The 57th annual Mt. SAC Relays came to a close at 11:09 p.m. Saturday night, marking the end of an era. This year was the last year that these famous relays will be held at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College Campus due to upcoming major renovations to the stadium. But it went out with a bang, with many strong performances and a broken record.
rnPrandini sends out Hilmer Lodge Stadium in stellar fashion
The top performer of the weekend was Oregon’s Jenna Prandini, who successfully defended her title in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.92 seconds. This time broke Prandini’s personal record, tied the national leader in the respective category, and bumped her into second all-time on the college record list.
Her teammate, Jasmine Todd, won her heat in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.03 seconds.
Prandini took the track two hours later for the 200 meter dash, and walked away victorious, finishing in 22.42 seconds. With that time, she claimed the top spot as the national leader in the 200M.
rnCoach’s record stands
The big event of the weekend was supposed to be Olympian and former USC Trojan Duane Solomon’s attempt to break a world record held by his coach, Johnny Gray. The 600 meter world record is 1:12.81.
Solomon started off strong, with a first 200 meter split of 23.55 seconds. He stayed on pace for the record after the first 400, with a 400 split of 47.7 seconds. However, Solomon faded towards the end, finishing in 1:15.44, just under three seconds shy of the record.
Cunningham leaps into the records
Bishop Gorman’s Ashley Cunningham set a national high school record in the high jump late Saturday night, clearing the bar at 6 feet, 4-and-a-quarter inches.
rnArchdiocesan success
Chaminade boys won the boys 4x100 meter invitational relay with a time of 41.6 seconds.
T.J. Brock of Chaminade ran a blistering 100 meter dash, winning with a final time of 10.20 seconds. Trevor Reid of Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) finished third at 10.48 seconds.
Notre Dame captured the boys 4x400 relay, holding off Long Beach Wilson and Rio Mesa. Their 3:16.33 made them the new state leader. Notre Dame’s girls squad also captured the top spot in the 4x400, with a time of 4:01.31.
St. John Bosco edged Del Norte, winning heat two of the boys 4x400 seeded relay with a time of 3:21.06. Alemany placed 3rd (3:23.75). John Bosco also had success in the boys 4x200 relay, winning in 1:29.06.
St. Bonaventure’s Celera Barnes won the high school girls’ seeded 100 meter dash with a time of 11.57 seconds.
Cathedral (1:27.54) and Chaminade (1:28.21) came in first and second, respectively, in the 4x200 meter relay.
