By BEN MCCARTY
News staff writer
May 2, 2008

The Hood River Valley track team found itself scattered from Gresham to Hermiston on Saturday, with a few of its members competing in the Centennial Invitational at Centennial High School and the rest of its members competing at the Kiwanis Invitational in Hermiston.

The Eagles sent Leo Castillo and Alison Flaming to the Centennial Invitational, and Castillo broke his own team record in the 300 meters on his way to a second place finish.

Castillo finished with a time of 8 minutes 49.95 seconds. Castillo lost by a little more than a second to Ben Nance of Henry Jackson High School in Washington state.

Castillo’s time shaved three seconds off his previous school record.

“This is the year of the record breakers for us,” HRV coach Caleb Sperry said. “We have had tons of records broken this year.

Flaming placed fifth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:24.10, a tenth of a second off her previous best time.

At the Kiwanis meet, the Hood River boys team placed seventh out of 14 teams with a team score of 35.5, while the girls team placed eight with a score of 55.

The Eagle girls got first place finishes from Ashley Braniff and Kari Hidle on the girls side and David Warren on the boys side.

Warren’s 13-6 effort in the pole vault added 6 inches to his previous best effort. Braniff finished first in the 3,000 meters with a time of 11:17.18, while Hidle finished first in the long jump with a leap of 16’11.25.

Rachel Perry picked up second place finishes in the shot put and javelin, Stefan Zosa finished second in the 300 intermediate hurdles with a time 40.78 seconds for his best mark of the season, third in the 110 high hurdles and fourth in the high jump, and Alex Van Slyke finished fifth in the 1,500 meters with a personal best time of 4:19.03.

“We are seeing a lot of different kids improving on a weekly basis,” Sperry said.

The Eagles host a novice meet this Wednesday and then host a final varsity meet next Tuesday before preparing for the district championships.

Results from the Kiwanis Invitational and Centennial Invitational via Athletic.net:

19 Roberto Bustos 12.45

10 Julio Avila 24.15

8 Zak Flaming 53.80

10 Julio Avila 54.16

10 Yonny Castillo 2:05.91

5 Alex Van Slyke 4:19.03

7 Alex Van Slyke 9:41.71

24 Patrick Sadil 11:12.71

3 Stefan Zosa 15.89

14 David Warren 17.74

2 Stefan Zosa 40.78

14 David Warren 44.65

11 Julio Avila, Alex Van Slyke, Zak Flaming, Frank Zartler 3:47.12

12 Erik Lujano 42’00.75

11 Erik Lujano 110’03

16 Nicholas Delgado 99’08

20 Erik Lujano 135’02

4 Stefan Zosa 6’00.00

1 David Warren 13’06.00

14 Taylor Bentz 10’06.00

15 Zak Flaming 18’03.75

24 Roberto Bustos 13’02.00

17 Zak Flaming 37’04.50

22 Jaci Bryant 14.33

16 Emily Ing 30.12

5 Kylee Staughton 1:02.16

8 Emily Ing 1:04.91

11 Erin Jones 2:35.88

12 Aspen Braniff 2:36.07

8 Erin Jones 5:14.37

14 Claire Merriam 5:28.66

1 Ashley Braniff 11:17.18

9 Alex Ostler 12:09.02

6 Justine Campbell 16.81

16 Brittani Tollentino 18.00

13 Lupe Santillan 51.13

15 Justine Campbell 51.55

3 Justine Campbell, Kari Hidle, Kylee Staughton, Jaci Bryant 52.20

8 Justine Campbell, Kari Hidle, Kylee Staughton, Emily Ing 4:25.08

2 Rachel Perry 37’03.50

13 Angie Titus 32’00.75

9 Kim Derras 88’02

15 Desi Leon 79’00

2 Rachel Perry 132’08

11 Rachael Mallon 98’01

10 Rachel Perry 4’06.00

9 Emily Ing 4’04.00

10 Amy Hay 7’00.00

1 Kari Hidle 16’11.25

16 Jaci Bryant 13’11.25

6 Kari Hidle 34’05.25

13 Jaci Bryant 32’01.75 Fr

2 Leo Castillo 8:49.95

5 Alison Flaming 2:24.10