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By BRUCE MEADOWS THE PRESS DEMOCRAT The Redwood Empire track and field championships are all about getting to the next level. Or in one unfortunate case Saturday at Santa Rosa High, not getting there. Sonoma’s DeMario Glemann, the fastest young man in the Empire at 100 meters (10.94) and with a good chance to reach the state meet, was disqualified for a false start. “I thought I just twitched,” said the Dragons senior said. “I’m still not sure what I did wrong.” But starter Bob Shor ruled that Glemann had moved after the runners were set, an automatic disqualification. It was the only sour note on a sunny afternoon at Nevers Field as the top seven finishers in each event moved on to the NCS Meet of Champions in Berkeley next weekend. Top efforts included Sonoma junior Mindi Wiley, who broke her own Empire Best in the high jump, going 5-10½ and just missing at 6-0. “I felt good today,” she said. “I’m ready for MOC. ... This was a real confidence booster.” Maria Carrillo’s Jean Lightfoot won both the shot and the discus and surprised herself. Coming into the meet with a discus best of 115-2, Lightfoot uncorked a 123-10. “It felt so effortless,” said Lightfoot said. “I had no idea I threw it that far.” Santa Rosa’s Marshall Olin won three events — the triple jump (44-4¼), 110 hurdles (14.87) and the 300 hurdles (40.13). Maria Carrillo’s Jenna Lowder prevailed in the 400 (57.33) and 200 (25.18) and ran on the two Puma relay teams that qualified for MOC. She cruised in the 400, winning by more than 2 two seconds. “There wasn’t a lot of pressure in this meet,” she said. “You just don’t want to get hurt or make a false start.” Montgomery’s girls won the 4x100 (49.49), a school record, and Maria Carrillo grabbed the 4x400 (3:59.58). Maria Carrillo’s Amy Robinson won the 1,600 (5:06.36) and 3,200 (11:26.94). Healdsburg’s Daniel Erdman won the shot put (47-5); Healdsburg’s Tim Quiroga grabbed the 1,600 (4:20.89); Healdsburg’s Tim Murphy cruised in the 800 (1:56.06); Ursuline’s Kasey Lashinski won the triple jump (35-7¾); Cardinal Newman’s Kelly Bradley in the discus (148-11) Analy’s Katie Franci won the 300 hurdles (47.08), and Montgomery’s Matt Williams captured the long jump (21-10¼). Elsie Allen’s Josh Jackson coasted to a win in the 400 (49.47) and won his heat in the 200 (22.29), finishing second overall to Novato’s Alex Pearlstone (21.87). “I think I can make state in both events,” said Jackson, a junior who moved from Oklahoma to Santa Rosa in March. “I was very relaxed today.” Healdsburg won the boys 4x400 (3:26.13) and Montgomery took the boys 4x100 (43.79), barely edging Elsie Allen (43.81). There were plenty of opinions on Glemann’s DQ, including suggestions Shor should have “brought the runners back up” if he saw movement. “I could do that, if more than one of them moved,” he said. “But he was the only one.” Blessing Ufodiama, a coach at Elsie Allen, said “it was a twitch, not a move.” She said Glemann deserved another chance. But Shor said a false start means disqualification —. . . there are no second chances. Ironically, Glemann, competing in track for the first time this season, said before the meet that the 100 is his favorite event. But Glemann, headed to Chico State, advanced to MOC in the 200, triple jump and 4x100. He took up the triple jump two weeks ago and quickly achieved an Empire Best (45-1). His 43-7½ Saturday was second to Olin’s 44-4½ Saturday. Glemann also ran a strong anchor for Sonoma’s 4x100 team, moving from fourth to first as the Dragons won their heat. Maria Carrillo easily won the girls team title with 114 points. Montgomery (60) was second. Drake won the boys title (62 points), edging Santa Rosa (54). Elsie Allen, with only six athletes on the boys team, managed to finish seventh with 27 points. The top four at MOC qualify for the State Meet on June 4-5 at Sacramento’s Hughes Stadium. Call Bruce Meadows at 521-5263 or e-mail bmeadows@pressdemocrat.com.
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