By Bob Ramsey, on August 30th, 2019  So, let’s get things started!
We will once again provide full coverage of San Gabriel Valley prep Cross-Country this year, starting with this weekend’s opening meets.
Next week, look for full coverage of the meets, along with our first rankings of the 2019 season.
Here’s a quick look at this weekend’s events, two of which are hosted by SGV Schools.
Fastback Invitational – Arcadia County Park
Live Results  Meet Information   2019_Fastback_inv_schools
This start of the season short course event will be run one more year on the fast and flat course at Arcadia Park, rather than the traditional 1.9 mile course at MtSAC, which is still under construction. 51 schools will take part, 17 from the SGV. Arroyo (the hosts), Bassett, Charter Oak, Diamond Bar, El Monte, Flintridge Prep, Flintridge Sacred Heart, La Cañada, La Salle, Mark Keppel, Montebello, Mountain View, Schurr, South El Monte, St. Francis, Webb and West Covina.
Lancer Invitational – La Mirada County Park
Meet Information  Full Entries
A new meet this year, La Serna will host this 2-mile meet over the hills at La Mirada. Eleven teams are registered to compete, with hosts joined by the SGV’s Bishop Amat, Diamond Ranch, Pomona Catholic and St. Paul.Â
The Great Cow Run – Cerritos County Park
Live Results  Meet Information
SGV powers Arcadia and California will lead a forty-four school field over this super fast 3-mile course at Don Knabe Country Park in Cerritos. El Rancho and Rowland will also rep the SGV at this big meet.
The Riverside Showcase – Riverside XC Course
Live Results  Meet Information
Another short (2.25 mile) meet, this one takes place on the site of the CIF-SS Championship meet. Bonita, Damien/St. Lucy’s, La Mirada and Walnut are scheduled to compete.
And… Poly (Pasadena) will travel to Santa Barbara to race on the 3-mile course UCSB in the Gaucho Invitational (Live Results)
We will have full coverage of these meets on by Monday. Parents, friends and coaches, please send photos and race notes to info@sgvtrackandfield.net
By Bob Ramsey, on April 5th, 2019  The national Arcadia Invitational, featuring athletes from over thirty states and most of the best from the Southern Section, gets going today at the SGV’s Arcadia High School.
The meet has grown over the years by offering an increasing number of spots on Friday and during the day on Saturday, but the best action remains in the Saturday night meet, where 6 SGV boys and relays will compete along with 3 girls.
Of special note on the boys side, Arroyo senior Noah Hibbard will look to follow up his State-leading mile win at the Distance Meet of Champions with a top finish in the loaded 3200, while Bonita’s Jocelyn Hipwell will bring her recent 5-08 high jump effort to the loaded event. Here are all the local competitors…
SGV Night Meet Boys
- 1600 Seeded - Jacob Moran (Sr, Claremont)
- 800 Invite - Kai Dettmann (Sr, South Pasadena)
- 3200 Invite - Noah Hibbard (Sr, Arroyo)
- DMR -Â Claremont
- Triple Jump - Tianhao Wei (Jr, South Pasadena)
- High Jump - Kailen Smith (Sr, Diamond Bar
SGV Night Meet Girls
- 400 Seeded - Alisha Wilson (So, Bonita)
- Mile Invite - Audrey Suarez (So, Mayfield)
- High Jump - Jocelyn Hipwell (Sr, Bonita)
By Bob Ramsey, on April 3rd, 2019 Two sophs got their seasons going this week, and between them took over the SGV leadership in four events, and a senior jumped really high – and they share Athlete of the Week honors for Week 7
Bonita’s Alisha Wilson – in her first year in the sport, had All-Time in SGV performances in the 200, 400 and LJ last year, advancing to the State Meet in the latter event and running a leg on Bearcats State Champ 4×400. At Saturday’s Covina Invite, Alisha opened with big marks in all three events, (25.23, 56.59, 18-04) taking over the SGV lead in each.
Covina soph Maya Rush (a transfer from Serra in her first meet for the Colts) ran the sprint triple at the Covina meet, winning the 100 after taking the SGV seasonal lead in a dual meet two days before in 12.39. She was third behind Alisha in both the 200 & 400 and all of her times narrowly missed breaking the Covina records.
Also at Covina – Bonita senior Jocelyn Hipwell leaped to a big 5-08 mark in the high jump, extending her seasonal SGV lead and now ranking equal 5th All-Time for our area. A Masters Meet Qualifier in 2018, she currently ranks 2nd in the Southern Section and third in the State.
All told, there were 12 new athletes or relays that met the 2019 All-SGV Standards this past week, and 8 improved their marks.
You can view the updated All-SGV lists here:Â 19 All SGV Girls 3-30
By Bob Ramsey, on April 2nd, 2019 Covina junior Aaron Rodriguez got off to a quick and a high start in the pole vault this year, with his 14-00 jump in the early season Covina Five Way meet in February.
The jump was not a complete surprise – he was the Frosh/Soph winner at the SGV Champs last year with a then PR jump of 13-02, and advanced to CIF after a third place finish in the Valle Vista League.
