Track Roundup: Pons Dominates Record Setting Rio Hondo League Finals

It was a night that saw a number of league records fall. But it was also a night that saw South Pasadena senior Sam Pons, one of the finest athletes to ever compete in the Rio Hondo League, run for one last time on his home track.

Fighting a cough all week, Pons still displayed dominance in winning league titles in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter events for a third consecutive year Friday night.

“I wanted to take the title, but it helps with speed and gives me confidence of how fast I can go,” Pons said of his performance in the 800, in which he set a school record.

Pons took the 800 in 1 minute, 54.98 seconds, a personal best by more than two seconds. He previously won the 1,600 in 4:23.60 and later took the 3,200 in 9:52.15.

“The final kick signifies I accomplished all three,” Pons said of the end to his last race.

In his career, Pons won 14 out of 16 possible league titles between the three distance events in track and field and cross country. He only failed to win the league title in cross country as a freshman and the 800 title in track later that spring.

San Marino junior Omhunique Brown won three events, two of which were in meet record-setting times. She also finished second in a fourth event.

Brown has had to face the tough challenge of running events with little break time in between.

“My coach taught us for back-to-back races, so you have to deal with it,” Brown said.  “I’m not happy, but I’m satisfied. In my mind I had all the times memorized and I accomplished two out of the four.”

Brown set the meet records in her last two events, the 300 hurdles (43.90) and the 200 (24.93). She also won the 100 (12.18) and was second in the 100 hurdles (14.94) to Monrovia’s Kia Smith (14.86). Both broke the previous meet record in the event.

Monrovia broke a number of meet records.

Sophomore Amanada Mansoorbekht had a pair by winning the 1,600 (5:10.78) and the 800 (2:16.01), both of which were personal bests by large margins.

“I really wanted this. I have everyone’s times by my bed,” said Mansoorbekht, who had a nine second personal best in the 1,600 and a three second drop in the 800. “I’ve been wanting this for a while. I woke up knowing this would be a good day.”

Monrovia’s 400 meter relay team of Smith, Jasmine Thomas, Jenny Pfau and Skylar Buchanan broke the meet by running 48.75, topping last season’s 48.94 effort.

South Pasadena freshman Kamia Rodil-Willis set a new record in the girls’ 400 (56.59).

In the never-ending battle for the South Pasadena boys’ triple jump record, Mayan Schexnayder broke the school record for the third time this season by going 47 feet, 1 inch in the preliminaries, which set a league record.

In the finals, he was second to teammate Sean Nang, who won with a best of 45-4 ¼. Schexnayder, who struggled on his first two jumps, jumped 44-6 on his third and final attempt.

Monrovia’s Michael Harris, who won the long jump (22-5) was third in the triple jump (44-3 ½).  Nang was second in the long jump (21-9 ½) and Schexnayder took third (21-7).

Monrovia junior Ellis McCarthy won both the shot put (49-0) and discus (128-6 ¼).

La Canada’s Sonia Cwik won the girls’ 3,200 (11:18.35)

Pierce Clark was second in the boys’ high jump for the Spartans (6-0).

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The Pacific League finals didn’t bring out record-setting performances like in past years, but there were still a number of top performances.

The Arcadia boys team got wins from Tony Moseley in the 400 (50.39), Zach Marriott in the 800 (1:56.52), Ammar Moussa in the 3,200 (9:17.90) and Kevin Giammalva in the shot put (45-3).

Crescenta Valley got a pair of wins from Levi Walker (21-1/2) in the long jump and 42-8 in the triple jump. The Falcons’ Mike Duncan was able to get past a strong pack of Apaches in the 1,600 to win in 4:23.70.

Muir got a superb win from Daityvon McFadden in the 300 hurdles (38.41). Tevin Polk won the high jump for the Mustangs (6-2). Muir also won the 4x100-meter relay with McFadden, Kevon Seymour, Keith Callum and Karl Holmes making up the team that won in 43.06.

Pasadena’s Ian Grant won the 110 high hurdles (15.31).

On the girls’ side, CV received a victory in the 100 from Jessica Beerman (12.74). Teammate Tiernan Hebron took the 400 (59.79). The 4x100-meter relay team of Beerman, Kayleigh Carrilo, Noel Wong and Claudia Sepulveda won in 50.23. The 1,600 meter relay team of Berrman, Hebron, Carrillo and Cali King won in 4:04.14.

Top second-place performances came from King in the 1,600 (5:15.52) and Sepulveda in the 300 hurdles (47.86).

Arcadia received a victory from Alejandra Quintero in the 3,200 (11:29.11). Miranda Stiver had a superb second-place finish in the 800 (2:16.43).

Vivian Chan won the pole vault for the Apaches (8-6) and Janise Qin took the shot put (33-3).

Camara Blount won the 200 for Pasadena (26.60).  

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The Mission League finals were held Thursday at Los Angeles Valley College in Van Nuys.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy got a second-place performance from Stephanie Vargas in the 400 (57.74). Drew Washington was fourth (59.54) and Daelyn Moon sixth (1:00.83).

Freshman Rebecca Armstrong was third in the 800 (2:22.71). Hailey James took third in the 300 hurdles (50.46).

Carolina Treinen was third in the pole vault (9-4). Noelle Niederhaus was fourth in the triple jump (33-9) and sixth in the long jump (15-9 ¾). Ali De Oca was fifth in the triple jump (33-1/4).

Vanessa Romero was third in the shot put (32-3/4) and Lana Haddad was sixth (31-7).

The Tologs 1,600 meter relay team finished second in 4:01.10.

Advancing to CIF competition for St. Francis High will be hurdler James Knowles. He won the 110 high and 300 hurdle events in 14.77 and 39.43, respectively.

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The Prep League finals were held at Claremont McKenna College.

Flintridge Prep’s lone league champion was Kate Kennedy in the girls’ 300 hurdles (47.56). She finished second in the 400 (1:01.22). Elise Young qualified for CIF in the triple jump (31-11).

For the boys’ team, Tyler Shum led the Rebels with a second place finish in the 100 (11.34). He was third in the long jump (20-2). Jason Bunn was second in the 3,200 (10:11.82) Sam Cook was second in the discus (110-6).