Making their run at CIF

Jeff Tully

There is no doubt the local high schools produced some fine track and

field athletes last season.

With the exception of Providence High, the three other schools --

Burbank, Burroughs and Bellarmine-Jefferson -- all had at least three

athletes qualify for the CIF Southern Section preliminaries.

However, it was the Guards who led the way, as seven athletes

qualified in 11 events. The school also had the only athletes who

made it to the finals, as three individuals advanced to the Division

IV meet.

Leading the way was Pharrin Lewis, who was second in the girls’

high jump with a 5-foot-2 effort.

The other Guards who made it to the finals were Kelly Hobbs in the

girls’ triple jump and Gerad Herkey in the boys’ 800 meters.

Unfortunately for Bell-Jeff, Lewis and Hobbs have graduated.

However, Herkey is back for his senior season, and the distance and

middle-distance runner should be among the top track and field

athletes in the area this year.

Herkey is fresh from a successful cross-country season, and a trip

to the CIF-State Cross-Country Championship. In the Division V event

at Woodward Park in Fresno, he placed 12th in 16 minutes 38 seconds.

He will be joined by senior Jeff Pang, who also made it to the

State Meet in cross-country.

Here is a look at how the season is shaping up for the other three

teams.

BURBANK

The past two seasons, the Bulldog girls’ team has been led by

Carolyn Chrzan. Chrzan, a junior, was the team’s top point scorer,

and proved her versatility by excelling in running and field events.

Last season, Chrzan qualified for the Division II prelims in the

400 meters with a third-place finish of 1:01.99. She was also the

Foothill League runner-up in the long jump with a 15-7 mark, but her

effort didn’t meet the qualifying standard.

The Bulldog girls’ team also has a steady talent in senior Ginny

English, who holds the school record in the pole vault. At the 2004

league final, English placed second with a 9-6 1/4 effort.

Carolina Valle and Michelle Horgan are two other top returnees,

while Naomi Marin, Kim Barlowe and Rasa Reynolds will solidify a

strong sprint squad, and seniors Allison Ivie, Melissa Edwards, Keli

Atkins and Alerina Morales should also contribute.

Although Burbank has its share of talented runners, the team could

be lacking in some field events.

“We lost our top three jumpers to graduation, and we have no

varsity thrower returning,” Coach Darin Wolf said. ‘So we will need

someone to step up in those events.

“Our goal is always geared more toward getting as many athletes as

we can into CIF, but we should also be more competitive this year.

Also, we have a chance to have a few individual league champions this

year, something that has not happened on the girls’ side in quite a

while.”

On the boys’ side, senior Varaz Markarady -- who has led the team

in points the last two seasons -- returns as a top competitor in the

shot put and discus, as well as the high jump.

Also returning is A.J. Basco, who is one of the top triple jumpers

in the league, and Ryan Christoffersen, who will lead the distance

squad, along with brothers Eric and Kevin.

The sprinting core of Chris Massey, Chuck Sweeten and Mike Fam

also returns. Seniors Earl Lozada, Jeff Punit and Ryan Robbins should

also contribute.

“We have a few more football players this year, [and] that should

help us out, especially in the throws,” Wolf said.

BURROUGHS

The Indian program received a boost when 1988 graduate Sasha Vujic

returned to his alma mater to coach the school’s teams.

Vujic was a 1,500 champion at Cal State Northridge who competed in

the 1992 NCAA Division I Track and Field Meet and qualified for the

1992 Olympic Trials.

One athlete who should have a fine chance at qualifying for the

postseason is girls’ senior distance and middle-distance athlete

Katie Vahoviak.

This past spring, Vahoviak helped lead her Indian cross-country

team to the Division II final at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut.

In the race, she finished 14th in 18:24, earning All-CIF honors.

A school record holder, Vahoviak -- who qualified for CIF in the

3,200 -- has run 2:22 in the 800, 5:16 in the 1,600 and 11:07 in the

3,200.

Burroughs’ most versatile athlete is senior Karina Passi, who is

accomplished as a low hurdler (16.7), high jumper (5-2) and pole

vaulter (9-0).

The team’s top hurdler is LaKeisha Smith (16.5), who is also

proficient in the long jump (15-0) and triple jump (33-8). Sophomore

Shayna Carroll will also be relied on for points in the high jump

(15-4).

“We have some holes in our girls’] team, so it will be exciting to

see which freshmen and sophomores can step in and help once the

season starts,” Coach John Peebles said.

On the boys’ side, the Indians have the luxury of having a good

group of distance runners from a cross-country team that placed third

in the Foothill League.

Senior Daniel Anderson, who qualified for CIF in the 1,600 relay,

has run 2:03 in the 800 and 4:38 in the 1,600 and is backed by junior

Morgan Walker , who has run 2:07 and 4:41 in the same races.

The other returning CIF qualifier is Tahir Ali, who helped the

1,600 relay team earn a berth.

Despite losing a fine crop of field-event athletes to graduation,

Burroughs could get a boost from sophomore Anthony Simile in the pole

vault (11-0) and junior Eric Passi the triple jump (38-0).

“We do not have many varsity returners, but we have some juniors

and seniors who are competing for the first time,” Peebles said.

“Hopefully, this mix will be successful.”

PROVIDENCE

Coach Michelle Boucher said the Pioneers will field a small squad.

The team’s top athletes will be freshmen Audra Lydon on the girls’

side and Ryan Markey for the boys.