Cabral set a Division 3 record in the 110-meter hurdles Saturday at the CIF-Southern Section Track and Field Championships at Cerritos College and easily won the 300 hurdles as well to further his quest to set state records in both events.
Meanwhile, Oaks Christian finished runner-up again to Serra in both the boys and girls Division 4 team scoring. Serra won the boys title for the fifth straight year, scoring 93 points to Oaks Christian's 74 . It was the third straight year the Lions were second. Serra's girls scored 104 points to Oaks' 84.
The top nine overall performances in most events, regardless of division, advanced to Friday night's Masters Meet, also at Cerritos College. In the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and all field events, the top 12 advance.
Cabral won the 110 hurdles in 13.54 seconds, beating the Division 3 record of 13.65 set in 1982 by Steve Kerho.
"It feels great. I didn't know it was up for so long. But I'm just that much closer to the state record."
He set no record in the 300 hurdles, but again was an easy winner, turning in a time of 37.17, 0.78 better than the runner-up.
Cabral said doing so well in two races requires more than just physical talent.
"Mentally, up to the race, you just have to be in your zone," he said. "You have to relax; you can't be all tense. Then five minutes before your race, you just switch over your mind-set. You go into your serious mode."
Oaks Christian may have had to settle for second place in the team scoring, but sophomore Vinnie Saucer can justifiably call himself the section's fastest man in Division 4. He was not only part of the winning 4x100 relay team in 41.77 seconds, he also captured the title in the Division 4 100 meters, winning in 10.57, and the 200 in 21.78.
In anchoring the 4x100, Saucer was neck and neck with Serra's Ben Poretzky and was beginning to pull away when Poretzky dropped the baton with about 50 meters to go. Saucer said he felt he would have won the race anyway.
"Oh, yeah, I had it," he said. "It felt great. We've been working hard for this all year. I mean, just track meet after track meet. We were trying to finish our handoffs and everything. Today we felt we got everything just perfect.
"This time we got the baton right in the zone, right where we want to get it and then after that, it was just up to me to take it home."
Oaks Christian coach Wes Smith said the relay victory was historic for the school.
"For a long time we have been competitive with schools like Rio Mesa and Serra, but haven't ever beaten them in a big race," said Smith. "That was a big, big benchmark for the school, to beat Serra straight up. It's the fourth time we've won a CIF title; the previous three times, they dropped the baton in qualifying. Now we get a shot at running at Rio. We know Rio is injured, but as a program Rio is undefeated."
Among other area champions Saturday, Oak Park's Connor Stark won the pole vault with a mark of 15 feet, 3 inches. It brought mixed emotions for Stark, who set the Ventura County record earlier this season at 16-1.
"I felt fine," he said. "It would've been nice if I could've gotten 16-3. Of course, I'm happy that I won my division and I'm happy that I'm moving on, but I didn't even tie my (personal record), so there's a down side to it."
Rio Mesa's boys 4x100 relay — running without star sprinter Blake Selig, who fractured his fibula in the prelims last week — still managed to win the Division 2 race in 41.66. Jordan Pitcher of Oaks Christian won the Division 4 110 hurdles in 15.01.
Other area boys headed to the Masters Meet include four pole vaulters: Paul Vozzo of Oaks Christian, Phillip Hanley of Thousand Oaks and Luigi Colella of Westlake (all at 14-9); Hanley in the high jump (6-4); Camarillo's Heyden Wooff in the 3,200 (9:15.08), Newbury Park's Matt Ringgold in the long jump (22-1 ) and Sean Grumney in the 800 (1:54.47).
Simi Valley freshman Sarah Baxter blew away the competition in the girls Division 1 3,200, winning in 10:16.99. Baxter said she has surprised even herself with her early dominance.
"I didn't think I'd be running this fast," she said. "This first year I thought I would get into the pace of starting off, but I didn't really expect any of it."
Morgan Thompson of Newbury Park was a champion in the Division 2 400 in 56.01 and also made the Masters Meet in the 200 (24.37). Alex Morgan of Ventura won the Division 2 discus in 156-5 and also advanced to the Masters in the shot put (41-8 ). Amber Panapa of St. Bonaventure was first in the Division 4 discus in 136-2. Oaks Christian's Ally Courtnall finished on top in the Division 4 200 in 24.07 and also will be in the Masters Meet in the 100 (11.90).
Other area girls who will be in the Masters Meet include: Oaks Christian's Lauren Anderson (38-6 ) and Pacifica's Jazzelena Black (38-7 ) in the triple jump, Oaks Christian's Kim Sanchez (11-3) and Oak Park's Madison Stark (11-9) in the pole vault, Rio Mesa's Raegan Nizdeil in the high jump (5-4), Oaks Christian's Cristina Garcia in the 3,200 (10:56.16), Oaks Christian's 4x400 relay (3:49.80), Newbury Park's Megan Thompson in the 800 (2:14.05) and Oaks Christian's 4x100 relay (47.64).
