Nobody on the Burbank High track team was born the last time the Bulldogs won a league title in boys’ track.
After 31 years Burbank is able to call itself a league champion as the Bulldogs outlasted a tough Burroughs squad 75-62 at Memorial Field. Burbank won the girls’ competition 83-48 to finish second in league. Burroughs’ girls team finished third in league.
“The last two years we’ve lost by seconds and inches,” Burbank’s Martin Swan said. “To finally beat everyone else, it feels so good with all the hard work we’ve put in. To finally be the strongest we’ve been in so long is unreal. Everyone is so happy.”
Swan won three individual events in such a short time span.
He won the 110 meter high hurdles in 15.0 seconds. He came back not long after to win the 100 meter dash in 11.07, before returning for the 300 hurdles (40.38).
The boys’ competition actually looked like it might swing in Burroughs’ favor.
The Indians held a one-point lead going into the 3,200, their strongest event.
Sure enough, Burroughs swept the event to build a 10-point lead.
But Burbank came through in the field events. Although the marks were not the most stellar of the meet, Burbank swept the shot put, led by Mitchell Aslo (43-2). Burroughs’ sweep of the 3,200 and Burbank’s sweep of the shot put were the only sweeps of the meet in either the boys or girls competitions.
The long and triple jump offered excitement.
Burbank’s Noah Powell took the triple jump (44-4), beating out Burroughs’ Neron Palmer (42-11 ½) and Burbank’s Davit Papopyan (42-3).
Papopyan won the long jump (20-8 ½) ahead of Powell (20-5) and Palmer (19-8).
Also winning for Burbank were Josh Cantong (400, 49.57), Powell (high jump, 5-10), the 4 x 100 relay team (44.84) and the 4 x 400 relay team (3:26.81).
“We’ve been working on it for two years and to finally get it, it hits home,” Powell said. “In your senior year it is in an honor to go out with a bang.”
Winning for Burroughs was Timothy Wells (1,600, 4:30.44), Jagdeep Chahal (800, 2:01.65), Niko Guerrero (200, 22.57), Jacob Calderon (3,200, 9:55.5), Christian Valles (pole vault, 13-0), Johnny Sahagun (131-6).
In the girls’ competition, Burbank was able to rack up many points with multiple wins from Candela Fernandez, Haleigh Cusumano, Kira Bochard and Juliana La France.
Fernandez won the 1,600 (5:21.65) and the 3,200 (12:18.18).
Cusumano took the 100 (12.72) and the 200 (26.17). She also tied for first with Burroughs’ Sarah Prystupa in the high jump, as both cleared 4-10.
Bochard won the 400 (1:00.03) and the 300 hurdles (47.81).
La France took the triple jump (35-6) and the long jump (16-7 ½).
Also winning for Burbank was Caroline Pinheiro (shot put, 31- ½).
Winning for Burroughs was Prystupa (pole vault, 11-6), Samantha Hebri (100 hurdles, 16.46), Sapphire Sandoval (800, 2:34.24), Nadine Younan (discus, 101-0).
