Last year the Culver City girls’ and boys’ track and field team was very good. This year they want to advance to the level of greatness. Last season the girls’ varsity and freshman and sophomore teams along with the boys freshman and sophomore team won the Ocean league championships in the rain at Lawndale high school. The boys’ varsity placed second.
Today the Centaurs will showcase their talent at 3 p.m. inside the Jerry Chabola when they take on city section Dorsey, Leuzinger and Morningside. All three opponents have a great track tradition.
This year the Centaurs hope to have all four teams gather in the winner’s circle at the league finals. “Right now we are very excited about our track and field teams,” said Centaur head coach Jahmal Wright during practice last Tuesday. “In the sprints the Hooper brothers (Cameron and Cahlil) are really running well for us. Cameron is strong in the 200 and 400 meters and Cahlil is doing well in the 100 and 200.”
Wright is also excited about the varsity boys’ 400 meter relay team which clocked an impressive early season time of 43.03 second place time at the Culver City Invitational last week. “In the varsity boys hurdles Samuel Roberts continues to improve and we have depth this season,” said Wright. “Abraham Vasquez is doing a great job in running varsity long distance races. This is the best distance teams that we have had in six years. We are also strong in the varsity field events with Justin Cox leading the in the long and triple jump. If we stay healthy we hope all four of our teams can win league.”
On the boys’ freshman and sophomore team 400 meter runner Dexter Hollier is learning a lot under sprint coach and former USC All-American 800 meter runner Rayfield Beaton. Beaton is one of the best track coaches in Southern California and the kids at Culver City are excited to learn from one of the best.
On the girls side last years’ CIF finalist in the 400 meter relay, senior Veronica Mendez is ready to lead her teammates. “We have a great team this year and everyone is working together, training together and motivating each other. I want to improve and keep encouraging our team. I try to have fun and I tell the rest of the girls to have fun and relax and do their best.”
Two girls to watch on the freshman and sophomore team are sprinters Kayla Barnes and Jayda Crawford. Both girls hope to break records by the time they become seniors. “I have been running track since I was nine years old,” said Crawford who started running with Los Angeles Jets track club. The Jets have been around for over 40 years and they are one of the top club teams in the nation. “Right now I need to work hard and go as far as I can.”
If the Centaurs expect all four teams to win league titles the distance runners need to step up. Long time distance coach, Tom Fritzus is ready for the challenge. “Our distance program is really strong this year,” said Fritzus. “A lot of our runners ran cross country in the fall so that really helped them and our program.”
Two of the top runners this year are sophomore Max Jordan and senior Abraham Vasquez. Both runners train hard and are looking to improve every day. “I am having a lot of fun,” said Jordan. “I take a lot of pride in running and I love this school. It’s a great honor to run for Culver City . Everywhere I go I try to represent Culver City the best way I can.”
Vasquez feels the same way about being a Centaur. “It feels great to be able to run for Culver City. There is a lot of pressure to compete at a high level and do really well but that’s what motivates me.”
Other distance runners to watch this year are Mason Acevedo, Evan Pearson, Matthew Takara and Edin Winslow. Winslow, who is a sophomore, came from the girls’ middle school cross country team. “I played soccer for five years and then I started running cross country a few years ago,” said Winslow. “I am hoping to run a 5:30 1600 meters this year but I am just happy to be on this team. We have a great team and our sprinters are really fast.”
Winslow’s dad David has run the Los Angeles Marathon the past few years so that gives Edin extra motivation. “My dad really encourages me and for him to be running as he gets older makes me realize I can keep running for the rest of my life.”
The varsity boys’ baseball team will face Los Angeles Garfield on Saturday at home at 11 a.m. and the girls’ softball team will be playing at home starting at 9 a.m. in the St. Monica Tournament.