This past week on his home runway in the Northview dual meet -Â he took it even higher with a 14-09 jump for the win. That jump ranks him equal 43rd All-Time San Gabriel Valley, and it makes him our male Athlete of the Week.
The week saw six more athletes earn All-San Gabriel Valley honors, and nine athletes who had already reached the All-SGV standard improved their marks.
There were new 2019 area leaders in four events:
- 100m - Matthew Hoskins (Sr, Monrovia) – 10.91
- 110H - Zach Reid (Sr, Bonita) – 14.62
- 4 x 400 Relay - South Pasadena – 3:26.23
- High Jump : Matthew Molina – 6-06 (co-leader)
You can view the updated All-SGV List here:Â 19 All SGV Boys 3-30
By Bob Ramsey, on March 26th, 2019 The 2019 season finally got going as local boys shook off the bad weather of previous weeks to turn in a slew of big performances – topped by Arroyo senior Noah Hibbard’s big mile win at the Distance Meet of Champions.
There are now ten All-SGV performers in the 3200 & eight in the 800, while no local boys have yet met the standard in the throws.
Here are the new 2019 Leaders as of this week (or previous leaders who improved their mark):
- 800: 1:53.61 - Kai Dettman (Sr, South Pas)
- 1600: 4:07.25 – Noah Hibbard (Sr, Arroyo)
- 3200: 9:27.01 – Josh Orellana (Jr, Arroyo)
- 110H: 14.87 – Matthew Uballe (Sr, Diamond Bar)
- 4×100: 43.60 – Bishop Amat
- 4×400: 3:26.93 -Â Monrovia
- Pole Vault: 15-00 - David Miketta (Jr, La Cañada)
- Long Jump: 21-11.50 - Julian Thai (Sr, Gabrielino)
- Triple Jump: 47-06 - Tianho Wei (Jr, South Pasadena)
- Blue Mark = Top 50 All-Time SGV Mark
The lists are here:Â 19 All SGV Boys 3-23
Notes
The All-San Gabriel Valley lists include athletes who have achieved a standard based on 98% of the 100th best mark in California the previous year.
You can view the 2019 SGV Standards here.
The 2019 standards reflect the small but general decline in the standards of our sport over the past 4-5 years. (For comparison, you can view the 2015 Standards here). And the SGV athletes have declined proportionately a little more, especially in the technical events. Here’s to hoping 2019 will reverse that trend!
By Bob Ramsey, on March 26th, 2019 This weekend’s good weather and big meets led to a bunch of SGV area girls earning All-Area honors this week.
There are now eight All-SGV performers in the 800 & #3200, but no local girls have yet met the standard in the shot, and the long & triple jumps.
Here are the new 2019 Leaders as of this week (or previous leaders who improved their mark):
- 400: 58.57 - Christina Taylor (Sr, South Pas)
- 1600: 4:55.23 - Chloe Arriaga (Sr, Walnut)
- 3200: 10:33.46 - Audrey Suarez (So, Mayfield)
- 300H: 45.72 - Inaya Jumal (Sr, Monrovia)
- 4×100: 44.90 - Arcadia & Monrovia
- Discus: 132-00 -Â Nikki Escobar
- Blue Mark = SGV Top 50 All-Time Performance
The lists are here:Â 19 All SGV Girls 3-23
Notes
The All-San Gabriel Valley lists include athletes who have achieved a standard based on 98% of the 100th best mark in California the previous year.
You can view the 2019 SGV Standards here.
The 2019 standards reflect the small but general decline in the standards of our sport over the past 4-5 years. (For comparison, you can view the 2015 Standards here). And the SGV athletes have declined proportionately a little more, especially in the technical events. Here’s to hoping 2019 will reverse that trend!
By Bob Ramsey, on March 26th, 2019  Noah Hibbard #3 All-Time Winning the Distance Meet of Champions – Photo: Milesplit We’re happy to release the latest version of the San Gabriel Valley Track & Field All-Time Top 50 Performers. It also includes confirmed school records and the best documented performance for as many schools as possible.
These lists are complied from every available resource – but there are undoubtedly marks that are missing. If you know of any and can document them (scan of meet results or newspaper articles or online link – please send them in a comment to this post.
Already this year, we have seen four All-Time performances by SGV Girls…
- Kai Dettman (SR, South Pasadena) – #39 800m: 1:53.61
- Noah Hibbard (Sr, Arroyo) – #3 1600M: 4:07.25
- David Miketta (Jr, La Cañada) – #27= Pole Vault: 15-00
- Tianho Wei (Jr, South Pasadena) – #33 Triple Jump: 47-06
All told, there are 6 athletes active this season with Top 50 marks, ranging from two in the 1600 and triple jump to none in the 100-400, 3200, 110H, 300H, the throws and the long jump.
You can view the lists here:Â 19-03-23 SGV Boys 50 & Records
By Bob Ramsey, on March 26th, 2019  Melanie Mach – Sr, Rosemead – has taken her XC form to the track with an All-Time mark in the 800m We’re happy to release the latest version of the San Gabriel Valley Track & Field All-Time Top 50 Performers. It also includes confirmed school records and the best documented performance for as many schools as possible.
