BOYS: `BRING IT ON' VALENCIA WILL CHALLENGE FOR FOOTHILL TITLE.Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer Valencia High is not ready to concede con·cede v. con·ced·ed, con·ced·ing, con·cedes v.tr. 1. To acknowledge, often reluctantly, as being true, just, or proper; admit. See Synonyms at acknowledge. 2. the Foothill League boys' track and field title to Canyon just yet. ``You can tell the other schools to bring it on,'' thrower Michael Singer said. ``Canyon has got some good people, but these are the Vikings. We'll give them a run for their money.'' Singer might be confident because he competes in field events, where Valencia is the class of the league. Singer is a possible Masters or even state participant in the discus discus /dis·cus/ (dis´kus) pl. dis´ci [L.] disk. dis·cus n. pl. dis·ci A flat circular surface; a disk. discus pl. disci [L.] 1. . The defending league champion is coming off a first-place finish Noun 1. first-place finish - a finish in first place (as in a race) win - a victory (as in a race or other competition); "he was happy to get the win" at the CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge Invitational in·vi·ta·tion·al adj. Restricted to invited participants: an invitational golf tournament. n. An event, especially a sports tournament, restricted to invited participants. Adj. 1. last weekend. He also excels in the shot put and has begun toying with the pole vault pole vault Track-and-field event consisting of a vault for height over a crossbar with the aid of a long pole. It became a competitive sport in the mid-19th century and was included in the first modern Olympic Games. . Andrew Bruckner is another thrower who already has thrown 49 feet in the shot put this year. Sprinter Jeff Tisdale also stands out in the long jump. Valencia will need to outperform Outperform An analyst recommendation meaning a stock is expected to do slightly better than the market return. Notes: Exact definitions vary by brokerage, but in general this rating is better than neutral and worse than buy or strong buy. top league competition in the field events to make up for the points it will allow in the distances, especially to Canyon. ``We have a couple of young kids making good strides,'' coach Mike Pontius said of the distance runners distance runner n. A runner who competes in distance races. . ``But we can't match up with Canyon.'' Sophomore Kenny Westbrook and junior Brian Davis Brian Davis may refer to:
The wild card is the sprints, where Canyon excelled last season but Valencia is improving. David Shipp is the returning league champion in the 400 meters. If he can avoid the nagging injuries he had last season, he could make a run to state. Tisdale leads the short sprinters. How the runners behind him perform will be key. Desmond Blair and Brandon Nichols, both of whom took important roles on the football team this year, will be needed to provide depth. ``Canyon definitely holds a distance advantage over everyone in the league,'' Shipp said. ``I'll admit that. But the sprints all come down to who wants it more.'' Valencia has a huge loss in the graduated Chris Chutuk, the team's lone state competitor last season in the hurdles. Newcomer Michael Robotham will need to contribute as a freshman to help make up for the loss of Chutuk. Robotham also will high jump. ``He can do a lot of stuff,'' Pontius said. ``He's going to be good.'' Standout running back Charles Burnley, who committed to Oregon State for football, is academically ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. but is expected to regain eligibility in early April and get out on the track. Like the boys, the girls' team is strong in the field events. And with their depth, the girls might even be better. McKenzie Bear qualified for the Southern Section prelims in the high jump, long jump and triple jump last year as a freshman. She has plenty of support in the jumps from long jumper The simplest form of an on/off switch. It is just a tiny, plastic-covered metal block, which is pushed onto two pins to close that circuit. It is used to select a myriad of functions on a printed circuit board or on a peripheral device. Jill Reynolds and high jumpers Melissa Hampton and Tamaiya Smith. For nearly a decade, girls in the league have been competing for second place. Canyon has won the league title seven years in a row. The girl with the chance to advance the furthest individually is hurdler Katie Kirst. It hurts that the team will be without league shot put champion Dayo Spencer-Walters, who was recently injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. in a car crash and won't compete. However, the throwers had good depth with Gigi Weismann and Kristia Kirst, Katie's younger sister. Pontius calls Reynolds and pole vaulter Sandy Bernal probably the two hardest workers on the team. ``Ever since the season ended last year, they've been working out,'' Pontius said. ``They went to camps and trained year-round. We expect a lot from them.'' VALENCIA AT A GLANCE Sport: Valencia track and field 2002: Both the boys' and girls' teams finished second in the Foothill League Key returnees: McKenzie Bear, So., sprinter; Desmond Blair, Sr., sprinter; Charles Burnley, Sr., sprinter; Melissa Hampton, So., jumper; Tim Harmon, So., sprinter; Katie Kirst, Jr., sprinter; Kristia Kirst, So., thrower; Danielle Malkowski, Jr., sprinter; Brandon Nichols, Jr., sprinter; Jill Reynolds, Jr., jumper; David Shipp, Sr., sprinter; Michael Singer, Sr., thrower; Tamaiya Smith, Jr., jumper; Jeff Tisdale, Jr., sprinter; Gigi Wiesmann, So., thrower; Kenny Westbrook, So., distance Top newcomers: Josh Barnum, Sr., distance; Rosie Endris, Fr., distance; Michael Robotham, Fr., hurdler CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Valencia hurdler Katie Kirst probably has the best chance on the girls' team of going far into the postseason. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer Box: VALENCIA AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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