SVL track teams compete in Durham

The five high-school track teams making up the Sacramento Valley League got together at Durham High on Wednesday for their latest competition.

The hosts won the boys varsity competition with 90 points, followed by Willows (70), Mt. Shasta (68), Pierce (48) and Live Oak (39).

Pierce junior Neiko Bates made sure his name was known on the afternoon, as he took the top spot in three individual events. Bates swept the hurdles, winning the 110 meters in 18.96 seconds, and winning the 300 by more than four seconds, clocking in at 47.25. His other victory came in the long jump, where he hit the sand at 17-feet, 11 inches - almost a foot-and-a-half further than the second-place finisher.

A pair of Honkers also recorded first-place finishes, with junior Trevor Candelaria muscling up for a pair of wins in the throwing events. His throw of 43-10.5 in the shot put won the event by more than four feet, and his 116-6 toss in the discus was 16 feet away from his closest competitor.

His distance-running teammate, senior Derek Soeth, turned in a winning performance of 4:51.69 in the 1600 meters.

The varsity girls team competition featured a first-place tie between Live Oak and Durham, with both schools amassing 73 points. Mt. Shasta was next with 55, while Pierce and Willows also tied, with 32 points apiece.

Kaylen Wilson demonstrated her athleticism and versatility by winning two events that require very different strengths. The senior edged out Pierce junior Macey Cox in the 100 hurdles to win it in 19.06, and then tossed her way to a win in the discus at 80-10.

Cox did not go home empty-handed however, as she set the mark to beat in the long jump by landing at 13-10, besting the runner-up by 8.5 inches.

The Honkers also received first-place points from junior Mary Feeney who sprinted her way to the tape in the 100, clocking a 14.12.

Boys winners

100 meters - Eli Chapman, Mt. Shasta, 11.79

200 - Chapman, Mt. Shasta, 23.79

400 - Will Belton, Durham, 55.50

800 - Edward Lopez, Live Oak, 2:13.38

1600 - Derek Soeth, Willows, 4:51.69

3200 - Andrew Lopez, Live Oak, 10:36.36

110 hurdles - Nieko Bates, Pierce, 18.96

300 hurdles - Bates, Pierce, 47.25

4x100 relay - Relay Team, Mt. Shasta, 48.54

4x400 relay - Relay Team, Durham, 3:57.64

Shot put - Trevor Candelaria, Willows, 43-10.5

Discus - Candelaria, Willows, 116-6

High jump - Isaac Gilbert, Durham, 5-6

Pole vault - Chris Cazneaux, Mt. Shasta, 11-6

Long jump - Bates, Pierce, 17-11

Triple jump - Gilbert, Durham, 36-1

Girls Winners

100 - Mary Feeney, Willows, 14.12

200 - Amyah Clark, Live Oak, 28.50

400 - Clark, Live Oak, 1:07.21

800 - Madison Schell, Durham, 2:40.68

1600 - Ellen Sampson, Mt. Shasta, 5:55.46

3200 - Sampson, Mt. Shasta, 13:25.00

100 hurdles - Kaylen Wilson, Willows, 19:06

300 hurdles - Saman Khan, Live Oak, 58.19

4x100 relay - Relay Team, Live Oak, 1:01.83

Shot put - Callie Coker, Durham, 29-3.5

Discus - Wilson, Willows, 80-10

High jump - Mariah Althaus-Cressman, Mt. Shasta, 4-6

Pole vault - Janelle Jaegel, Mt. Shasta, 9-0

Long jump - Macey Cox, Pierce, 13-10

Triple jump - Jaegel, Mt. Shasta, 30-10.