Losing results for locals

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — Though the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and St. Francis High track and field teams lost in a Mission League dual meet Thursday afternoon to Alemany at St. Francis, the Tologs and Golden Knights opted to look ahead toward the end of the regular season.

Flintridge Sacred Heart is looking for its athletes to gradually reduce their times leading up to the Mission League final in early May. While St. Francis showed some signs of fatigue while taking part in their fourth league meet in as many weeks, there may be good news on the horizon for the Golden Knights in their bid to get back on track.

Flintridge Sacred Heart got another good effort from Noëlle Niederhaus in the triple jump in a 63-62 loss. St. Francis received a pair of victories from James Knowles in the 110-meter high hurdles and 300 hurdles in a 74-52 defeat.

Flintridge Sacred Heart (1-2 overall and in league) saw Niederhaus win the triple jump in 32 feet 10 inches. Niederhaus worked with Stephanie Vargas, Drew Washington and Kayla Montgomery to win the 4x400 relay in 4 minutes 4.51 seconds.

Caroline Treinen won the pole vault in 8-0 for Flintridge Sacred Heart, which received first-place efforts from Brianna Silverman in the 400 (1:05.53), Riley Gilmartin in the 1,600 (5:55) and Mary Molina in the 3,200 (13:30).

Flintridge Sacred Heart Coach Eddie Gorton said the Tologs looked for a competitive meet against the Warriors.

"It was a meet where everybody was engaged," said Gorton, whose team will compete in the 69th annual Pasadena Games today and Saturday at Pasadena City College. "We wanted to also be healthy coming into this weekend."

Knowles, the reigning All-Area Boys' Track and Field Athlete, took the 110 hurdles in 14.38 seconds before winning the 300 hurdles (39.19). The Golden Knights also received first-place finishes from JD Kiefer in the 1,600 in 4:53, Eric Knowles in the triple jump (40-5) and Kibby Gosnell in the pole vault (13-6).

"It's tough having that many meets in four weeks," said St. Francis Coach Pat Donovan, whose team fell to 1-3 overall and in league. "It's been a tough beginning to the season, but we are looking at how strong we are able to finish toward the end of the season.

"We want to be able to put in some good performances and build off getting good times."

Charles.rich@latimes.com