Southwest track and field continues IVL-winning streak
EL CENTRO — An outstanding performance from the Southwest High track and field team Thursday here against Central Union High helped the Eagles once again secure both the boys’ and girls’ Imperial Valley League titles.
The Southwest boys’ team finished with an 83 to 44 win against the Spartans, while the girls won 82 to 45.
Held at Southwest, the meet concluded the regular IVL season and gave the Eagle boys their fourth consecutive IVL title, while the Eagle girls’ team won its second consecutive IVL title, as well as its third in four years.
Leading the Southwest’s men’s team were senior standouts Justin Cordova and Tyler Saikhon, who each finished in first place in four events at the meet.
Cordova won the boys’ 400-meter run with a time of 52.21 seconds, the 200-meter dash in 22.68 seconds, the 100-meter run in 11.32 seconds, and the long jump with a distance of 20 feet, 7 inches.
Saikhon won the boys’ 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.98 seconds, as well as the 300-meter hurdles in 38.84 seconds.
Saikhon, who recently committed to play defensive back this fall for the University of California, Davis, was able to leap 6 feet, 4 inches in the high jump, which was a new school record.
The UC Davis signee tied for first place with his Eagle teammate Nathan McFadden in the triple jump event with a distance of 41 feet, 3 inches.
Central Union High sophomore Luis Sandoval had a notable performance in the men’s 800-meter run and the 1600-meter run, finishing first in both events.
Sandoval finished with a time of 2 minutes, 0.95 seconds in the 800 meters, and 4 minutes, 25.77 seconds in the 1600 meters.
Finishing behind the sophomore in both events were Southwest seniors Nathan Garcia and Mario Vasquez.
Garcia finished in second place with an 800 time of 2 minutes, 1.75 seconds and 4 minutes, 25.77 seconds in the 1600 meters.
Vasquez placed third in the 800 meters with a time of 2 minutes, 8.28 seconds, and in the 1600 meter at 4 minutes, 27.67 seconds.
Garcia, who recently signed his letter of intent to run cross-country this fall at Cal State University, Monterey Bay, finished in first place in the men’s 3200-meter run with a time of 9 minutes, 43.87 seconds.
Winning both the men’s shot put and discus throw was Southwest High senior Alexis Paco de la Cruz. He threw for 51 feet, 0.50 inch in the shot put and 128 feet, 5 inches in the discus throw.
Central Union High senior Angel Rico finished in second place in the shot put and in the discus throw.
Helping the Southwest’s girls’ team win its ninth IVL crown in school history was senior Luisa Montoya, who placed first in four events.
Montoya won the girls’ 400-meter run with a time of 1 minute, 2.90 seconds and the 800-meter run at 2 minutes, 25.83 seconds.
Montoya was also part of the 4x400-meter relay alongside Eagles senior Alyssa Miranda, sophomore Ayleen Castillo and sophomore Shelby Smith. The team won the event with a time of 4 minutes, 23.13 seconds.
Lastly, Montoya tied for first place with Central Union High senior Analy Valle in the high jump, as they both leaped for 4 feet, 6 inches.
Valle also won first place in the women’s triple jump.
Southwest High senior Dominica Rodriguez won the women’s shot put, while Central Union High’s Alexis Elizondo placed second.
Winning the women’s discus throw was Central Union senior Katlyn Koski. Rodriguez finished in second behind Koski.