SERRA LEAGUE FINALS
St. John Bosco Track and Field - Serra League Champs!
It was fitting that the last Serra league team champion came down to the two most dominant teams in league since its inception - St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita high schools. After all they are the only two teams in league to ever hold the distinction of "Serra League Champion." It may have been more fitting had those two teams ended in a tie for a share of the championship - it happened in 2003 and 2004. Though it can be safely said that neither school wanted a tie in this the last league battle of the year and of the Serra league all together - next year with the addition of Orange Lutheran and Junipero Serra high schools the league will be known as the Trinity league.
On this night, on a slightly overcast day in Rancho Santa Margarita the most thorough team claimed the final Serra league title - congratulations to the Braves of St. John Bosco who came away with the top team honor after a roller coaster meet in which three different teams lead. Heading into the 4x400 meter relay the title was still up for grabs. Santa Margarita had to win the race and hoped for a Bosco 5th place finish - those factors would give them the championship out right. If Bosco placed 3rd, they would be out right champions. A fourth place Bosco finish coupled with a Margarita win would leave both teams as co-serra league champions. It appeared as though that was the scenario that was to be played out as Margarita claimed the 1st place spot while Bosco fought desperately, but could only finish 4th. Unfortunately for a strong Santa Margarita squad they were sited for a lane violation and disqualified. It was a bitter sweet win for the Braves but a win nonetheless. It was the most well rounded team that won the final Serra league title, a team that took it's lumps throughout the season, but ultimately a team that endured the best.
A team title can't be won without the help of individuals and the Braves had some outstanding individual performances. Claiming league titles where the 4x100 meter relay team of Randolph White, Dwayne Giles, Frank Islas, and Steven Caudillo - they ran a huge seasonal best to blowout the competition in 43.20. Giles would score a personal best in the 400 meters to claim that individual title while sophomore Travion Smith won both the high jump and triple jumps. Smith would also claim runner up spots in both the 110 meter hurdles and long jump, while Giles would finish 3rd in the 200 meters and a ran great race to help his team in the CIF qualifying 4x400 meter relay. Perhaps equally as impressive were junior Victor Bonilla and sophomore Chris De La Cruz who entered the all time school list in the 1600 meters and pole vault respectively. Bonilla's 1600 meter time of 4:23.85 places him 8th all time while De La Cruz's vault of 13 feet 1 inch places him 10th all time.
Other athletes stepping up in the final meet of the season include senior Randolph White who came up with a huge 3rd place finish in the 100 meters. Junior Joey Castillo took home 4 junior varsity first place medals as he captured the 100 and 200 meters and was part of both the victorious junior varsity 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. Junior Ruben Pereyra captured the junior varsity 400 meters and was also part of the relays along with Castillo and seniors Nick Pardo, and Bryan Bautista. Sophomore Stuart Chapman and freshman Sergio Estrada both battled through minor injuries to both race to personal bests in the 800 meters of 2:08.30 and 2:08.65 respectively, while sophomore Evan Word and Juan Bustos accomplished their ultimate seasonal goals by breaking the 5 minute barrier in the 1600 meter finishing in 4:58.02 and 4:59.48.