East Union coach Todd Dunaway considers Lathrop’s track and field team a force to be reckoned with this season after the two teams split their Valley Oak League opener Wednesday.

The varsity girls competition was won by East Union 75-48, with the Spartans taking the boys, 80-56. Lathrop also left Dino Cunial Field with decisive victories at the lower levels.

“Lathrop is serious this year. They have a great team,” Dunaway said. “Coach (Krystle) Davis has done a phenomenal job getting that team prepared. They’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

East Union should be competitive at varsity girls with several standouts doing damage in multiple events. Leticia Heron contributed to the Lady Lancers’ score in four events, as she won the high jump, placed second in the long and triple jumps, and third in the 100.

Third-year varsity junior Jordan McNeal ruled the sprint events, earning first-place points in the 100 and 200 while leading the 4x100 relay. Kayla Lecce won the mile and two-mile events. Maliah Watson was the top finisher in the discus and runner-up in the second put and 300 hurdles.

Cody Keener was East Union’s male standout with wins in the high jump and 4x100 and second-place finishes in the 100 and 200. Ethan Woodall won the shot put and was second in the discus.

Lathrop’s boys swept the long jump, won all three distance events and had the best two placers in the triple jump and both hurdles.

Winning events with new school-record marks for Lathrop on Wednesday were: Horatio Venable (100, 11.2 hand timed), Danya Phillips (800, 2:40 hand timed), Akilah Lesley (triple jump, 34-11.75) and Jacari Thompson (triple jump, 41-0.75).

Sierra 80, Sonora 60 (B)

Sierra 94, Sonora 18 (G)

Nick Valdez won both hurdle events and anchored the winning mile relay for the Timberwolves, who swept host Sonora at all four levels Wednesday.

“We didn’t have too many multi-event standouts today, it was all over the board,” Sierra coach Ezequiel Ruiz said. “It was more of a team effort.”

Sierra’s girls swept four events, two of them led by Sophia Vucanovich. She spearheaded sweeps in the 400 and 800 and anchored the first-place 4x400 relay.

Frosh-soph

Sierra 68, Sonora 45 (B)

Sierra 88, Sonora 24 (G)

Multi-event winners for each Sierra squad were Jonathan Ruiz (110 hurdles, 400) and Alisia Rutledge (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles).

Lathrop 88, East Union 44(B)

Lathrop 88, East Union 34 (G)

East Union’s Cedric Harris-Dixon competed in the 400, long jump and triple jump and placed first, second and third, respectively. Joseph Gallegos was the runner-up in the 1,600 and 3,200.

Top girls performers for East Union were Yesenia Ramirez and Jasmine Kent. Ramirez won the shot put and took second in the discus. Kent finished second in the 300 hurdles and third in the 100 hurdles.