Paloma Valley sends two athletes to CIF track finals

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Senior Jason Deal and junior Aaron Young of Paloma Valley High qualified for next weekend’s CIF Southern Section track finals with standout performances in three of the premier events of Saturday’s CIF-SS Division 1 prelims at Trabuco Hills High School.

Deal finished second in his heat and was the seventh overall qualifier in the 100 meters with a time of 10.58. In the 200, Deal won his heat and was the fourth overall qualifier with a time of 21.26.

Young also advanced to next week’s finals, running a personal-best time of 14.95 in the 110 high hurdles. He grabbed the ninth and final qualifying spot.

Junior Justin Dean narrowly missed qualifying in two events. He placed 12th overall in the 100 (10.84) and finished 11th overall in the 200 (21.84).

Next week’s CIF finals brings all CIF Section qualifiers together at Moorpark High. Top competitors there advance to the CIF Master meet.

“It’s been quite a few years since we had anybody qualify for the CIF finals,” coach Juan Merida said. “We’re in Division 1, running against teams like [Long Beach] Poly, Vista Murrieta and Long Beach Wilson. This is a big step up for our program.

“Jason has been running good times all year. I think he has a good shot in the 200 to be in the top 3.”