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Orange Lutheran loses title after disqualification error
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Track notes: Crespi awarded title after CIF-SS finds mistake was made at Division III finals.
The championship reign of the Orange Lutheran boys track and field team ended abruptly Monday afternoon.
Two days after winning the Division III boys team championship at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, the Lancers learned that an erroneous disqualification had been overturned, resulting in the title being awarded to Crespi High of Encino.
The disqualification occurred in the 400-meter final, when Crespi senior Mark Watley was incorrectly disqualified for running in the wrong lane. Watley won the race, but after he was disqualified, the loss in points helped Orange Lutheran to a 51-50 team victory.
In a statement released Monday, CIF Southern Section Assistant Commissioner Paul Castillo, who also oversees track and field, ruled that after reviewing meet information and statements from governing race officials, Whatley had been incorrectly disqualified.
As a result, Watley was declared the winner and Crespi was awarded nine more points to finish with 59. The Lancers lost three points and finished second with 48 points.
Orange Lutheran coach Jack Preus said it was tough to break the news to his team, but that it supported the decision by CIF.
“When I discussed the decision with my athletes, we came to the consensus that it was the right call,” Preus said. “The last thing we want do is win a title in which someone was unjustly disqualified from an event.”
DIVISION FINALS NOTES
It was a good day for Esperanza throwers, as junior Jake Pendleton (167 feet) edged El Toro senior Shane Tucker (166 feet) to win the Division I title. In the shot put, Aztec senior Blake Poole (58 feet, 8 inches) finished second. …
Mission Viejo sophomore Devalle Pedrogo ran a season-best 14.24 to finish second in the Division I 110 hurdles final…
Aliso Niguel senior Michael Andraszczyk (1:54.87) finished second in the Division I 800, with Dana Hills junior Ryan Valdes (1:55.83) placing third.
CIF-SS MASTERS MEET FRIDAY
County athletes will get their final opportunity to reach the CIF state meet Friday at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet on Friday at Cerritos College in Norwalk. Field events begin at 4:30 p.m., with running events scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
The top five finishers in each event will automatically earn berths into the state meet, while at-large berths can be earned by meeting the at-large standards.
The 90th CIF State Track and Field Championships will be held May 30-31 at Cerritos. For more information about the championships, visit www.cifstate.org.
>> Read more in Boys Track and Field
Contact the writer: jeichelberger@ocregister.com
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