DOWNEY — Over 350 athletes came together last Tuesday (April 4) in the Annual Downey-Warren Spring Track and Field Classic, with records falling at Justice Stadium at Warren High School.

From frosh-soph to varsity, 64 events in 16 categories adorned the day in what could be called a “friendly” between the two rivals.

With the inaugural year in the Suburban Valley Conference for Track and Field, 11 schools’ make up the competition – but the dual meets have seemed to have gone away.

With the larger conference these are the 11 teams - Bellflower, Dominguez, Downey, Firebaugh, Gahr, La Mirada, Lynwood, Mayfair, Norwalk, Paramount and Warren.

This “friendly” led to Warren outpointing Downey in both the boys and girls varsity competition. In the boys event, Warren outpointed Downey, 72-63, while the girls came away with an easier, 86-50 score.

The Downey boys frosh-soph team finished with 81 points, while Warren had 41, and the Warren girls squeaked by Downey, 70-66.

The Warren varsity boys took 1-2-3 finishes in five events, while Downey swept one event.

That event last week only leads up to the big finish next Friday and Saturday (April 21, 22), when a first-ever Suburban Valley Conference Champion will be crowned in boys and girls track and field. Competition gets under way Friday and continues through Saturday afternoon with numerous heats in all events. No prelims will be held, just finals.

“The Warren versus Downey meet always brings out the best in our athletes,” said Warren Track and Field coach Jay Waldron, who is also the ASB Director and Girls Cross Country coach. “With nearly 350 athletes competing, it certainly promotes the best of what both schools have to offer.

“It also showcases one of the most popular sports at the high school level. Track and Field brings together athletes from other disciplines; many of which having little to no formal experience before entering the sport.”

Leading the way for Warren was senior distance runner Michelle Huerta. The UC San Diego commit came away with three individual first place finishes and was the anchor on the winning 1600 Meter Relay team.

Huerta, who has been running track since junior high school, finished first in the 800 Meters (2:23.37), 1600M (5:44.33) and 3200M (12:04.55).

“Usually our league meets are empty, but at the Downey-Warren meet it was crazy,” said Huerta, of the number of athletes and fans in attendance. “Downey usually has more girls and the last 100 it’s exciting, with the fans going crazy.”

In her 800 race she got behind some runners early and eventually passed Downey runner Sofia Ponce at the last 200 meters.

“Going into the meet, I was a little concerned,” Huerta added. “I knew I had a fair shot at the 1600 and 3200.”

With the 63rd Annual Mt. SAC Relays in full swing this weekend, the Warren 4x800 team of Huerta, Mikaela Holguin, Jayla Barnwell and Stephanie Hernandez will run Friday night (April 14) in an effort to secure a top 15 ranking in order to qualify for the Masters meet. They are currently ranked 9th in the CIF-Southern Section.

Huerta talked about the next challenge when she gets to college at UCSD. “I’m very excited and it’s a different atmosphere and a different way to improve,” she said.

Huerta is currently ranked No. 1 in the Suburban Valley Conference in the 3200, 1600 and 800-meter events. In CIF Southern Section (all divisions combined), she is ranked 23rd in the 3200.

Warren sophomore Moriah Sanders also turned in personal best performances for the Bears. She won the 100 (12.66), 200 (26.37) and ran the anchor leg of the 400 relay team.

Her times currently rank her first in the conference in the 100 and 200 meter events. Huerta is third and second, respectively, all-time for the Bears. She is only .2 seconds shy of the school record for both events.

“Our team is very well-rounded this year,” Waldron said. “We have impact performers in the sprints, jumps, throws and distance. It has been a few years since we have been this competitive.”

Warren throws coach Daniel Singh said of his team – “The throws crew from Warren had a very solid day against their crosstown rivals,” he said. “Senior Jaylon Wells finished in first place in the discus throw with a school record heave of 178’11”.”

The record throw places him sixth in California.

Junior Eman Goodloe finished first in the shot put with a throw of 52’5”, which was just under his personal best.

The dynamic duo of Wells and Goodloe traded off between first and second, while Ashton Terrell was third in both events.

Sophomore Kirssy Reyes-Walters scored points on the girls side with a PR toss of 114’03” in the discus throw to finish first. Reyes-Walters was just under her best in shot put for second place.

Sprints coach Ramon Miranda also helps with the program.

