A solid weekend for Falcons, Rebels, Tologs and Golden Knights as each had representatives this past Saturday at the CIF Southern Section track and field finals in Norwalk.
As per usual, Crescenta Valley was represented well in Division I as Zack Torres came in second place in the 3200.
Torres’ time was a good one, at 9 minutes, 9.19 seconds, but it was just a second behind Vista Morrieta sophomore Noe Ramirez’s 9:08.08.
“I’ve been wanting a CIF championship my whole life,” Torres said. “I just lost my last opportunity for it, so I’m upset.”
The time, and the place, are both marked improvements from last year, when he finished in fourth at 9:21.60. Torres, who also earned All-American honors in cross-country in the fall, was looking for the top spot in the CIF Finals, but will look for a masters title at the CIF Masters today, which will also be at Cerritos College.
Events at the Masters begin at 4:30 p.m.
Torres was able to beat a familiar crowd: Amar Moussa of Arcadia, who came in third (9:12.82) and Western Nelson of Burroughs, who came in fourth (9:13.82).
“Everybody else did a good job in that race,” Torres said. “I wasn’t smart. That first part of the mile didn’t go out fast like [Crescenta Valley] Coach [Mark Evans] and I were hoping it would and it soon came down to a kicking race. After that, I thought I was going be able to catch Noe at the finish, but he just kept going and I kept staying in the same spot.
“It’s kind of frustrating coming to that finish line and you’re catching closer when you see that first place right in front of you.”
For Flintridge Prep, Dot Silverman qualified in two events — Division IV girls’ 1600 and 800, and finished in seventh in both. Her 1600 finish, at 5:08.14, was a remarkable race.
“Great race for her,” said Prep Coach Ingrid Herskind. “She had a seven-second personal record today. She ran really smart.”
“It was the race I’ve wanted to race all season,” Silverman said. “This week I was relaxed, I watched TV this morning, I didn’t overthink [the preparation]. I just clung to some girls and ran today. I had a lot of confidence today.”
Silverman aimed to break 2:20 in the 800, but fell just short at 2:22.83.
Flintridge Sacred Heart’s Drew Washington represented the Tologs in the girls’ 400 meters. She finished eighth with a time of 60.22.
St. Francis was also there with representative Luther Walker in the Division III boys’ triple jump. He finished in sixth place with 43-11.
