Sports
Cabral Keeps Winning Streak Alive at CIF Masters Meet
The Agoura High junior wins the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, advancing to the state championships in both events, though neither race goes smoothly.
He was nearly last coming out of the blocks in the 110-meter high hurdles. He lagged behind in fifth place with less than 80 meters to go in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Agoura High junior Jonathan Cabral was undefeated in both races going into the CIF Masters Meet on Friday at Cerritos College, so perhaps he was testing his resolve.
Asked if that was his purpose, Cabral sardonically replied, "Sure.''
Running into a strong head wind in the 110-meter highs, Cabral overcame his sluggish start, flawlessly skimmed the hurdles and nosed past runner-up Joey Darko of Golden Valley. Cabral's time of 14.11 seconds was well off the 13.58 he ran to win the event in the CIF Divisional Finals the previous week.
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"I've never been that far behind,'' said Cabral, who did not seize the lead until after he cleared the eighth hurdle.
When asked what his workouts would consist of in preparation for the state meet, Cabral did not hesitate. "Lots of start practice and definitely some form work,'' he said. "It's the worse start I've had in awhile.''
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In the 300 intermediate hurdles, Cabral nearly waited too late to make his final move but when he did, the crowd rose to its feet in admiration as he zoomed past four runners to keep his undefeated streak alive in both races.
Truthfully, Cabral intends to listen to the advice of his father in the longer hurdle race. "I have to get out faster and keep my speed up,'' Cabral said. "I can't rely on that kick, anymore.''
Cabral now has reached his season-long goal by qualifying for the state meet in both hurdle races. He is the nation's fastest underclassman in both events – he has the nation's second-fastest time in the 110-meter high hurdles and ranks among the nation's top five in the longer hurdle event.
But Cabral faces an arduous test. In order to be a double winner in the state meet at Fresno's Clovis West High School, Cabral must qualify in his heats on Friday and then win the finals on Saturday. That's four races in a 24-hour period.
"I didn't feel that tired after the 110s,'' he said, following his night of work at the Masters meet. "I had good recovery (for the 300-meter intermediate hurdles). But it takes me a day to recover after the 300s. I have to get used to recovering faster.''
