Braves not 100% - But run tough
in L.A.
It was a fairly successful day at the Los Angeles Indoor
Invitational for the Braves. Despite some major team set
backs over the past few weeks the Braves came to run with optimism
and heart. Here is the recap of how the day unfolded.
Boys High School 4x880 Relay: Randy Hills lead off for his
team in strong fashion. Hills ran in second place on his leg,
right behind a strong Long Beach Poly team, and handed the
baton off to Daniel Estrella, for a 2:03 relay split. Estrella
kept his team in 2nd place while running a 2:08 split. Tony
Martinez headed the 3rd leg for his team. His split of 2:06
kept his team in the top 3. Mahesh Gandhi brought the baton
home after anchoring his team with a time of 2:10. The Braves
placed a very strong 4th here, in a race that included Long
Beach Poly, El Toro, and Canyon - all top Division I Cross
Country Schools.
Boys High School 4x160 Relay: It was in the sprint relays
where the Braves would suffer most. With injuries and illness
to three of their top four runners (Joe Cowan, Josh Bradford,
and Matt Young)the Braves had to do the best they could with
what they had. The best on this day was pretty good. Running
a "B" team the Braves were still only 1 second off
of last years "A" team with a respectable time of
71.9 to last years 70.9. The team included Garrett Schott,
Archie Aragon, Paul Mayans and Matt Young - who was participating
in the race after his first week back battling from mono.
Boys High School 4x440 Relay: This squad faired a bit better
then the shorter relay. The team featured Archie Aragon - a
second year runner with rookie relay experience, Carl Van Ness
- a sophomore who participated in last years CIF Prelims, Anthony
Maldonado - a sophomore rookie for the Braves, and Garrett
Schott - who ran valiantly to keep his team in the race. This
years "B" team was a mere .50 off last years "A" team
-3:42.7 to 3:42.2.
Boys High School Two Mile: Randy Hills was probably the Brave
runner of the day with his performance early in the relay and
here in the two mile. Hills ran in 2nd place to lead the second
pack for much of the race. When it was all over Hill's finished
5th with a PR two mile time of 9:37.8 which translates roughly
into a (PR) time of 9:34.8 for 3200m. On this day Hills established
himself as the favorite for the Serra League title and a spot
in the CIF-SS Division II Finals. |
