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Prep Track and Field: Weather not a problem for Mandell, Nighthawks

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Ruby Mandell spent a little time in Chicago before moving to the area. So the cold, wind and rain during Thursday’s Avocado East League finals did not bother the Del Norte High hurdler too much.

The junior battled through the tough conditions and breezed to the 100-and 300-meter hurdle league titles in front of a decent crowd that braved the on-and-off rain at Del Norte High.

Mandell, along with all the other first-place finishers and athletes that made the qualifying marks in their respective events, advances to next week’s San Diego Section prelims.

“I am from Chicago so I am used to the weather,” said Mandell, who finished the 100 hurdles in a personal-best 15.33 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 45.50. Both times were non-legal, as were nearly all the times with the wind blowing hard. “The cold didn’t bother me, but the wind and rain made it a little weird.”

Mandell, who took second in the 100 hurdles in the Valley League last season and made the ‘B’ heat in the event at the section finals last year, was happy to see all her hard work pay off with two titles.

“This is cool, because during my freshman and sophomore years there were older girls that were really good,” said Mandell, who was also part of the 400- and 1,600-relay teams that won league titles. “And I have been working hard (year around) so it is nice to see that pay off. It feels good, because this is something I want to do in college.”

Mandell wasn’t the only multiple-event winner for the Nighthawks. Michelle Altice captured the discus and shot put titles. The junior blew away the field in the discus, throwing 134-feet, 11-inches. That was nearly 18 feet longer than the second-place finisher. Altice won the shot put with a throw of 37-03.

Amy Tuey won the girls pole vault with a vault of 8-11.

On the boys side, the Nighthawks won 10 of the 15 events. Sophomore D’Angelo Gunter, who is ranked No. 4 in the section in the 400, led from wire-to-wire in the event. His time of 50.21 was not his best, but he is hoping to save that for the section meet.

“My back stretch felt smooth in the 400,” said Gunter, who took second in the 200 (22.70) and was part of the winning 400- and 1,600-relay teams. “I usually get a little tired at that part of the race, but I felt good.”

Paul Holbel is nursing a recently fractured right wrist, but that didn’t keep him from capturing the 800 title. He finished in 1:58.16 and with plenty of room to spare. The senior is ranked No. 2 in the section in the event and has a top time of 1:55.68 this season. He hopes to go under 1:55 at the section championships.

“I want to break the school record,” said Holbel, who helped the Nighthawks 1,600-relay team win in 3:27.08. “And I want to get to state. I think I have a lot left and our coach trains us so we peak at the section meet.”

Nathan Marin also had a great day, winning the 100 in a wind-aided 11.15. He also helped the 400-relay team win in 43.79 and he was part of the 1,600-relay squad.

Other winners for Del Norte were: Cameron Tomlinson, 1,600 (4:21.94); Evan Jameson, 3,200 (9:28.45); Allen Yun, 110 hurdles (15.76); Raymond Deng, 300 hurdles (40.26) and Cameron Hepworth, high jump (6-1).

The Nighthawks’ boys team captured the Avocado East League team title with a perfect record in dual meets. The boys won three straight Valley League titles before moving to the Avocado East this season. They are a favorite to win the Division II team championships.

The Nighthawks’ girls team also went undefeated en route to winning the Avocado East League team title. That is their second straight championship.

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