PaliHi Track Impresses with Early Season Wins

If the results from the meet at Palisades High last Wednesday are any indication, the rest of the Western League’not to mention the entire City section’should take notice. Competing against University, Westchester and Venice, the Dolphins won or placed near the top of practically every event. Such dominance was on full display after the sun had set and all four schools lined up for the day’s final event, the 4 x 400 meter relay. First, the Pali girls team of Amber Greer, Tyler Williams, Erica Brown and Kendall Gustafson finished at 4:08, with Gustafson finishing some 100 meters ahead of the next closest team. Immediately after, the Pali boys raced to a seemingly identical result as Eric Lopez (subbing for regular David Joy), Paul Logan, Malik McDaniel and Casey Charlton finished at 3:28 far ahead of the pack. ‘We just put the hammer down today,’ PaliHi coach Perry Jones said. ‘That’s just conditioning. Our kids are strong and hopefully they’ll keep running that way.’ The Dolphins also dominated individual events. For starters, Logan, who was the City champion in the high jump last year at 6’2”, put on a show for the dozen or so fans cheering him on, as he hit 6’4” to win. ‘When we get to league, that’s when it counts,’ said Logan, who noted he hopes to clear 6’8” this season. ‘Right now, we’re just trying to find our strengths and weaknesses.’ Logan already seemed to know one area he could improve. ‘I don’t work on my legs at all,’ he said, smiling. ‘I hate leg workouts, I got to work on that.’ In addition, sophomore sensation Kendall Gustafson, who was the City champ in both the high jump and 300 meter hurdles last year, placed first in the high jump at 5’2” and shot put at just under 35 feet. Other Dolphin wins included the boys 4 x 100m team of McDaniel, Logan, Joy and Ben Ingrim, who ran a 43.5, and McDaniel in the 100m at 10.75. Meanwhile, in long distance, Grant Stromberg won both the 1600 and 3200 meters, while McKenzie Gray won the 800 and Jacklyn Bamberger won the 3200 in girls. Pali competes tomorrow at Hamilton and won’t have another meet until an April 28 home meet against Venice.