Dolphins on Fast Track to Finals

Coaches Ron Brumel and Perry Jones know the Palisades High track team is loaded with talent this season and the Dolphins showed it against Taft and Carson in last Friday’s tri-meet at Stadium by the Sea. There were impressive performances all around, not the least of which was Erika Martin clocking 14.3 seconds in the girls’ varsity 100-meter hurdles. The Wake Forest-bound senior also won the 200-meter dash in 25.78 seconds, cleared 5 feet to win the high jump and leaped 17 feet, 6 inches to win the long jump. “I’m very happy with the results considering this is the first meet,” said Martin, who competed in four events, finishing second in two, at the City finals meet last spring. “Hopefully I can keep dropping time as the season goes on.” Mariah Fisher cleared 4 feet, 10 inches for third in the high jump and Lauren Gustafson breezed to victory in the 800 with a time of 2:27. Amber Greer took second in the 400 in 64.1 seconds and freshman Jacklyn Bamberger took second in the 1600 in 5:24, followed by Sophia Stone in third (5:43) and Michelle Colato in fourth (5:52). Greer and Colato placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 300 hurdles and the 4 x 100 relay team took third. Mikaela Panza won the girls’ frosh/soph 400 in 65.4 seconds, the girls’ frosh/soph 4 x 100 relay won by disqualification and the girls’ frosh/soph 4 x 400 relay won in 4:38.1 . For the boys’ varsity, senior Carlos Bustamante won the 800 in 2:03.3 and Eric Lopez was third in 2:08.3. Sophomore Grant Stromberg won the 3200 in 10:19.9, just three seconds off his best time last spring, and Drake Johnston was fourth in 10:50.2. Johnston also won the frosh/soph mile in 5 minutes flat. Bustamante was second in the 1600 in 4:44 and Stromberg was third in 4:47.4. The boys’ varsity and frosh/soph 4 x 100 relays both took third and the varsity 4 x 400 team won in 3:45.9, with Lopez running the anchor leg. Paul Logan won the high jump at 6 feet, edging Dolphins teammate Myles Kendrick on attempts. Junior Kolmus Iheanacho, the City frosh/soph shot put champion last year, won Friday’s competition with a throw of 44 feet, 5 inches and Hakeem Jawanza took third. “I’m definitely gunning for the 800 again,” said Lopez, who won the City finals frosh/soph race last year in a personal-best 2:01.60. “We have a really deep team this year–especially the girls. They’ll be one of the contenders to win City.” sports@palipost.com