A number of local scholastic track and field teams hope to climb to new heights this spring.
At La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) School, the Torreys and head coach Kevin Reaume finished another outstanding year last season, with the boys going 8-1 (co-Coastal Conference champs) and the girls placing second at 7-2.
Key members this season look to include Lauren Pischel (distance); Alex Maire (sprints/jumps); Andy Altman (throws); Alex Yanez (throws); Jvonte Brooks (jumps); Alex Poyhonen (distances); Tricia Decker and Morgan Effron (pole vault); Jon Volfson and Taylor Sarkaria (pole vault); Kira Mesman Hallman and Courtney Rockwood (jumpers); and Mason Boxer-Capitano (hurdles).
“We’re always keeping the eyes on the prize,” Reaume said. “Our girls want to regain the championship it held for five years running and the boys are looking to claim the championship outright. We have a young team but are excited about the potential.”
At La Jolla High, head girls coach Roger Karnopp and the Lady Vikings were 6-0 last spring, winning the Western League and placing third in Division II at CIFs.
Key members this year are Dana Hoolko in the sprints, pole vault and throws; Ashley Fu in the sprints and jumps; Allyn Meyer in the jumps and throws; Courtney Avvampto, Nihal Kayali, Tess-Plant Thomas and Meghan Bautista in the distances; Gina Schumacher and Marina Mautner in both hurdles; Melia Plotkin and Lauren Christensen in the pole vault; Amanda Clausen in the high jump; and Christie Richmond in the 400 and 1600 relay.
“We feel we have a chance to win the league again this year,” Karnopp said. “Our challenge teams will be Cathedral Catholic and Scripps Ranch. Scripps Ranch appears a little stronger this year, so the league title could be determined in the last dual meet of the year.”
La Jolla opened the season with a 95-39 win over Madison. On the boys side, head coach Danny Kung and the Vikings finished 5-1 last spring, good for second place in the Western League and a fourth place in CIFs Division II.
This year’s squad will look to state qualifers Igor Seriba in the jumps and John Gibson in the pole vault to lead the way. Also look for contributions from hurdler David Cary; mid-distance specialist Alex Todd; distance standouts Trevor Dorne and Michael Conroy; sprinters Sirak Simavoryan and John Jackson; and high jumpers Kevin Miller and Mike Montemarano.
“All of these athlete have experienced success in the past track season and cross-country this year,” Kung noted. “They all know what it is like to step up their game when the time comes down to it. The team as a whole and the cohesiveness they have formed is the most important aspect of this team. This is what will separate this team from the rest.”
At The Bishop’s School, head coach Mary Fran Cullen and the Knights come off another stellar campaign. Both teams won the 2006 Coastal Conference.
“It was a great year with a lot of senior leaders, especially on the boys’ side,” Cullen said.
This year’s girls squad will look to a strong Marjorie Lacombe in the sprints; Aubrey Doede, who finished second in the CIFs in the high jump and placed 10th in state last year with a best of 5’4″; Laura Wyatt in the 1600-meter run, who as a freshman ran a 5:11 at the CIFs and earned All-CIF honors; and Elizabeth Schulze in the 3200-meter, who was also All-CIF in this event her freshman year.
On the boys side, look to Jason Park in the shotput and discus; Chris See, Jordan Ackerman and Victor Fimbres in the sprints; and Ben Lacombe in the high-jump and long-jump.
“Even though we lost a few athletes to graduation last spring, we are coming back again this season with a strong, young, talented team,” Cullen remarked. “We won our first dual meet against Canyon Crest Academy this past week and posted great relay team times for the girls at the Tiger Relays.”