Jang, Cheng help Falcons run past Trojans

By Dick Sparrer

Ian Jang and David Cheng won two events apiece for the Saratoga boys track and field team against Milpitas.

But that alone isn't what sparked the Falcons to a tight 69.5-57.5 win over the Trojans in the recent dual meet in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Sure, the twin winners certainly helped the Falcons to the league win. But the difference in the meet? Depth.

Saratoga bombarded the Trojans with seconds and thirds on the road to the team victory. The Falcons claimed nine of the 13 seconds and eight of the 13 thirds to clinch the win.

Of course, it didn't hurt that Jang and Cheng combined for four of Saratoga's first-place finishes in the meet.

Jang soared to wins in the long jump at 19-7 and the triple jump at 39-4 1/2, and Cheng breezed to victories in the 110-meter high hurdles in 17.2 and the 300 intermediate hurdles in 44.2.

Jake Christopherson and Jeff Beyers supported with firsts for the Falcons, and the two were also part of two Saratoga sweeps.

Christopher led a sweep in the 1,600 meters by finishing first in 5:00. Luke Anderson was second in 5:01, with Beyers third in 5:03.

Beyers led the sweep in the 3,200 with a first in 11:07.9. Christopher was second in 11:23.6, with Ian Hoare third in 11:43.

Alex Daniels cruised to a win in the 800 meters in 2:01.8 and led another Los Gatos sweep. Alex Shoor was second in 2:02.5, with Joseph Carter third in 2:05.1.

Jeff Verson was second to Cheng in both hurdle events, and Eric Giannella was second in the discus at 116-0 and the shot put at 38-41/2.

Joshua Glasser was second in the 100 in 11.5, with Andrew Bosworth third in 11.6 and was third in the 200 in 23.2, and Adam Evan was second in the high jump at 5-6, with Bosworth third at 5-6.

Jesse Alejandro added a third in the 400 in 52.9, and Steve Chuang was third in the long jump at 18-3.

The Saratoga girls lost 74-52 to Milpitas the same day, despite another superb effort by senior sensation Anne Ricketts.

Ricketts won a pair of events, setting a new school record in one of them.

Ricketts took the 1,600 meters in 5:10.9, good for a new Saratoga record, and she backed that up with a win in the 3,200 meters in 11:13.3.

Taylor Teerlink also starred for the Falcons, winning three events against Milpitas. Teerlink was first in the 100 hurdles in 16.1, the 300 hurdles in 48.5 and the triple jump at 32-2.

Heather Finnecy was the only other Saratoga winner in the meet. She was first in the discus with a toss of 101-4.

Laura Birenbaum was second to Teerlink in the 100 hurdles in 16.2, and she added a second in the long jump at 14-91/2. Seconds also went to Ashley Ferreira in the 800 meters in 2:42.3, Kari Johnstone in the triple jump at 29-113/4, Karin Bencala in the shot put at 39-91/2 and Yasemin Denari in the high jump at 4-6.

Denari was third in the 400 in 68.3, Fennecy third in the shot put at 28-11/2, Laura Lin third in the 3,200 in 13:38 and Dernil Wang third in the 800 in 2:53.

Triple winner Jamieson Pfeifer (100, 200 and 400) led the Saratoga girls junior varsity to an easy 85-38 win over Milpitas the same day. Pfeifer also teamed with Audrey Wong, Nicola Rooke and Ashley Whishant for a first in the 400 relay.

Rooke was first in the 65 hurdles, Lindsey Moore took the 300 hurdles, Rachel Urbano was tops in the triple jump, Joanna Chan was a winner in the 3,200 and Anna Morrissey took the high jump.

Rooke, Catherine Smith, Kate Pisani and Michelle Kemp combined for a first in the 1,600 relay.

Ryuta Saka raced to wins in both hurdle events, James Lii sprinted to wins in the 100 and 200, and Lawrence Blair soared to wins in the long jump and triple jump to lead the Saratoga boys to an 83-35 frosh-soph win over Milpitas.

Other Saratoga winners were Richard La in the 800, Eric Sun in the discus, James Cummins in the shot put and Andrew Nelson in the high jump. Blair and Lii teamed with Edward Tseng and Ryan Peterson for a first in the 1,600 relay.

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