke Harrison led teammates Aidan Gilkes and DJ Sharpe with a winning time of 11.65. Harrison was second to Miller in the 200 by .30.