These lists are complied from every available resource – but there are undoubtedly marks that are missing. If you know of any and can document them (scan of meet results or newspaper articles or online link – please send them in a comment to this post.
Already this year, we have seen four All-Time performances by SGV Girls…
- Melanie Mach (SR, Rosemead) – #30 800m: 2:15.69
- Ellaney Matarese (So, La Cañada) – #27 1600M: 5:02.25
- Julia Marriott (Sr, Claremont) – #42 3200m: 11:01.40
- Nikki Escobar (Sr, Bell Gardens – #17 Discus: 132-00
All told, there are 25 athletes active this season with Top 50 marks, ranging from 10 in the 3200 to none in and the triple jump.
You can view the lists here:Â 19-03-23 SGV Girls 50 & Records
By Bob Ramsey, on December 13th, 2018  Two of the SGV’s best, Arroyo senior Noah Hibbard and Mayfield soph Audrey Suarez finished their season at the 40th Annual Footlocker Championship on Saturday at Balboa Park in San Diego. This national championship meet brings together 40 of the top boys and girls from around the country (and US possessions) who have qualified through regional meets.
Official Results
 Audrey Saurez
Photo Credit: Victah Sailer www.photorun.NET The girls led things off on the rolling 5000m course. California Div. IV champ Suarez did not go with the lead group of 7 who blew off the front in 5:15 for the first mile, sitting 35th in 5:35. In the slower second mile of the course, she split 6:05 but moved up four spots. In the faster final section of the course, she gained one more spot (and nearly another) in the last 1.1 mile to finish 30th in 18:31.
Afterwards, Audrey said the race “… was an experience I have never had before. I think coming into this I really didn’t have any expectations, which was good. So I wasn’t disappointed. This is definitely the coolest experience that running has led me to by far.”
 Noah Hibbard Photo Credit: Andrew McClanahan www.photorun.NET Hibbard, State Div. II runner-up, was in the middle of the pack of the boys race, 3 seconds off the lead, as the whole field stayed together through the first mile. In the second 1-1/2 mile, a lead group of 11 formed, with Noah coming just off the back of the second group, standing 26th at the split. He held his place over the final 660m to finish 26th in 16:10.
While Noah had expected a better finish, he was thankful for the chance to race one more time. “Although I felt that I ran terribly, I feel blessed to make it here to compete against the very best. This was the first year I went to states and regionals, so making it to nationals was an extra bonus. My goal was to place in a good pack, in the top half. Being in the top 20’s gives me confidence, knowing that I finished among the top 30 in the nation.”
And with that, the 2018 Cross Country Season comes to an end.
Stay tuned for our post-season honors and track and field coverage.
By Bob Ramsey, on December 3rd, 2018  Noah Hibbard of Arroyo gets one more week! Two of the SGV’s very best competed one more time this past weekend, with, Audrey Suarez (So, Mayfield) and Noah Hibbard (Sr, Arroyo) earning the right to compete one more week with two of our area’s best efforts ever on the big hills of Mt.SAC at the Footlocker West meet.
There are two national “Championship” meets for Cross Country – the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN -) that was held last weekend in Portland, Oregon, and the Footlocker Championships, held each year at Balboa Park in San Diego.
The Footlocker meet is the older of the two, and the athletes compete individually, qualifying directly through regional meets. Hibbard and Suarez both advanced in the West Regional which matched athletes from 12 States on Saturday over a 5000m Mt.SAC course that runs about 50-70 seconds slower than the traditional 2.93 mile course.
Official Results
 State Champ Audrey Saurez In the girls race, State Div. IV Champ Suarez ran in the lead pack the whole way and advanced easily in 6th/18:18, behind two other State Champs and girls from three other states. This is one of the best efforts ever by a SGV athlete here. Three of our areas top seniors were also in the Championship race. Emma Arriaga (Walnut) was best, 35th/19:01, followed by Joyce Wu (Arcadia) -75th/19:43, and Melanie Mach (Rosemead) - 82nd/19:50. Covina junior Kaitlyn Vuong finished her season at 109th/20:55.
The top boys were even more tightly bunched, and Hibbard finished a controlled 5th in 15:37. As with Audrey, Noah’s effort was one of the best ever by an SGV athlete on these hills. Pasadena frosh Isaiah Givens closed out his debut year with an exceptional 82nd/16:42 finish, matching the time he ran on the nearly 300m shorter invite course in October.
Arroyo junior Josh Orellana was 92nd/16:49, Claremont senior Jacob Moran was 110th/16:58 and Diamond Bar senior Lucas Amare was 116th/17:03. Nine other SGV athletes also closed out their year here.
Audrey and Noah will finish up next Saturday, racing in the 40th Annual Championship at Balboa Park in San Diego. There will be a live webcast and other meet details here: footlockercc.com
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SGV Track & XC This site is maintained by Bob Ramsey – a SGV T&F athlete (Arroyo ’80), and former coach at Glendora HS and Meet Director of the SGV Champs. Bob is currently Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Whittier College
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