Giants Compete at Lakes

The Clash at the Colosseum is one of the most competitive meets that the Giants compete in all season. It has great competition and takes place at the incredible Lakes High School facility. It was unfortunate that this season, HP had several top athletes miss the meet. Those that did attend and compete were able to produce some solid highlights. 

Field Event Highlights:

The throwers got the day started off right with 2 personal best marks. Max Sukenik (So.) had a 2 foot improvement by throwing 36’10.25”. Braxten Peterson (Jr.) had a couple inch improvement on his best throw with a mark of 36’9.5”. 

Russell Czerwinski (Sr.) continued his success in the high jump. He cleared a personal best 6’2.75”. With clearing the state qualifying height, he placed 4th in a very deep and talented field of high jumpers. This is 6th all-time indoors at HPHS. 

HP only had one pole vaulter in the competition. Gavin Flory (Jr.) cleared 10’11.75” in the event.

Quentin Kelley (Jr.) jumped over 18 feet for the first time. He got a mark of 18’7”. 

In the triple jump Czerwinski jumped 39’10” but skipped his final jump due to back pain. Kelley got near his personal best with a 37’9.25” mark. 

Track Event Highlights:

The 4X800 meter relay team ran 9:17.34. The first HP runner was Usiel Rodriguez (Jr.) running a season best 2:10.9. He handed off to Turman Evans (So.) who ran a 2:15.0. The third HP runner was Spencer Pedraza (So.) running 2:28.4. The anchor leg was run by Lowell Redmond (So.) in a personal best 2:22.9. 

In the 3200 meter run, Abel Reese (Fr.) got some great varsity experience running an 11:17.96. Luke Byrnes (Jr.) also ran well as he finished in 11:55.70.

Both Oliver Baterdene (Sr.) and Mateo Diaz (Jr.) ran personal best times in the 60 meter high hurdles race. Baterdene was returning from a leg issue to run 10.06 while Diaz ran nearly 1 second faster than his previous best with a 10.97. 

After someone false started in his heat, Shamar Wilson (So.) ran a 7.13 in the restart of his 60 meter dash race. This is a new HP school record beating his own record of 7.17. Damian Zuno (Sr.) ran the 7th fastest HP time for the 60 in 7.75.

In the 800 meter run, Barak Goldstein (Sr.) ran a 2:04.43 having an off day. Robert Oboza (Sr.) ran an indoor personal best of 2:05.48.

The 4X200 meter relay team of Lachlan Knapp (Jr.), Zuno, Rosenthal, and Asher Stern (Sr.) ran 1:41.17. This is the 8th fastest indoor 4X200 run by the Giants. 

Lukaas Nales (Sr.) ran the 400 meter dash and got beat by less than .2 to take 2nd place. His time is #4 all-time indoors at HPHS. Rodriguez came back after the 4X800 to run a :57.59. 

Luke Rhoads (Sr.) ran a personal best 4:50.63 in the 1600 meter run. Reese doubled back after the 3200 to run a 5:23.26. 

Wilson raced to a :23.86 in lane 1 for the 200 meter dash. 

Finally, the 4X400 meter relay team finished the meet off with a solid effort. The team ran 3:39.74. The quartet of Giants that raced were Kelley (:56.2), Goldstein (:54.1), Knapp (:55.1), and Oboza (:54.2). 

This was not the Giants best showing this season, but there was growth and learning that was done at this meet. The team will look to be more aggressive in how they compete, especially on the track. Field events will continue to improve on their consitiency of performing beyond or near their personal bests. Each meet is an opportunity to find out more about what the team needs to do better to reach their goals moving forward. 

Giant of the Meet Nominations:

Max Sukenik - 2 foot PR in the SP 36’10.25” showing he was ready to compete in a big invite and always showing a positive attitude.

Luke Rhoads - Great effort and PR in 1600 of 4:50.63.

Russell Czerwinski - PR of 6’2.75” (#6 all-time at HP) for 4th in HJ, also had a 39’10” TJ.

Oliver Baterdene - Coming back from a quad issue, ran a personal best 10.06 in the 60m HH.

Giant of the Meet:

Max Sukenik