LQ Boys’ and Girls’ on Track for DVL Championships

On March 23, the LQ boys’ track and field team lost against the Shadow Hills Knights in a home dual meet by a score of 52-75. The SHHS boys’ scored first in almost every event, except the 400-meter, 4×400-meter run, two-mile run, 300-meter hurdles, and discus.

Alex Miles ‘20 took first in the 300-meter hurdles, despite tripping at the 200-meter mark, but recovered his footing and reached the finish line milliseconds ahead of the closest lane with a time of 45.3 seconds. “There’s a rush of adrenaline [going when I fell], and I was just faster than the guy in lane seven to catch up,” stated Miles.

The LQ girls beat SHHS with a score of 97-30. Since 2012, the girls’ varsity track and field team have been the top varsity team in DVL with an undefeated league dual streak, the record for the longest undefeated streak in both dual meets and league in DVL.

On March 14, both of the LQ boys’ and girls’ track and field team triumphed over rival Palm Desert in an away dual meet by a score of 77-42. The boys’ 4×100 team Juan Puga ‘20, Trevor Plott ‘21, Isaiah Burrell ‘20, and Michael Smith ‘21 – took the first win of the day with a personal record (PR) time of 46.5 seconds.

Following the move of sprint coach Ryan Flores to Desert Ridge, the sprints team are now headed by Mark Monroy, the freshman football coach. Despite the varsity sprint team consisting entirely of underclassmen, a trend prevalent in most LQ varsity boys’ events, Monroy helped shape the rookies into competition shape. “We are [probably] the youngest team in the valley, age and talent wise. In the next two years, LQ is going to dominate [DVL].”

The LQ girls’ 1600 meter runners consisting of Francine Ansley ‘19, Ashley Waters ‘20, Emily Esparza ‘18 swept with times of 5:37.47, 5:49.72, 5:51.05, respectively.

On Mar. 7, the LQ boys’ lost against the Palm Springs Indians by a score of 51-76, while the girls won by a score of 104.5-21.5. The girls’ 100-meter hurdle team, consisting of Karina Ojeda ‘20, Kiara Jackson ‘18, and Allie Arledge ‘18 swept with times of 17.59, 17.67, and 19.00, respectively.