By Steve Ramirez, Staff Writer
Timing is everything in sports, and no two area high school athletes had better timing than Bishop Amat’s Kylie Price and Covina’s Remontay McClain. They showed it with impressive performances at the CIF State track and field championships. McClain became Covina’s first state champion in more than eight decades and Price, with a solid second-place finish, enjoyed the best effort by a Lancer in recent memory. For their efforts, McClain and Price have been named 2010 Tribune track and field Athletes of the Year. (To continue reading click thread).
2010 ALL-AREA TRACK AND FIELD
Boys
Coach of the Year: Dr. Mike Williams, Damien
Athlete of the Year: Remontay McClain, Covina, Jr.
First Team
Sprints: Beejay Lee, West Covina, Jr.
Hurdler: Koree Hines, Diamond Ranch, Sr.
Distance: Anthony Castro, Glendora, Jr.
Field: James Grigorian, Diamond Bar, Sr.
Field: Marquise Cherry, Diamond Ranch, Jr.
Second Team
Sprints: Patrick Macmullen, Damien, Jr.
Hurdles: Ricky Johnson, West Covina, Sr.
Distance: Jayson Perez, South El Monte, Sr.
Field: Jabre Millon, Bonita, Jr.
Field: Ryan Sanders, Walnut, Sr.
Girls
Coaches of the Year:
First Team
Sprints: Erika Kalmar, San Dimas, Sr.
Sprints/Field: Katherine Salcido, San Dimas, Jr.
Distance: Marissa Horton, St. Lucy’s, Jr.
Field: Sarah Barnum, St. Lucy’s, Jr.
Field: Illiana Ibrahim, Bishop Amat, Sr.
Second Team
Sprints: Shannon McKee, San Dimas, Jr.
Sprints: Khalahah Todd, Northview, Jr.
Distance: Ashley Holguin, South Hills, Sr.
Field: Katie Yeager, South Hills, Sr.
Field: Jackie Ford, Covina, Sr.
The boys first-team selections include Diamond Ranch’s Koree Hines and Marquise Cherry, West Covina’s Beejay Lee, Glendora’s Anthony Castro and Diamond Bar’s James Grigorian. Damien’s Dr. Mike Williams is Coach of the Year.
The girls first-team members include Erika Kalmar and Katherine Salcido of San Dimas; Sarah Barnum and Marissa Horton of St. Lucy’s Priory and Illiana Ibrahim of Bishop Amat. San Dimas’ Nicki Bonomo and Gary Jackson are co-Coaches of the Year.
McClain’s rise to the top was steady throughout the year and finished with victories in the 100 and 200 meters at the state championships.
“I went to the weight room to put in the work and to put (Covina) on the map,” the junior sprinter said. “From the beginning of the year, it was to put Covina on the map somehow.
“It feels great to put Covina on the map for the first time in a while.”
McClain battled Lee for area supremacy in the 100 and lost head-to-head battles to the West Covina sprinter in April. But he picked up steam late in the season and turned in his best performances of the year during the final three weekends of the season.
The junior won the 100 (10.55 seconds) and finished second in the 200 at the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 finals; he finished second and first, respectively, in the 100 (10.53) and 200 (21.0) at Masters before sweeping both events at the state championships to become Covina’s first state titlist since Ed Cloege won the 880 in 1924. McClain won the 100 in 10.45 and the 200 in 20.85.
“I’m not a cocky person,” McClain said. “I was just trying to run my race and get first, and I did.”
Price also enjoyed a banner season in which she improved from week to week. She had the best weekend in the area at the divisional finals in winning the long jump (19 feet, 4 1/4 inches) and 100 (11.76) and finishing second in the 200 (24.80) in Division 3. She was the area’s only multiple-event winner that weekend.
She then took second and third, respectively, in the long jump (19-1 3/4) and 100 (11.75) at the Masters. The junior capped it at the state meet, where she was second in the long jump (19-10 3/4) and sixth in the 100 (11.75).
“I was surprised I jumped (19-10),” Price said. “When I heard it, it put a shock on my face. After that, I felt really comfortable.”
Damien’s Williams and the San Dimas duo of Bonomo and Jackson earned coaching honors after leading their respective teams to top-five finishes at the CIF-SS divisional championships.
The Spartans finished fifth in Division 2 after getting a second-place finish from their 400 relay team (42.19) and top-five finishes from Jarrett Gonzales in both hurdles events.
The Saints took fifth in Division 3 after getting top marks from Kalmar and Salcido, who both advanced to the Masters Meet. Kalmar also advanced to the state meet.
Hines was one of four area athletes to qualify for the state meet, along with McClain, Price and Kalmar. He was the top hurdler in the area in placing fourth in the 110 at the Masters and 11th at the state meet.
Lee was one of the top sprinters early in the season and even beat McClain twice in back-to-back meetings in April. But he slowed late and, despite finishing fourth in the 100 in Division 1 in 10.71, failed to qualify for the Masters.
Castro, area cross country Runner of the Year in the fall, proved to be the best distance runner in the area. He was a solid sixth in the Division 2 3,200 race in 9:27.85.
Diamond Ranch’s Cherry, won the long jump (22-01) in Division 3, and Diamond Bar’s Grigorian was the area’s best thrower. He finished fifth and ninth, respectively, in the Division 1 shot put (53-2 1/4) and discus (137-5).
The San Dimas duo of Kalmar and Salcido led the girls first team.
Kalmar earned a trip to the state meet and finished 16th in the 400. She also finished second (55.84) in that event in Division 3 and eighth (56.04) at the Masters.
Salcido was one of the top sprinters and jumpers and took seventh at the Masters in the long jump (18-2 1/4).
Barnum, another top jumper, advanced to the Masters, where she placed fifth in the long jump (17-5 3/4). Horton was the top distance runner and finished fifth in the 800 (2:16.24) in Division 3.
Ibrahim advanced to the Masters after finishing third in the triple jump (37-7 1/4) in Division 3.
steve.ramirez@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2296
