The Dana Hills boys were very serious and confident they could run much faster in the 4x800 meter relay this weekend at the Mt. SAC Relays than their 7:45 performance several weeks ago. Tyler Valdez for Dana Hills pointed out last weekend at the Arcadia Invite that their 7:45 squad at the California Relays did not include Zak Phillips, who he felt could run a sub 1:55 leg for them once placed on the relay.
Valdez and his teammates were not lying as the current US leaders in three distance relays (4x800, DMR, and 4xMile) dropped five seconds on the US #1 time in the 4x800 with a 7:40.30 victory at the Mt. SAC Relays on Friday. The quartet from Dana Point, California is knocking on the door of their team moving onto the US top 25 all-time list in the event with their splits on Friday of 1:57.3 for Cole Guerin, 1:54.9 for Phillips, 1:54.4 for Tyler Valdez, and 1:53.9 for anchor Ryan Valdez. Two other teams ran US top 10 teams in the race including Upland (US #6 7:51.72) and Torrey Pines (US #10 7:53.51).
(Photo right by Margot Kelly of CalRunners.com, a MileSplit US affiliate)
The boys 4x1600 meter relay was also a deep race with nine teams under the 4:30 leg average of 18 minutes as Loyola (CA) claimed a close victory against Valencia (2nd, US #5 17:36.62) and Arcadia (3rd, US #6 17:36.76) in a US #4 time of 17:35.88.
The Australian girls from Ruyton High School apparently extended their stay in America from Arcadia to Mt. SAC as they placed second (9:19.72) in the 4x800 meter relay to the national leaders from Long Beach Poly (9:09.70), who were a bit slower than their previous two outings at Arcadia and the Texas Relays.
The Saugus girls spoiled Ruyton from returning back to Australia with a first place victory to show for themselves as despite 6,400 meters of racing to allow for separation between first and second,the margin was narrow as could be at the finish line between girls 4x1600 winners Saugus (20:45.61) and runners-up Ruyton (20:45.72).
College events are also ongoing at the Mt. SAC Relays throughout the weekend and several high school preps are stepping up to the challenge to compete unattached against the collegiates. In the women's 1500 meter run, Mira Costa senior Kevyn Murphy finished in the middle of the pack but ran a US #2 time of 4:37.12, which would put her just under 5 minutes converted to a full mile.
The Kraychir sisters from 29 Palms High School (CA), Katie and Casey, both threw for US top 5 marks in hammer throw competing against collegiates and post-collegiates with Katie at a US #3 mark of 171'5" and Casey ata US #4 mark of 169'7".
Mt. SAC Relays High School Results: Friday