St. Joseph's girls rolled toward next week's track and field showdown at Morro Bay, as three sophomores had particularly big days at Righetti High on Thursday.

The Knights' girls and boys squads overwhelmed hugely outnumbered Santa Maria teams. St. Joseph's girls defeated the Saints 124-9 and won every event. The Knights boys won 112-24.

Coach Greg Sarkisian's girls improved to 5-0 in the Los Padres League. St. Joseph's boys are 4-1. Both teams are at Morro Bay at 3:30 p.m. next Tuesday in regular season finales.

Sarkisian said, “The Morro Bay meet looks like the toughest one for our girls. The boys side looks pretty tough too, kind of similar to Templeton.” The Eagles snapped the Knights boys' long-standing winning streak earlier this season.

Tiffany Kinson is just a sophomore at St. Joseph, but she made a big impact on the Knights' league championship basketball team this past winter. She did pretty well on the track Thursday too. She won the girls 110-meter hurdles in 16.7, took the next varsity race on the track, the 400, in 1:11.0 and then anchored St. Joseph's winning 1,600 relay team.

She said, “Track and Field is my second sport, it helps me stay in shape for basketball, but I love them both.

“This is my first year running the hurdles. I like the challenge of getting over them.”

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Santa Maria sophomore Josh Marzett is a track newcomer who scored impressive sprint wins Thursday. Running with a slight tailwind, Marzett won the boys 100 in 10.88. He took the 200 in 22.88. Both times are personal bests.

First-year Santa Maria coach Mike Pope said, “Josh running under 11.0 is huge. I'm sure that's the fastest time in the league so far this year.”

Marzett said Pope motivated him to come out for track. “I'm doing it to help me stay in shape for football,” Marzett said. “I played running back and quarterback on the junior varsity last year, and I hope to make varsity this year.

“I was pretty happy with how the 100 went,” and then Marzett ran a nice 200 later.

Natasha Kolbo was a top freshman for St. Joseph last year, and she has kept her roll going this season. Kolbo won the girls 100 in 12.5, 200 in 26.3 and long jump at 17-0.

St. Joseph senior Jeff Blake is one of the top track and field athletes in the league. He said Thursday was mainly a tune-up for him for the Santa Barbara County Meet (Saturday at Carpinteria High School, 10 a.m. start). Still, he won the boys long jump 20-8 3/4; high jump (5-10) and 400 (54.12). Blake ran the third leg for the Knights' winning 1,600 relay team.

He said, “I just wanted to work on some technical things today to get ready for Saturday.”

Double open event winners on the boys side Thursday included Marzett, and St. Joseph's John Sua (shot put and discus) and Keenan Smith (triple jump and 300 hurdles). St. Joseph's Sara Epps (1,600 and 3,200 wins) scored a girls distance double.

Knights junior Mariah Vail said she was happy enough with her winning 36-8 in the shot put.

Still, “I sure wish that 38-8 would have held up,” she said wistfully. That mark would have been Vail's personal best, but she fouled by stepping out of the ring late. As it is, her PR is 37-8.

Pope pronounced himself happy with his squads' performances Thursday. “We had seven personal bests today,” he said. “You have to remember that we are very young. I have a lot of freshmen and sophomores on the varsity.”

Sarkisian said he is pleased with how his teams have persevered. St. Joseph's football facility is undergoing renovation and, “We haven't had our home track to practice on for awhile,” the veteran coach said.

“Really, I think our kids are doing a fine job.”

St. joseph's boys won 14 of the 16 events on the card.

St. Joseph's girls and boys junior varsity squads won by 121-9 and 96-39 counts respectively.

After next week's regular-season finale, the Los Padres League prelims kick off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 26th at Pioneer Valley's Panther Stadium.

PR boys 86, PV girls 50

PR girls 88, PV 46

Though the Panthers' boys and girls squads, both 1-5 in PAC-7 League meets, came up short at Paso Robles, Pioneer Valley had several highlights.

Andy Piñon remained unbeaten in the PAC-7 in the boys 300 meter hurdles with a 40.1. That time was a PR by a second-and-a-half. He also won the 110 high hurdles in 15.8.

Kevin Dotson PR'd by about two feet in the boys triple jump with a winning 43-6. Pioneer Valley's boys 1,600 relay team of Hector Basulto, Felipe Miramontes, Andres Montiel and Piñon won in a season best 3:32.3. Rebeccah Herrera (1,600 and 3,200) and Jazmine Cooks (girls shot put and discus) both won twice for Pioneer Valley.

Swimming

Righetti boys 120, PV 32

Righetti girls 102, PV 66

Both Warriors squads swam to victory in PAC-7 League meets at Paul Nelson Pool.

Vincent Martel anchored Righetti's winning 200-yard medley relay squad, then won the boys 50 freestyle in 23.69 and 100 in 56.43. Matt Johnson, the third-leg swimmer, won the 100 freestyle in 56.43.

Righetti's Josh Grall (500 freestyle) and Casey Bateman (100 backstroke) won open events as well as swimming legs for Righetti's winning 200 freestyle relay squad.

Karen Hendrick (victorious 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly) doubled for Righetti's girls.

All of Pioneer Valley's open event winners swam automatic qualifying times for the CIF Division III Preliminary Meet. They included Zac Toomay (boys 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke), Shyla Motley (girls 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke) and Lora Lougee (girls 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle).

April 18, 2008