Record number of Paloma athletes qualify for track prelims

From left: Aaron Young, Jason Deal and Jayden Epps all set school records this week. (Photo courtesy of Juabn Merida)

Both the boys and girls track and field teams from Paloma Valley High School finished off undefeated league seasons with championships won Wednesday in the Inland Valley League finals at Orange Vista High.

In addition, the boys and girls JV teams won league titles as well. The boys varsity team didn’t lose a meet all season.

Paloma Valley qualified a school-record 24 athletes for the CIF Division 1 prelims May 6 at Trabuco Hills High School. The group will be led by senior Jason Deal, who is ranked No. 4 in the CIF-SS in the 100 meters (10.48), No. 2 in the 200 meters (21.27) and No. 8 in the 400 meters (48.57). He also runs the anchor leg on the boys 4x100 relay team, which is ranked 8th.

In the league finals, Deal took first place in the 200, 400 relay, 1600 relay, and set a school record in winning the 100 meters (10.48). Aaron Young set a record in the 300 hurdles (40.04) and also won the 110 hurdles and was a member of the 400 relay team. Jayden Epps set a school record in winning the shot put (51-9).

Following is a list of highlights of Paloma Valley's performances in the league finals. Names who are boldfaced qualified for the CIF prelims:

Girls 400m Relay -- 1st (Shaenen Harrison, Gracie Garcia, Madison Gallegos, Asia Tindall)

Boys 400m Relay -- 1st (Branden Clark, Justin Dean, Aaron Young, Jason Deal)

Girls 1600m -- 1st, Aliyah Hester; 2nd, Sophia Bedolla

Boys 1600m -- 1st, Chris Amador

Boys 110 Hurdles -- 1st, Aaron Young

Girls 400m -- 1st, Liana Brehm

Boys 400m -- 2nd, Logan Wilson; 3rd, Arthur Clemons

Girls 100m -- 1st, Asia Tindall

Boys 100m -- 1st, Jason Deal, 10.48 (New School Record); 2nd, Justin Dean, 10.71; 3rd, Branden Clark, 10.91.

Girls 800m -- 1st, Aliyah Hester; 2nd, Amy Bassett

Boys 800m -- 2nd, Chris Amador

Girls 300 Hurdles -- 1st, Liana Brehm

Boys 300 Hurdles -- 1st, Aaron Young, 40.04 (New School Record)

Girls 200m -- 1st, Asia Tindall; 3rd, Madison Gallegos

Boys 200m -- 1st, Jason Deal; 2nd, Justin Dean; 3rd, Hunter Jackson; 4th, Branden Clark

Girls 3200m -- 2nd, Gabriela Sevilla; 3rd, Jordan Consuegra

Boys 3200m -- 1st, Thomas Christofferson; 2nd, Jason Wade

Girls 1600m Relay -- 1st (Gracie Garcia, Amy Bassett, Liana Brehm, Asia Tindall)

Boys 1600m Relay -- 1st (Hunter Jackson, Arthur Clemons, Anthony Hall, Jason Deal)

Girls Long Jump -- 3rd, Jacky Lebron

Boys Long Jump -- 1st, Arthur Clemons; 2nd, Jarell Barnayha; 3rd, Jeffery Blalock

Boys Triple Jump -- 1st, Jefferey Blalock; 2nd, Austin Allan

Boys High Jump -- 2nd, Nathan Cook; 3rd, Matthew Monsanto; 4th, Jayden Totanes; 5th, Michael Monsanto

Girls Shot Put -- 2nd, Gina Misiaita

Boys Shot Put -- 1st, Jayden Epps, 51-9 (New School Record)

Girls Discus -- 1st, Gina Misiatia

Boys Discus -- 2nd, Kirk Randolph; 3rd, Eddie Cortez