Boys track and field: Strickland shines for Mesa boys

Barry Faulkner

IRVINE - Costa Mesa High senior sprinter Josh Strickland attributed

the twinge in his right hamstring to a extra fast-twitch training program

he is using to supplement practices.

But the minor irritation, which he said is due to his hamstrings being

stronger than his quadriceps right now, wasn’t enough to keep the

Mustangs standout from dominating his University foes Thursday.

Strickland, third in the 400 meters at last year’s Pacific Coast

League Finals, topped the field in the 100 (11.06) and 200 (24.0) in the

Mustangs’ 80-55 PCL loss to the host Trojans. He also ran the leadoff leg

on the winning 400 relay team.

“It’s a little overcast today, too, so I’m having problems getting

loose,” said Strickland, who is now unbeaten in the 100 and 200 in two

PCL meets.

Senior Louis Day and Zach Powell, who teamed with Strickland on the

winning relay that also included junior Nick Cabico, also earned

individual triumphs for the visitors.

Day topped the field in the long jump (19-1), while Powell posted the

top mark in the triple jump (37-1) and was third in the 400.

In addition, Day was second in the high jump (5-4).

Mesa’s Carlos Ibarra earned second-place points in the 800 and 3,200,

while finishing third in the 1,600, as well.

Irwin Salas was second in the 1,600 for the Mustangs and third in the

3,200, while Barnardo Falci was second in the 110 high hurdles and third

in the 300 intermediate hurdles.

Keola Osuega (shot put and discus) and Bodgan Iliescu (long jump)

earned third-place finishes for the Mustangs, who fall to 0-2 overall and

in league.

Additional third-place showings for Mesa came from Cabico (long jump)

and Danny Krikorian (triple jump).

Cabico, a standout baseball player for the Mustangs, is pulling double

duty this spring. And Carney said he is very glad to have him.

Carney also singled out Falci, a soccer player, who had never run

hurdles before in a meet.

“He ran the 100 and 200 last week (at Estancia),” but we stuck him in

the hurdles and he did a great job today,” Carney said.