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Track Squads Split Meet
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Splitting their meet on the track, the varsity boys were winners Wednesday over Hughson while the varsity girls lost to the host Huskies.

The Cougar track and field athletes turned in several outstanding performances and the boys earned the slimmest of wins, 69-67.

"That's the closest you can get without tying," coach Rick Heflin pointed out. "We didn't line up with them real well, we were worried."

Lars Jacobsen won the 100 meter high hurdles for Escalon, Michael Beeman took third. Jacobsen was also second in the 300 meter low hurdles, Andrew Arotca took third.

Vynce Bacay was first in the 100 meters, Marshall Rockey took first in the 400 meters, Marcus Savage tied for second. In the 800, Randy Huntington took third and Marc Backovich was third in the 1600 meters.

"In the 200, we finished one, two, three with Bacay, Rockey and Gus Arzac," Heflin said.

Bacay won the triple jump, Savage took the long jump.

"He doesn't usually do it because it bothers his legs but he jumped a 19-9 1/8," Heflin explained of Savage. "He took first by an eighth of an inch."

Savage also took the high jump, setting a personal best mark of 6-3 in that event.

"He did that within five minutes of stepping off the track from the 400," Heflin said. "He was so strong."

Rockey took first in the pole vault, David List was third. In the shotput, Mike Sawyer took second, throwing a personal best of 43-10. In the discus, Kurt Kale was second in 126-1, a personal record, and Sawyer was third with a throw of 125-1.

Going into the mile relay down by three points, the Cougars put Huntington, Arzac, Savage and Bacay on the track.

After two legs, Hughson had a "decent lead" on the Cougars, said Heflin.

"Marcus brought us within about five feet and then Vynce came roaring through and just buried him (Hughson)," Heflin explained, noting that the boys came from behind to snag the points. "It was pretty incredible."

The girls lost a 72-58 decision but also took several firsts on the afternoon.

They finished one, two, three in the 3200 meters with Amanda Moreno first in 11:44, Marie Beard was second and Mary Courtright third. In the 800, it was another sweep, Moreno first in 2:35, followed by Sam Draper and Beard. Escalon also took the first three spots in the mile, Moreno coming in with a time of 5:30, followed by Beard and Courtright.

Katie Baroni took first in the 300 low hurdles, Draper was first in the pole vault for the varsity girls and Amada Nunes finished first in the 100.

Amy Bixel took first place with a personal best in the discus, 95-7, and was second in the shotput at 27-8.

Second place showings included Katie Baroni in the 100 high hurdles, Shannon Finley in the triple jump, and Lauren Cosentino took third in the 200.

Earlier, the team traveled to the Rocklin Invitational for a Saturday, March 27 competition.

"There were 33 schools there, mostly Division I, we were one of the small schools," Heflin said.

Top performers included Moreno, fourth place in the 1500 with a time of 4:49, while Cosentino was second in the JV 100 high hurdles in 18:49.

Bacay was fifth in the 200 and made it to the finals of the 400, Arzac also was in the finals of that event.

Arotca and Michael Beeman ran in the finals of the JV boys 300 low hurdles, Chris Castledine was in the finals of the triple jump.

Savage was fifth in the high jump at 5-10 and Nunes was fifth overall in the 200.

Heflin said the team continues to work hard in practice and is utilizing the new weight room frequently.

"It has been real nice having that facility, it has made a big difference in this team," he said.

The Cougars face a tough test this week, traveling to Riverbank for a Trans-Valley League meet on Wednesday April 7.

By MARG JACKSON