The storylines were plentiful Wednesday at East Union High, where Sierra, Weston Ranch and the host Lancers gathered for the final Valley Oak League double-dual of the season.
The biggest surprise of the day came when Weston Ranch’s Chuck Good finished off the 4x400-meter relay for the win, giving the Cougars a 68-67 upset of the Timberwolf boys.
Angell Mayfield, who took first in both the 110 and 300 hurdles, caught up with Sierra in the third leg and Good took it from there.
“After running the 4x100 Good didn’t’ run the 100 and 200 because he felt a pull in his hamstring,” Weston Ranch head coach Rick Cuevas said. “But he told me, ‘Coach, I will do it if it’s for the meet.’
“He stepped up.”
Antonio Stevenson won the 400, Ed Reed took the discus, Kendrick Baker was best in the shot put and Jovan Smith won the high jump.
Weston Ranch downed East Union’s boys, 81-51.
Sierra’s boys weren’t without their own highlights.
Besides sweeping the 800, Zeke Knapps won the 100 and 200, Ulysses Knapps took the triple and long jumps, and Matt Greer won the pole vault.
The Timberwolves biggest winner was John Bowers.
The lanky distance runner beat out Weston Ranch’s Roberto Alvarez in the mile and 800, and took second in the 2-mile.
“The past couple of weeks I’ve been doing the half-mile, building my speed up,” Bowers said. “The last 200, I thought I was pulling away. But I changed my mind; I didn’t want to let him get going the last 100.
“(I was thinking) please don’t let him pass me.”
Sierra head coach Anthony Chapman congratulated the Cougars on the upset.
“Credit to them,” he said. “They’ve always had athletes. They performed and I’m happy for them.
“We had some big positives on the boys’ side, it just so happened to come down to the 4x400. That’s how it happens sometimes.”
Sierra’s girls provided a boost to the Timberwolf morale, picking up a 116-5 win over Weston Ranch, and downing East Union, 87-40.
Courtney Whitlock capped a perfect VOL season in both the 110 and 300-meter hurdles, finishing first in both events for the seventh straight time this season.
Shenadra Pitts won both the 100 and 200, Taylor Wilson captured gold in the 400 and long jump, Cristina Westover won the shot put and Sierra’s two relay teams swept.
Sierra’s girls finished the VOL campaign 6-1.
“I’m really excited,” Chapman said of the girls’ performance. “They had a very strong 6-1 record, and they still have a lot left to race for.”
East Union had a number highlights as well.
Jordan Jeffries was second in the 110 hurdles and third in the 300, while Ryan Somphithack was second in the triple jump and third in the 100.
Mickey Lee took first in the high jump, and Devon Woodall won the shot put.
On the girls’ side, Jenna Fields was best in the discus and runner-up in the shot put.
Janice Villanueva was best in the 1600, and Iyana Stewart took the top spot in the 800.
“The varsity boys felt sluggish in the heat,” EU head coach Anne Anthony said. “The seniors have STAR testing and senior projects to contend with, so after all of that is over, I think we’ll really be able to pick it up.”
The Lancers will join Sierra and Weston Ranch at the VOL meet Saturday, May 9 at Oakdale.
The biggest surprise of the day came when Weston Ranch’s Chuck Good finished off the 4x400-meter relay for the win, giving the Cougars a 68-67 upset of the Timberwolf boys.
Angell Mayfield, who took first in both the 110 and 300 hurdles, caught up with Sierra in the third leg and Good took it from there.
“After running the 4x100 Good didn’t’ run the 100 and 200 because he felt a pull in his hamstring,” Weston Ranch head coach Rick Cuevas said. “But he told me, ‘Coach, I will do it if it’s for the meet.’
“He stepped up.”
Antonio Stevenson won the 400, Ed Reed took the discus, Kendrick Baker was best in the shot put and Jovan Smith won the high jump.
Weston Ranch downed East Union’s boys, 81-51.
Sierra’s boys weren’t without their own highlights.
Besides sweeping the 800, Zeke Knapps won the 100 and 200, Ulysses Knapps took the triple and long jumps, and Matt Greer won the pole vault.
The Timberwolves biggest winner was John Bowers.
The lanky distance runner beat out Weston Ranch’s Roberto Alvarez in the mile and 800, and took second in the 2-mile.
“The past couple of weeks I’ve been doing the half-mile, building my speed up,” Bowers said. “The last 200, I thought I was pulling away. But I changed my mind; I didn’t want to let him get going the last 100.
“(I was thinking) please don’t let him pass me.”
Sierra head coach Anthony Chapman congratulated the Cougars on the upset.
“Credit to them,” he said. “They’ve always had athletes. They performed and I’m happy for them.
“We had some big positives on the boys’ side, it just so happened to come down to the 4x400. That’s how it happens sometimes.”
Sierra’s girls provided a boost to the Timberwolf morale, picking up a 116-5 win over Weston Ranch, and downing East Union, 87-40.
Courtney Whitlock capped a perfect VOL season in both the 110 and 300-meter hurdles, finishing first in both events for the seventh straight time this season.
Shenadra Pitts won both the 100 and 200, Taylor Wilson captured gold in the 400 and long jump, Cristina Westover won the shot put and Sierra’s two relay teams swept.
Sierra’s girls finished the VOL campaign 6-1.
“I’m really excited,” Chapman said of the girls’ performance. “They had a very strong 6-1 record, and they still have a lot left to race for.”
East Union had a number highlights as well.
Jordan Jeffries was second in the 110 hurdles and third in the 300, while Ryan Somphithack was second in the triple jump and third in the 100.
Mickey Lee took first in the high jump, and Devon Woodall won the shot put.
On the girls’ side, Jenna Fields was best in the discus and runner-up in the shot put.
Janice Villanueva was best in the 1600, and Iyana Stewart took the top spot in the 800.
“The varsity boys felt sluggish in the heat,” EU head coach Anne Anthony said. “The seniors have STAR testing and senior projects to contend with, so after all of that is over, I think we’ll really be able to pick it up.”
The Lancers will join Sierra and Weston Ranch at the VOL meet Saturday, May 9 at Oakdale.
— Brandon Petersen
