Runners Right on Track

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

It was a busy week for the Palisades High track and field teams as they continue to ramp up for the City Section prelims, which are one month away.

In a four-way meet last Wednesday at Venice, junior Jayden Joch won the varsity boys 400-meter dash in a personal-best 52.04 seconds, freshman Mako Holt won the 1600 in a personal-best 4:51.67, Isaiah Sensabaugh won the long jump with a leap of 18 feet and Yecnoh Koren was first in the triple jump (34-08). Mark Saba won the JV 1600 in a personal-best 5:17.68, Anton Andres (19.66) and Henry Kamer (20.88) were first and second in the JV 110 high hurdles and Ricardo Martin won the JV triple jump at 39-04.

For the girls, sophomore Annabelle Refnes won the varsity 800 meters in a personal-best 2:22.28, junior Cece Tierney won the 1600 in season-best 6:09.86, Refnes and senior Anisa Watkins both cleared five feet to take first and second in the high jump and Ayla Teegardin was second in the JV 400 in a PR 107.44.

Freshman Vitalija Schafer won the JV 800 in 2:47.42 while Violet Cash won the JV 1600 in a personal-best 6:03.21. Tenth-grader Maia Vasquez (19.42) won the JV 100 hurdles, Maleigha Hughes won the JV long jump (13-09) and Dylan Byford’s 4-04 effort was strong enough to win the JV high jump.

Two days later the Dolphins were in South Pasadena for the Tiger Invitational and among the notable performances was Ronin Sherertz taking fourth in the varsity 400 in a personal-best 50.21. Blake Sigworth (2:01.12) was 12th in the varsity 800 and second in the 1600 in a personal-best 4:22.58. Joch, Sherertz, Cole Hubbard and Harrison Carter (3:28.56) was third in the 4×400 relay. For the girls, Ava Bondar (51.20) was 15th in the varsity 300 hurdles, the 4×100 relay (51.64) was ninth and the 4×400 relay took sixth in 4:17.67.

Senior Max Fields ran one of the Open 3200 races at the Arcadia Invitaional and was 28th in 9:40.17.