NORWALK – Northwood entered Saturday without ever having an individual CIF-SS champion in track, but Bethan Knights ensured that didn’t last too much longer.
Knights shattered Division 3 records in the girls 1,600 and 3,200 in the CIF-SS track and field finals at Cerritos College.
In the 1,600, she cruised to a time of 4:42.29 after grabbing an early lead. That’s the fifth-best time ever in Orange County. It was also the last time Knights will run the event, because she is going to focus on the 3,200 from here on out.
Her focus proved sharp in the 3,200 later in the day. Knights improved her county record and state best of 9:59.20 with a mark of 9:58.42. The personal record is the second-best time in the country and shatters the divisional record of 10:20.82 she set at prelims last weekend.
“I wanted to concentrate on doing a really good time in 1,600, (since) it was my last one,” Knights said. “I wanted to go out strong with that race, then just hopefully come back and do as well as I could in the 3,200 …
“(It was) just better than expected. My grandma is out here from England and I think I made her proud, so I’m really happy with that.”
Knights will be the top seed in both events at the CIF-SS Masters Meet next week.
Like Knights, nothing seems to stop Mater Dei’s Curtis Godin these days. Not even a headache.
Godin had a headache during warm-ups for the 100, but that couldn’t stop his successful season.
The senior raced out in front early and finished with a wind-aided 10.34, Godin’s wind-legal best still stands at 10.36.
He did better his mark in the 200, as he displayed a burst to break away from the field and clocked in at 20.90, second best all-time in the county, and third best in the country.
“The 100 is definitely my much stronger race if you compare it to other times in the state and country,” Godin said. “So I’m glad my 200 is finally coming around. It’s been a while since I (set a personal record).
Godin’s performance, along with Malik McMorris’ helped the Monarchs capture the CIF-SS Division 2 boys title.
McMorris will be the No. 1 seed in the discus at Masters next week after he threw for 180 feet, 8 inches. The junior also took home the Division 2 title in the shot put with a mark of 59-51/2.
Orange Lutheran captured the Division 3 boys championship. Carl Johansson set a Division 3 record with a clearance of 16-91/2 in the boys pole vault.
It also puts him second all-time in county history by himself, he was tied for second entering the day.
The personal record was also a welcome sight for Johansson, who had been hampered by injuries lately.
“I haven’t been doing my best this past month,” Johansson said. “My ankle (was hurt) and I kept getting calf cramps in practice, but this past week and today, I felt great.”
Myles Hawkins spurred the Lancers to a CIF title last season, claiming wins in the high jump, long jump and the triple jump.
Hawkins defended his high jump title with a clearance of 6-9, which ties him for the county lead. He finished second in the triple jump, and third in the long jump.
Other impressive performers were Mission Viejo’s Kennedy Gillian, who won Division 2 titles in the 200 (24.53) and 400 (55.94).
Edison’s Eamon Smythe won the Division 1 title in the 800 with a 1:52.56, which is the best time in the county.
Mater Dei’s Ashlyn Rambo broke the Division 2 record in the girls 800, completing her race in 2:08.75.
Brea Olinda’s Austin Tamagno earned the top spot in Masters for the 3,200 next week when he ran a 9:04.92. He also outlasted El Modena’s Sydney Gidabuday for the Division 3 1,600 title, which he finished in 4:09.95.
JSerra’s Dante Pettis performed well with a long jump of 24-7, which gave him the Division 3 championship. That’s the best wind-legal mark in county history and the second-best under all conditions.
Los Alamitos’ Tyler Rios, Mission Viejo’s Diego Courbis, and Santa Margarita’s Austin Tinsley all took home titles in the 300-meter hurdles in Divisions 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
Irvine’s Rai Ahmed-Green won the Division 3 girls 400 in 56.85.
St. Margaret’s Lara Ohanesian won the Division 4 discus title with a throw of 120-1.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
