04.03.08
Cruise control: Liberty’s Purvis sweeps 200,400
Cruise control: Liberty’s Purvis sweeps 200,400
BY ZACH EWING, Californian staff writer
zewing@bakersfield.com | Thursday, Apr 3 2008 8:48 AM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Apr 2 2008 11:28 PM
Hands on hips, collecting as much oxygen as his lungs would allow, Liberty runner Isaiah Purvis said something that didn’t really make sense.
Photos:
Photo by Henry A. Barrios
Henry A. Barrios / The Californian Liberty High’s Erica Wilcox takes a big lead to the finish line of the 200 meter race in a triangular meet with Foothill and Garces High schools.
“I should be more tired,” Purvis said. “I felt like I was just cruising out there.”
That’s pretty impressive, considering Purvis still swept the 200 and 400 meters at a Wednesday triangular between host Liberty, Foothill and Garces.
Purvis “cruised” in the 400, finishing in 50.96 seconds to best teammate Marty Affentranger. Last year, Purvis dropped the 400 before the postseason to concentrate on the 200.
“This year, I’ll change that up and go the (400) and the (200),” said Purvis, who placed fourth in the Central Section in the 400 a year ago. “I feel different, stronger. It’s that thing in my head telling me I may have had a chance to be a be a Valley champ in the 400. You never know, and I’m not going to make the same mistake again.”
Earlier, Purvis had dominated the 200, lowering his Central Section-leading time to 21.75 in the process.
“I’m hoping for somewhere in the 47s in the 400,” he said. “The 200’s actually going pretty well. I’m happy with my 200.”
The marks helped Liberty win the boys meet. The Patriots outscored Foothill 93-43 and beat Garces 110-26.
In the girls meet, Julia Fitch won the 100 meters (12.99), the long jump (15-6.75) and the high jump (4-8) to help Liberty sweep. The Patriots beat Foothill 91-39 and Garces 108.5-24.5.
Other double winners on the girls side were Liberty’s Erica Wilcox (400 in 59.72 and 200 in 25.65) and Ashley Richardson (100 hurdles in 16.68 and 300 hurdles in 52.05).
On the boys side, Foothill’s Chris Schwartz won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. Like Purvis in the 400, Schwartz ran alone for most of his races, not worrying about drafting off of other runners to improve time.
He ran 2:03 in the 800, 4:34.65 in the 1,600 and 10:01 in the 3,200 — all times well off of his personal bests. “Today was going out there like another workout,” Schwartz said. “Big meets, like Friday at West Coast Relays (At Clovis), then I’ll worry (about time).”
Schwartz won the Division I state cross country title in the fall, and says a 3,200 title is within his grasp in the spring.
Besides Schwartz and Purvis, boys who won more than one event were Foothill’s Dayshan Ragans (shot put in 55-7.5 and discus in 188-10) and Liberty’s Billy Santillan (110 hurdles in 17.02 and 300 hurdles).
Liberty 93, Foothill 43; Liberty 110, Garces 26
At Liberty
400 relay–Liberty, 44.62; 1,600–Schwartz, F, 4:34.65; 110H–Santillan, L, 17.02; 400–Purvis, L, 50.96; 100–Sumlin, G, 10.96; 800–Schwartz, F, 2:03; 300H–Santillan, L, no time; 200–Purvis, L, 21.75; 3,200–Schwartz, F, 10:01; 1,600 relay–Liberty, 3:32.55; SP–Ragans, F, 55-7.5; D–Ragans, F, 188-10; LJ–Andrade, F, 20-6.5; TJ–Affentranger, L, 40-11; HJ–McCullum, G, 5-4; PV–Winchester, L, 12-0.
Liberty 91, Foothill 39; Liberty 108.5, Garces 24.5
400 relay–Liberty, 51.93; 1,600–Guzman, G, 5:43.81; 100H–Richardson, L, 16.68; 400–Wilcox, L, 59.72; 100–Fitch, L, 12.99; 800–McAtee, L, 2:42; 300H–Richardson, L, 52.05; 200–Wilcox, L, 25.65; 3,200–Fernandez, F, 12:01.65; SP–Juarez, F, 26-2; D–Gomez, F, 94-1.5; LJ–Fitch, L, 15-6.75; TJ–Flynn, L, 30-7; HJ–Fitch, L, 4-8; PV–Sharp, F, 8-0.
