NORWALK – At this rate, it seems impossible for Northwood’s Bethan Knights to keep topping herself.
Knights improved her county record in the 3,200 meters at the CIF-SS Track and Field Finals last week. On Friday, she surpassed that mark.
Knights burst out to her signature early lead and won the 3,200 in 9:54.89 at the CIF-SS Masters Meet at Cerritos College. That is a county record and tops the nation this season.
It’s also about six seconds behind the national record set by Thousand Oaks’ Kim Mortensen, who ran a 9:48.59 in 1996.
“Just knowing I went out there last week and did that hard (3,200) after the (1,600), I kind of told myself let’s go out fresh and see what we could do,” Knights said.
Knights scratched from the 1,600 this week – and will next week — to focus on the 3,200.
In girls shot put, Los Alamitos Mackenna Howard made some history herself. She became just the fourth girl in county history to record a throw of 50 feet in the shot put with a throw of 50 feet, 2 1/2 inches, which puts her third in the county record books.
“I was just able to stay calm and focus on my technique, and let it take me,” Howard said. “Let it come out of me, and let it show, all the hard work I’ve put into it.”
Howard recorded a personal best in the discus, as well, with a 147-01, and will advance to state in both events.
The county was well represented in the boys 300-meter hurdles as the Griffins’ Tyler Rios, Mission Viejo’s Diego Courbis and Santa Margarita’s Austin Tinsley formed the top three seeds.
Tinsley won the race in 37.25, a personal best and third best time in the state, after showing some burst in the final half of race, which allowed him to pull away.
“I just got to go for it (at the last 150 meters), put my head down and don’t think and go for it,” Tinsley said. “Coming off the turn, I knew I was up, so I had to keep it going.”
The Eagles received unfortunate news on the girls side, though. Kaitlyn Merritt posted a no-height in the pole vault and failed to qualify for state when she missed on all three of her attempts at 12-01.
Merritt said some head wind, constant changing of poles, and some early takeoffs were what did in her hopes of repeating as a state champion.
“It will definitely light a fire under me … but it’s pole vault, it happens,” Merritt said.
Mater Dei’s Curtis Godin won the 100 in 10.55, and set a personal record in the 200 with a 20.85, but finished second to Vista Murrieta sophomore Michael Norman, who ran a 20.82.
The Monarchs’ Malik McMorris and El Modena’s Sydney Gidabuday took home titles in the boys discus and 1,600, respectively.
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