The Culver City high school boys’ and girls’ track and field teams hope to continue their dominance in the Ocean League finals tonight, hosted by the Centaurs. Culver City is poised to win all four divisions against some tough competition from Beverly Hills, El Segundo, Lawndale, Hawthorne and Santa Monica.
The league finals start at 5 p.m. inside the Jerry Chabola Stadium.
If the Ocean league prelims, which took place last Monday at Culver City, is any indication, the frosh/soph and varsity girls’ teams and the frosh/soph and varsity boys’ teams should win league championships in all four divisions. During the regular season the both boys teams and the girls varsity teams were undefeated and the girls frosh/soph team loss their last meet of the year to Beverly Hills.
When it comes to dominance in track and field Culver City has always been strong in the sprints and hurdles and this year is no different. Out of the 80 spots in last Monday’s 100, 200 and 400 meters and the 100 and 300-meter hurdles the Centaurs qualified in 46 of the spots. That’s very impressive when you are running against some of the top track and field programs in South Bay and the Westside.
Leading the way for the girls varsity is veteran sprinter and senior Veronica Mendez. Mendez had the fastest qualifying time in the 200 meters and the second fastest time in the 100. She will also run on both the 400 and 1600- meter relays.
“I am very emotional right now and very happy,” Mendez said. “This is my last few meets at Culver City, so I am a little sad to be leaving my friends, teammates, coaches and teachers. We as a team want to represent Culver City and do the best we can. We are going to push hard, keep working hard and stay focused for the rest of the season.”
Another senior girl who is having a great year is Nia Garcia. Garcia is expected to win the 100 and 300-meter hurdles, as well as the long jump and triple jump. Garcia is considered an extremely competitive and aggressive hurdler. “I like to get out fast and attack the hurdle,” Garcia said. “Our teams are doing really well right now and we just want to continue to improve.”
The biggest surprise of Culver City’s track season is the development of freshman Marilyn Hernandez in the girls 800 meters. This is her first year of running track and under the guidance of longtime distance coach Tom Fritzus, who says she has a very bright future
“She is unbeaten in the 800 meters and she has won six races in a row and that’s counting one cross-country race,” said Fritzus. “Right now this is the best distance running we have seen in the Ocean league in over 10 years and it’s only going to get better.”
In the Frosh/Soph girls division Culver City placed one, two and three in the shot put. Alexis Douglas won the event and Opal Emelio placed second and Anastasia Holbert came in third.
In the boys varsity division multi-sport star Cahlil Hooper and his brother, Cameron, should score a lot of points for the Centaurs tonight. Both brothers, who also play football, will compete in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and the 400 and 1600-meter relays.
“All the hard work is paying off,” said Cahlil. “I just want to keep improving. Although I have only been at Culver City for two years it seems like four years because of all of the nice people I have met. It feels like one big family.”
Another boys’ varsity performer to keep an eye on is hurdle Samuel Robert. Robert will run the 110 and 300-meter hurdles tonight. On Monday during the finals in the long jump and shot put Justin Cox, another football player placed third in the long jump and Cameryn Newman, who also plays football placed third in the shot put.
In the boys’ Frosh/Soph division, Nick Bradley and Kevin McGuire had the first and second fastest qualifying times in the 100 meters and McGuire won the long jump final while Robert Simon placed second.
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In other sports the first place boys’ baseball team with travel to Hawthorne on today for a 3 p.m. game. The team is currently 14-7overall and 6-0 in the Ocean league. Their next home game is Tuesday, May 10 against Beverly Hills at 3 p.m.
The girls softball team is currently 11-10-1 overall and 4-2 in league play. They are tied for second place with Santa Monica and they play the Vikings today at Culver City at 3 p.m. The boys’ volleyball team is 10-13 overall and 5-4 in league play. They hope their league record will be good enough to get them into the playoffs.