Boys track and field: No ‘Falci’ steps

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Like cyclists and skiers, there are only two kinds of

hurdlers: those who have fallen and those who will.

But, for now at least, Costa Mesa High senior Bernado Falci resides in

the former category, seemingly oblivious to the perils that often befall

practitioners of the sports most treacherous track event.

“When I first ran the hurdles (his first competitive race in the the

110-meter high hurdles and the 300 intermediates was a PCL dual meet

March 29 at University), I just tried not to think about (falling),”

Falci said. “I just try to concentrate on my steps in between hurdles.”

Falci certainly had little to worry about from his competition

Thursday as he won the 110 highs (18.0) and the 300 intermediates (45.7)

for his first varsity sweep. Falci’s performance, which included a

third-place showing in the 100 and a leg on the deciding 1,600 relay

victory, helped the Mustangs top visiting Laguna Beach, 65-61.

The team triumph, clinched by a stirring anchor leg from Zach Powell

in the aforementioned relay, was the first of the season for the

Mustangs, who are now 1-3 in league. They did not have any nonleague dual

meets.

The Mustangs, who also got double victories from Josh Strickland (100

and 200), trailed going into the final event.

Senior Louis Day gave the hosts a slight lead after the first 400, but

Laguna Beach held a 10-meter advantage midway through the event.

Strickland made up the distance and then some, giving Powell a five-meter

cushion as athletes from both teams cheered loudly to try to inspire the

two anchor runners.

Laguna Beach’s Patrick Vell quickly closed the gap to almost nothing

in the first 100 meters, then used the next 150 to move past Powell and

take a short lead.

But Powell regrouped and outkicked Vell down the stretch to give Mesa

the winning margin.

“This win was big,” Mesa Coach John Carney said, “because I didn’t

expect it. I saw that Laguna Beach beat Estancia pretty good (80-42 March

29) and we lost to Estancia (66-53 March 22).”

Strickland’s dig day included a personal-best 10.9 in the 100, while

Day (long jump) and Keola Asuega (discus) also provided individual event

victories for the Mustangs.

Day (high jump), Asuega (shot put), Powell (400 and triple jump) also

had runner-up finishes.

Powell also joined Strickland, Day and Bodgan Iliescu to win the 400

relay.