Relay teams lead way for Heritage in league track finals

Photo illustration by Kristi Jo Photography

Two relay teams and a few select individuals from Heritage High School qualified for the May 6 CIF track and field prelims with standout performances at the Ivy League finals on Wednesday.

The girls 1600-meter relay team of Nyla Williams, Donya Wooden, Faith Kasper and Esmeralda Pena finished second with a time of 4:10.82 and qualified to advance. Kasper also qualified in the 400 meters with a first-place time of 1:00.59. In addition, Andreese Ortiz qualified with a winning mark of 117-8 in the discus.

The boys 1600 relay team of Roland Luboya, Isaiah Safford-Miles, Elijah LaMothe and Christian Whaley qualified with a winning time of 3:22.25. Safford-Miles also qualified in the 300 hurdles with a winning time of 40.31. Terrence Whaley qualified with a winning time of 15.02 in the 110 hurdles.

Here are results of female athletes for Heritage in the league finals:

1600m Relay -- 2nd, 4:10.82 (Nyla Williams, Donya Wooden, Faith Kasper, Esmeralda Pena). (CIF qualifier)
400m Relay -- 3rd, 51.08 (Pennie Gipson, Donya Wooden, Esmeralda Pena, Faith Kasper)

Mia Jarrett -- 7th, shot put, 30-4

Mariah Jones -- 7th, 100m hurdles, 20.65

Faith Kasper -- 1st, 400m, 1:00.59 (CIF Qualifier)

Mariah Jones -- 7th, 300m hurdles, 54.84

Pennie Gipson -- 8th, 200m, 28.39

Isabella Medina -- 9th, 3200m, 15:17.54

Andreese Ortiz -- 1st, shot put, 37-4.5”; 1st, discus, 117-8 (CIF Qualifier)

Esmeralda Pena -- 2nd, 400m, 1:02.00

Anna Pham -- 4th, 300 hurdles, 52.73
Julissa Villasenor -- 4th, 800m, 2:39.47; 6th, 100 hurdles, 20.18

Here are results of male athletes for Heritage in the league finals:

Omar Arroyo -- 2nd, 3200m, 10:16.17

Jacob Duregger -- 3rd, 800m, 2.03.07

Simon Jimenez -- 4th, 300 hurdles, 43.99

Eliajah LaMothe -- 3rd, 400m, 50.06

Roland Luboya -- 4th, 400m, 52.15; 5th, 200m, 23.40

Jason Murillo -- 6th, shot put, 39-7

Ivan Nava -- 5th, 800m, 2:13.79

Josh Preciado-Avalos -- 7th, long jump, 19-6; 7th, triple jump, 34-5

Isaiah Safford-Miles -- 1st, 300m hurdles, 40.31 (CIF Qualifier)

Carlos Serrato -- 4th, 800m, 2:05.11

Josiah Smith -- 6th, 100m, 11.40

Christian Whaley -- 8th, 400m, 53.91

Terrence Whaley -- 2nd, 300 hurdles, 40.53; 1st, 110 hurdles, 15.02 (CIF Qualifier)

1600m relay -- 1st, 3:22.25 (Roland Luboya, Isaiah Safford-Miles, Elijah LaMothe, Christian Whaley). (CIF qualifier, school record)