Local teams fill Corning track

As if they were waiting for the starter's pistol, the clouds parted and gave way to a warm, sunny sky for the running of the annual Gary Burton Invitational at Corning High School on Friday.

While some of the times were impressive, the same cannot be said for the speed at which the results were posted by all the teams that participated. For that reason, complete scoring and orders of finish were incomplete at the time of writing.

Of the results that were available, athletes listed at the top of their respective events (with top showing not necessarily first place) for the boys included: 100 meters - Ryan Holland, Corning, 11.43 seconds; 200 - Neiko Taylor, Willows (24.97); 400 - Dominic Azevedo, Corning, (57.07); 800 - Jesus Diera, Corning (2:09.43); 1600 - Diera, Corning (4:48.9); 3200 - Derek Soeth, Willows (10:50); 300 hurdles - Diego Navarro, Williams (46.03); 4x100 relay - Trevor Skousen, Colton Connoly, John Juels and Kolton Cutler (49.72); 4x400 relay - Holland, Diera, Luis Pahua and Dominic Azevedo (3:52); Shot put - Trevor Candelaria, Willows (49-feet); Discus - Noe Franco, Corning (88-11); High jump - Franky Maaele, Corning (5-8); Pole vault - Favian Castrejon, Corning (11-0); Long jump - Holland, Corning (20-5); Triple jump - Holland, Corning (41-6.5).

Top athletes listed for the girls varsity events were: 100 - Savannah Bearquiver, Willows (14.69); 400 - Caitlin McCoy, Corning (1:07.31); 800 - McCoy, Corning (2:42.43); 1600 - Mayra Diera, Corning (6:04.3); 100 hurdles - McCoy, Corning (17.34); 4x100 relay - Courtney Thomson, Jordin Wazny, Tara Healey and Kaitlin Danielson, Corning (1:00.15); 4x400 relay - Diera, McCoy, Karly Lira and Lilia Vazquez, Corning (5:15.91); Shot put - Kaylen Wilson, Willows (28-8); Discus - Morgan Parker, Corning (97-5.5); High jump - Vazquez, Corning (4-8); Pole vault - Danielson, Corning (6-0); Long jump - Vazquez, Corning (13-11); Triple jump - Addie Ford, Corning (28-10.5).

Along with her toss in the shot put, Willows High's Kaylen Wilson finished with a top distance of 15-1 in the long jump, and was pleased with her results considering it's an event that is fairly new for her.

"This is just my second year of jumping, and definitely getting your strides is the toughest" she said, adding, "along with driving your knees and stretching your body up and trying to get the most out of it."

Justin Emerson, of Los Molinos, took part in the 110-meter hurdles, but saw plenty of room for improvement in his performance. "I need to get more aggressive, I have to look at it as 'that hurdle is going to die.'" He also commented, "I need to stop thinking, I was thinking too much."

Emerson had only two competitors in his race, but said, 'It's an advantage for me, it makes my job easier."

CONTACT Craig Purcell at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.