Chandy a dandy for Sage

Chris Yemma

Since the school’s mascot is the Lightning, it just seems fitting

that a sprinter leads this year’s Sage Hill School boys track and

field team.

Junior Zach Chandy has been more like greased lightning for the

Lightning, posting the fastest times in Orange County this year in

the 100 and 200 meters, while sprinting to the second-fastest time in

the 400.

“He’s our standout,” Sage Coach Nate Miller said. “He’s our head

and shoulders in terms of other schools and other teams on an

invitational level.”

Chandy, who notched his fastest times in winning the 100 in 10.81

seconds and the 200 in 21.78 at the Surf City invitational March 26

at Huntington Beach High, is the defending Academy League champion in

the 100, 200 and 400.

He also anchored the league champion 1,600 relay team, running his

split in a blistering 47.8, while helping lead the Lightning to a

second-place finish in league. Chandy advanced to the postseason in

CIF Southern Section Division IV, finishing second in the 200 and

400.

During league meets this season, he has shown the ability to

contribute the maximum 20 points, which gives Sage a legitimate

chance at its first league title.

“We’re pretty competitive in the Academy League,” Miller said. “We

expect to be in contention for a league title.”

Chandy tops a strong sprinting corps, backed up by junior Chris

Neale. At a league dual meet against St. Margaret’s April 7, Neale

won the 100, 200, long jump and ran on the winning 400 relay team,

accounting for 20 points in the Lightning’s victory.

“As a team, we’re the strongest in the sprints,” Miller said. “We

have the most depth there, for sure.”

Another strong returner for Sage is senior distance runner Mike

Voge, the defending league cross country champion. Voge ran the

three-mile course at Irvine Park in November in 16:43, helping lead

the cross country team to a third-place finish.

Voge competes in the 1,600 and 3,200 events this spring.

Freshman Connor Rose is backing Voge up in the distance events.

Senior Jimmy O’Hare competes in the shot put, discus, 110 high

hurdles and long jump, while Chris Lee contributes in the the 300

intermediate hurdles.

“Overall, I think we’re a little stronger this year,” Miller said.

“We lost a couple of good people in the field events and some

sprinters, but we have replaced them.”