Primm blows by the field
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

The CIFSouthern Section Divisional Finals took place last weekend in Norwalk and many athletes from the area posted top times.

Senior Cory Primm of Westlake High defended his Division II title in the 800 when he ran a time of 1:50.90, a state record that had stood for 27 years. Primm also won in the 1,600, where he posted a mark of 4:14.42.

Westlake's 1,600 relay team led by Primm, along with seniors Cooper Shockley, Max Macat and Mauro Ormedilla, took third place at 3:19.28, but the time was good enough to break the school record, which stood at 3:20. Overall, the Warriors came in fifth place with a score of 26 points.

"I ran a faster time at the Arcadia Invitational earlier in the year, so I knew I could beat the record in the 800," Primm said. "I felt really good running that race, but I was more surprised at how well we did in the relay event and how we broke a school record. I'm more proud of that event because it is a team event."

Calabasas was strong in Division III thanks to juniors Brittany Harper and Clayton Graham. Harper finished in third place in the 400 with a time of 55.42. Harper also placed third in the 200 with a time of 24.80. Graham helped lead the boys in the 800 by placing seventh with a mark of 1:58.80.

Agoura's Derek Johnson won the Division II discus throw with a mark of 196-04.

In the girls Division III standings, Oak Park placed sixth overall with 31 points. Leading the way for the Eagles was freshman Tayler Johnson.

Tayler Johnson placed sixth in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.63, good enough for a new school record. She also placed fifth in the 100 with a time of 12.47 and second in the high jump with a mark of 5-03. Tayler Johnson continued her fast times with the relay team, racing the third leg for a squad that placed seventh with a time of 49.44.

"I was really impressed with Tayler," Oak Park head coach Kevin Smith said.

"She was out on the field competing in events for five hours straight. She qualified for Masters in the hurdles, so she really helped us there. I'm a little surprised she is doing this well as only a freshman, but at the same time, you see her in practice and you can tell she is something really special."

Johnson wasn't the only one helping out Oak Park on Saturday. Junior Courtney Lightfoot placed seventh in the 1,600 with a time of 5:06.92. Lightfoot was one of three Eagles dominating the 3,200 by placing ninth, while senior Bree Strenkowski and freshman Melissa Skiba also placed in the top 10.

Oak Park's Aubree Stark won a title in the girls' pole vault by going 11 feet, 6 inches.

Although the girls' team performed well, the boys' team at Oak Park was no slouch either.

Junior Doug Bettisworth came in second place in the 800 with a time of 1:55.69. Senior Kareem Maddox placed second in the high jump with a mark of 6-04.

While the Oak Park girls' placed sixth in the Division III standings, Oaks Christian placed fifth in the girls' Division IV rankings with 29 points, just ahead of La Reina High, who came in sixth place with 28 points.

Oaks Christian was led by junior Roseanne Fleming, who came in first place in the 1,600 with a time of 5:04.10. Fleming continued her great day by coming in fourth place in the 800 with a time of 2:18.18. Junior Shannon Armstrong placed fifth in the high jump, while junior Lauren Radke placed first in the pole vault with a mark of 11-00.

On the boys' side, the Lions had contributions from Malcolm Jones, who placed fifth in the 110 hurdles. Junior Chris Owusu placed second in the 100 with a time of 10.66, and third in the 200 with a time of 21.71. Jules Sharpe placed fourth in the high jump with a mark of 6-02.

La Reina placed seventh in the 4x100 relay with a time of 50.29. Leading the way for the Regents was Sasha Blanchard, who placed fourth in the 100 hurdles with a time of 14.58, third in the 800 at a mark of 2:16.78 and seventh in the 300 hurdles with a time of 46.64.

Freshmen were in full force for La Reina, as Sarah Pearson placed fourth in the 3,200 with a time of 11:31.92, while Rosie Spinks came in sixth place in the 400 with a mark of 58.93.