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MISSION VIEJO- Loara senior Kezue Nwachie continued to stake his claim as one of the county’s top sprinters as the regular season’s first month of competition drew to a close.

Nwachie produced wind-legal seasonal best efforts to win both the 100 and 200 at the Trabuco Hills/Brooks Invitational Saturday at Trabuco Hills High.

Nwachie got out of the blocks quickly in the 100 and crossed the finish line in a time of 10.88. Tesoro junior Hunter Simmons and Bishop Amat’s junior Phillip Johnson tied for the second best time of the race, as each clocked 11.00.

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OCVarsity Hot Shots: Trabuco Hills Invitational

Boys track and field: Trabuco Hills Invitational (results)

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“The thing I was thinking about most was getting out of the blocks fast because I usually have a slow start,” Nwachie said. “I was able to time the gun good.”

Later in the 200, Nwachie found a late burst over the final 50 meters and crossed the finish line in a time of 22.35.

“You have to go all out in the 200 and try and keep the same pace,” Nwachie said. “I’m just putting my practice to work, and winning shows that by putting in effort, you can come out on top.”

German Fubela of La Serna High (22.38) was second, with Simmons and Bishop Amat junior Darren Andrews each coming in third place with a time of 22.50.

St. Margaret’s senior Billy Gaudreau produced an impressive effort in the 1600. Taking the lead early in the race, Gaudreau broke away from the pack and cruised to the win in a time of 4:16.94.

“Today was a good test and I feel like my times will take care of themselves,” Gaudreau said. “Once I start doing more speed work, I’m confident my times will drop.”

Bryan Fernandez of Dos Pueblos was finished second in a time of 4:21.06, with Corona del Mar senior Blake Myers coming in third in a time of 4:21.13. 

A thrilling photo finish highlighted the 3200. Tartans junior Brandon Price and Godinez junior Jose Penaloza traded the lead over the final two laps before both went stride for stride over the final 10 meters, with Price (9:23.96) nosing out Penaloza (9:23.97) for the victory.

“Jose (Penaloza) and some of the other guys started to pass me and I was getting tired,” Price said. “But I knew that if I hung on, I could get him at the end and that’s what I did.”

Aliso Niguel senior Tareq Alwafai finished in third place with a time of 9:27.50.

Corona del Mar senior Kyle Iverson used a strong finishing kick to cross the line in first place in the 800 with a seasonal-best time of 1:55.30.

“I stuck behind the first place guy until about 250-200 meter to go in the race when felt I had more speed and could outkick him,” Iverson said. “This is a quality time for this point in the season.”

Harvard Westlake’s David Manahan (1:56.63) came in second, while Sea Kings senior Ryan Rodrigues (1:57.42) was third.

Orange Lutheran junior Cullan Riser won his second invitational 300 hurdles race of the season, coming across the finish line in a time of 39.58.

The Lancers also received a strong performance in the triple jump from sophomore Myles Hawkins, who leaped to a lifetime best jump of 46-3½ to finish second in the competition.

“I went through the first two jumps not feeling really good and I was getting kind mad,” Hawkins said. “When I took off and landed in the sand on that third jump, I thought it was pretty good. This will help me a lot coming through the rest of the season.”  

Mission Viejo senior Connor McNicholas cleared 14 feet, six inches in the pole vault to finish second to Murrieta Valley’s Peter Chapman, who won the event with a clearance of 15 feet. Servite senior Cooper Montano (14-6) finished in a tie for third place.

Friars junior Zack Tombol (161-9) finished second in the discus.

San Juan Hills (3:40.23) finished second to La Sierra (3:36.29) in the Sprint Medley race.