Showing constant improvement and desire, Mira Costa distance runner Xavier Court is making the most of his senior year.
During last fall’s cross country competition, Court won the Bay League title and then ran a 15 minute, 19 second race to place 6th at the Division 1 State Championships and he continues to improve.
Last weekend at El Camino College, the UC Berkeley-bound Court set personal records and the top marks in the state in the 1600 (4:10.94) and the Brooks 1 mile (4:12.43) events at the Mt. SAC Relays.
Court finished second in both races to Jericho Cleveland of Volcano Vista, New Mexico who holds the best time in the nation in the mile (4:09.42) and is second in the 1600 (4:07.89).
Court’s time in the 1600 broke the Mira Costa school record set last year by Caleb Llorin (4:12.35).
Court now plans to focus on the 3200 race in which he ran a personal best 9:06.92 (12th in the state) at the Arcadia Invitational on April 7.
“My priority is to break 9 minutes and set the school record in the two mile,” Court said. “Additionally, I want to make it to the state meet in the 3200 and hopefully win it.”
Court joined fellow Mustangs Andrew Sandberg and Cody Kallenbach as top 10 finishers at the prestigious Mt. SAC competition. Sandberg placed 5th in the pole vault (14-0) while Kallenbach finished 9th in the 110 Hurdles Invitational (15.32).
Mira Costa continues to improve with impressive performances at the Arcadia Invitational, where Court won the 3200, followed by the South Bay Championships where Mustang athletes earned 70 personal-best records.
“The results were very gratifying for our athletes and will continue to motivate them to work even harder as we head into the latter part of the season,” Mira Costa coach Moe Russell said. “Our athletes are always excited to qualify for the Mt. SAC Relays. Earning an opportunity to compete rewards their dedication and hard work.”
Mira Costa hosts its final Bay League meet against Redondo Thursday with Senior Recognition taking place at 2:15 p.m. Redondo will the host the league prelims Tuesday followed by the finals at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 4.
Redondo boys also fared well at the Mt. SAC event with Farooq Tariq and Cade Erickson posting personal best in their respective 800 races.
Tariq finished 4th in the 800 Seeded event (1:55.88) and Erickson placed 11th in the 800 Invitational (1:56.98). Alberto Aguilar was 13th in the 800 Seeded event with a time of 1:59.91.
Redondo also placed 9th in the 4×800 Invitational with a time of 8:09.79.
The Sea Hawks also fared well in girls competition with seven top-10 finishes, led by Amari Turner, Akaylah Hill and Mahkai Lee.
Turner placed 3rd in the Invitational pole vault (12-06), Hill finished 4th in the Invitational long jump (18-07.75) and 8th in the Invitational triple jump (36-11) while Lee finished 9th in the triple jump (36-08.25) and 11th in the long jump (17-09.25).
Turner and Lee joined Katherine Kluver and Indica Showell to finish 4th in the 4×100 Seeded race (48.38) and the Sea Hawks earned top-ten spots in two Invitational events – the 4×200 (8th, 1:45.11) and 4×800 (9th, 9:37.88).
Dominica Villegas placed 12th in the 800 Seeded race with a time of 2:32.99.
Mira Costa was led by its 4×400 Seeded relay team (5th, 4:05.01), Brigett Grau (7th, Invitational pole vault, 12-00) and Samantha Ealy (11th, Invitational triple jump, 35-07.25).