Aidan Dominguez leads Downey

Dominguez won both the 1600 (4:31.28) and 800 (2:02.34) meter. He narrowly beat out Warren’s Victor Anguiano (4:32.86) by less than a second in the 1600.

“Aidan has really come into his own,” Downey Track and Field coach Bob Gleason said.

Top sprinter Sebastian Lopez won the 100 with a time of 11.26. “He’s run a sub 11 before,” added Gleason. “He’s one of the fastest I’ve coached. “He has a chance to break both the 100 and 200 school record.”

The record, which has stood for 14 years, was set by David Mullins in 2009.

Gleason, who was once an assistant coach for the football team said – “I have lived both the Downey-Warren rivalry in both sports – football and Track.”

Gleason added, “I love being a part of it,” he said. “It’s a great meet, but duals aren’t really held anymore, but this is an annual meet. Because of the new format, the duals are no longer. The conference championships (next weekend) are for all of the marbles.”

Another top runner is Jessica Narez, who runs the 100 hurdles. She finished first in the 100 (17.63) and second in the 300 to Warren’s Verania Wolf (50.59).

“(Narez) is one of the top hurdlers in the league,” Gleason said. “That sets up a nice challenge for the conference championship between the two (Narez and Wolf).”

Isabel Mercado won the 400 (1:02.72) for Downey and finished second in the 200.

“She’s our returning top sprinter and is now making a mark in the 400,” Gleason said.

As for the shot put, Downey’s Summer Pugh and Reyes-Walters of Warren will battle each other for the championship. They threw the shot a good six feet further than their nearest competitor. Pugh (34-11/4”) edged Reyes-Walters (34-1”) by a quarter of an inch.

Another close competition for Downey is in the Long Jump, as Arlene Acsinte (16-3) and Aniyah Johnson (15-4) finished 1-2.

“Both are strong field athletes as well as sprinters,” Gleason added.

Gleason, who is busy coordinating with the 10 other coaches for the events for the frosh-soph and varsity, is excited for the first finals to be held at Downey in the Suburban Valley Conference.

“Leading up to next week, we are very pleased to hold the SVC finals and it promises to be an exciting two days,” he said.

Warren vs. Downey

Boys track results:

400 Relay - (D) 1st - 44.89

1,600 - Aidan Dominguez – (D) 1st - 4:31.28

110 hurdles - Tommy Abundis – (D) 1st - 17.13

400 - Christopher Almaguer (W) 1st - 54.21

100 - Sebastian Lopez (D) 1st - 11.26

800 - Aidan Dominguez (D) 1st - 2:02.34

300 hurdles - Benjamin Sevilla (D) 1st - 41.85

200 - Roman Sanson (D) 1st - 23.43

3,200 - Victor Anguiano (W) 1st - 10:10.79

4×400 relay - Downey -1st - 3:34.96

Field results:

High jump - Mike Evans (D) - 1st - 5-08

Pole vault - Daniel Saucedo (W) - 1st 11-06

Long jump - Jordan Jones (W) 1st - 22-03

Triple jump - Jordan Jones (W) - 1st 44-09

Discus - Jaylon Wells (W) - 1st 178-11 (*School record)

Shot put - Eman Goodloe (Warren) - 1st 52-05

Girls track results

4×100 relay - Warren - 1st - 50.72

1,600 - Michelle Huerta (W) - 1st - 5:44.33

100 hurdles - Jessica Narez (D) -1st - 17.63

400 - Isabel Mercado (D) 1st - 1:02.72

100 - Moriah Sanders (W) 1st - 12.66

800 - Michelle Huerta (W) 1st - 2:23.37

300 hurdles - Verania Wolf (W) - 1st - 50.59

200 - Moriah Sanders (W) 1st - 26.37

3,200 - Michelle Huerta (W) 1st - 12:04.55

4×400 relay - Warren - 1st - 4:25.22

Field results:

High jump - Aniyah Johnson (D) -1st - 4-06

Pole vault - Sitlalic Sanchez (D) 1st - 6-06

Long jump - Arlene Acsinte (D) - 1st -16-03

Triple jump - Litzy Flores (W) -1st 27-05

Discus - Kirssy Reyes-Walters (W) – 1st - 114-03

Shot put - Summer Pugh (D) 1st - 34-01.25

Warren outpoints Downey in track & field meet