NORWALK – It was their finest hour.
As the sprints were carried out in the early afternoon of Saturday’s CIF-SS Track and Field Finals, Woodbridge’s boys team produced a symphonic performance in a trio of dominating victories.
Those wins helped the Warriors nail down the first CIF-SS boys team title in school history as Woodbridge topped Murrieta Mesa, 69-37, in Division 2 at Cerritos College.
Scott Patton blazed through the 100 meters (10.65), and Gabe Warner stormed by the competition in the 200 (21.17) and the 400 (47.9). The Warriors 400 relay team of Alex Young, Nehemiah Nash, Warner and Patton also won, making it a sweep of the sprinting events.
Woodbridge was the runner-up for the divisional crown the previous two seasons. When the Warriors fell to Mater Dei last season, Woodbridge coach Aaron Craver knew they had to get it done this season for their seniors, Warner and Patton.
“They feel like this is what the season was for,” Craver said of bringing home the championship. “We wanted to get it for our couple of seniors so that they can say they are the first boys team to win it.”
Both of the Warriors’ relay teams qualified for the Master’s meet next Friday. Warner said the 400 relay set the tone for his team to have a great day.
“I think it was a really big deal for us to start out with a win,” Warner said. “It throws the rest of the day forward, and we have more confidence to run our other races.”
Malik McMorris swept the throwing events, giving the Mater Dei standout four CIF individual titles for his career. The senior posted marks of 57 feet, 33/4 inches in the shot put and 182-1 in the discus.
“It was good competition out here today,” McMorris said of repeating as champion in both events. “It was really cool to be Division 2 winner two years in a row.”
Also performing well in the discus was Esperanza’s Bronson Osborn, who beat St. John Bosco’s Matt Katnik with a toss of 174-4 in Division 3.
Sage Hill’s CJ McCord provided early fireworks, joining Trabuco Hills’ Sean Lee and Cypress’ Quinten Pounds at the top of the county leaderboard with a jump of 6-9 to win the Division 4 high jump. Lee and Pounds each cleared the bar at 6-7 in the Division 1 meet, with the Mustangs freshman winning on fewer total jumps.
San Juan Hills’ Connor Meech (37.0) and Yorba Linda’s Dylan Atencio (37.5) each came away with victories in the 300 hurdles.
Blair Robinson of Kennedy set a personal best of 47-5 in the triple jump to take the Division 2 title. Marina’s Jett Gordon won the Division 2 pole vault title with a mark of 15-6.
Tesoro’s Michael Mitchell leaped 22-8 3/4 to win the Division 2 long jump.
County distance standouts Austin Tamagno (Brea Olinda) and Andrew Burkhardt (JSerra) won their 1,600 (4:09.19) and 3,200 (9:05.94) races, respectively.