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Track And Field Teams Head To Riverbank
Boys, Girls Take Losses
E 100
Racing down the track in this heat of the 100, Cameron Puthoff, left, has a couple of steps on teammate Thaddeus Stern.Times Photos By Marg Jackson

Though it was classified as a ‘home’ meet, the Escalon track teams traveled to Riverbank this past Wednesday to start the TVL dual meet season. The varsity boys team dropped a heartbreaker to the Bruins 69-67, and the girls fell 81-51. The frosh-soph scores were not available.

“The field events are usually a strength for us with all four squads, but despite a couple of really good efforts, we lost points in each event,” pointed out Coach Roger Beeman. “We were much quicker on the track. Riverbank has a nice, new facility. That quickness kind of hurt us on the runways, though. Most of the kids couldn’t adjust to hit their marks or steps. We can barely eke out any sort of practice at our place, and it puts us at a definite disadvantage when we get on a good surface.

“We have a lot more meets coming up. We’ll learn to adjust, and then everybody better get out of our way.”

Individual event winners for the boys were Fernando Martinez-Barba (110m Hurdles 17.16); Luis Estrada (300m Hurdles 42.21); Kyle Jimenez (400m 57.01); David Escove (Discus 111’9”); and Rex Robbins won two (100m, 11.88 and 200m, 24.79). The 4x100m Relay team also took first in 47.18.

Also placing were Luga Mendoza (2nd 800m), Zach Pickett (3rd 800m), Troy Bedell (3rd 3200m), Estrada (2nd 110m Hurdles), Martinez-Barba (2nd 300m hurdles and 2nd 100m), Eddie Calderon (3rd 1600m), Escove (2nd Shot Put), Cameron Puthoff (2nd in both the Long and Triple Jumps), Ryan Cavanaugh (2nd in both the Pole Vault and High Jump), Chris Brunetti (3rd TJ), Chase Granis (3rd LJ), and Garrett Nebe (3rd HJ).

The girls had four individual winners: Sydney Lima (300m Hurdles 52.57); Lexi Johnson (High Jump 4’6”); Kimi Boss (Pole Vault 7’6”); and double winner Jackie Lau (100m 13.60 and 200m 29.08). The 4x100m Relay team also took first in 54.79.

Scoring second or third for the girls were Gabby Avalos (2nd 800m and 3rd 400m), Madisyn Widmer (2nd 3200m and 3rd 1600m), Annie Wyrick (3rd 100m Hurdles), Gabby Rigg (2nd 400m), Ashley Carreira (3rd 200m), Caitlin Lamparas (2nd Shot Put), and Mary Valencia (3rd in both the High Jump and Triple Jump).

The Cougars will join Modesto Christian at Mountain House this Wednesday for TVL action. The Frosh-Soph teams will also go to San Andreas on Friday for the Calaveras Invitational.