As dominant as the Otay Ranch High School track and field team has been throughout the season, one suspects the Mustangs are saving their best for last.
“When you coach, that’s something you plan to happen – to have your team perform its best in big meets or at the end of the season,” veteran ORHS head coach Ian Cumming said. “Things are going well. On Friday, there will be some good competition. There are some good teams down here. Our athletes will be pushed. It will be fun to find out.”
At this stage of the season, both the Mustang boys and girls teams have to be rated top contenders to challenge for San Diego Section titles. But first things first. Up next are the Mesa League and South Bay League championship finals Friday at Otay Ranch High School. Field events start at 3:30 p.m., followed by running events at 5 p.m.
Many coaches are predicting a blockbuster showing by South County athletes. Certainly, there were some eye-popping performances at Tuesday’s preliminary meet at ORHS.
The Mustangs grabbed top qualifying marks in six of the 12 running events conducted at Tuesday’s prelims.
Top qualifiers from Otay Ranch included freshman Alyssa Chang (15.96 in the girls 100 hurdles), junior J’Vion Johnson (15.89 in the boys 110 high hurdles), freshman Kiera Williams (1:00.46 in the girls 400 dash), freshman Donald Molton (11.15 in the boys 100 dash and 22.84 in the 200 dash) and Isaac Mallett (40.22 in the boys 300 intermediate hurdles).
Chula Vista and Eastlake each netted two top qualifiers in Mesa League heats.
Chula Vista senior Daniel Cueva timed 51.87 in the boys 400 dash, Eastlake senior Diamond Mitchell ran 12.65 in the girls 100 dash and 26.37 in the 200 dash, Chula Vista sophomore Cynthia Ruffin clocked 2:19.96 in the girls 800 run, Bonita Vista senior Alfredo Rodriguez cranked out a season-best 1:55.64 in the boys 800 run and Bonita Vista junior Jade Palm timed 47.76 in the girls 300 low hurdles.
Top field event qualifiers from the Mesa League included Eastlake senior Kayla Walden (16-1 in the girls long jump), Otay Ranch junior Marques Roberts (21-2 in the boys long jump) and Otay Ranch senior Bryant Haro (148-9 in the boys discus throw).
Rodriguez entered the week ranked second in the boys 800 with a time of 1:55.8, trailing Torrey Pines’ Matt Carpowich (1:53.5). The BV runner is ranked seventh in the 1,600 run (4:20.49) ahead of Otay Ranch’s Jacob Roach (10th at 4:21.37). The two are expected to run shoulder to shoulder in Friday’s 1,600 league finale. Roach is ranked third in the section in the 3,200 run (9:13.49).
Roberts remains second in the section in the boys triple jump (47-8.25) behind leader Stefan McClure of Vista (48-3).
Mallett entered the week ranked fourth in the section in the boys 300 IH (39.31) while Molton ranked sixth in both the 100 dash (10.95) and 200 dash (22.0).
Chang entered the week ranked fifth in the section in the 300 hurdles (46.87) ahead of Palm (seventh in 47.10).
Walden ranked fifth in the section in the girls triple jump (35-8) and 10th in the long jump (17-2) while EHS teammate Mitchell ranked seventh in the girls 200 (25.5).
Sixteen events will be contested at Friday’s finals, with athletes limited to four events each.
Montgomery senior Thomas Little turned in a marquee performance Tuesday with top qualifying marks in four South Bay League running events: 110 high hurdles (15.76), 100 dash (11.30), 300 intermediate hurdles (41.40) and 200 dash (22.75).
Little entered the week ranked eighth in the section in the 110 high hurdles at 15.24, first among Division II runners.
Other top qualifying marks in South Bay League races were turned in by Montgomery senior Elena Soler (17.57 in the girls 100 hurdles), Mar Vista junior Leland Robinson (52.35 in the boys 400 dash), Southwest senior Kyky Davis (12.99 in the girls 100 dash), Sweetwater senior Maila Lucht (2:21.80 in the girls 800 run), Sweetwater sophomore Daniel Del Valle (2:05.62 in the boys 800 run), Olympian senior Lesleah Flores (48.98 in the girls 300 low hurdles) and Olympian sophomore Australia Rawling (26.87 in the girls 200 dash).
Sweetwater sophomore Abinadi Castellanos turned in the top qualifying time among South Bay League boys in the 1,600 run in 4:44.62.
Top field event qualifiers from the South Bay League included Sweetwater sophomore Maria Garcia (15-0 in the girls long jump), Sweetwater senior Chris Carranza (19-8 in the boys long jump) and Castle Park senior Cesar Amparo (131-3.5 in the boys discus throw).
Lucht entered the week ranked ninth in the section in the girls 400 (59.36).
Otay Ranch finished with double dual meet championships in boys and girls competition this season in the Mesa League, followed by Eastlake.
Castle Park captured the South Bay League boys dual meet title, followed by Sweetwater and Olympian. Sweetwater repeated as girls league dual meet champions, followed by Castle Park and Olympian.
Though her events were byed to Friday’s finals, SuHi’s Aylin Mejia set school records this season in the girls mile (5:10) and two-mile (11:24).
Section leaders
Otay Ranch junior Jon Bajet entered the week ranked third in the boys discus throw (165-0) and fifth in the shot put (50-7). Bajet was fourth in qualifying in Tuesday’s discus prelims at 134-11.
Otay Ranch senior Oscar Zuniga entered the week ranked seventh in the section in the boys 300 hurdles (39.55) while Mustang teammate Tiffany Smith was tied for seventh in the girls pole vault (a school record 10-6).
Otay Ranch’s Briana Davis ranked ninth in the girls triple jump (35-4) while Mustang freshman Carina Gillespie ranked 10th in the girls 800 run (2:19.09).
In relay events, Otay Ranch entered the week ranked third in the section in the girls 4×100 (48.90) and 11th in the boys 4×400 (3:27.2). Eastlake ranked fifth in the girls 4×100 relay (49.1).
