LJ track: Byrne to do something 'unusual'

Diego Solis (5) gets congratulations from his brother,
Gabe, after the Vikings' CIF D3 championship Nov. 30.
Diego, like his brother before him, is now running track
for La Jolla. (Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Vito Anastasi and Jack Evans both successfully reached 12 feet in the pole vault in La Jolla's home tri-meet against Morse and Serra Thurs., March 12.

"Which is decent for this early in the season," said Viking head track coach Paul Byrne. "They're both juniors."

Byrne, who was asked "what results are worth noticing" from the meet, mentioned Anastasi and Evans and a few others. But he said, "I haven't really looked at the results from the meet."

And it became clear why. First is the coronavirus situation, which led to the cancellation of classes in the San Diego Unified School District beginning Mon., March 16.

The other, which will change the Byrne household more dramatically, is "having a baby on Tuesday" (March 17).

A reporter told him at the end of their phone interview about the meet, "Do something unusual," forgetting that Byrne had told him a week ago about his and his wife's second baby on the way.

"Is that enough for something unusual?" he laughed, after reminding the person at the other end of the line of the due date--which is actually next Sat., March 21.

"Yes, I think so."

A week ago, Byrne, showing his usual good humor, texted that he didn't foresee any sleep in the near future.

Meanwhile, junior Diego Solis "ran a good 100 and 200", in his coach's words. His time in the 100 meters was 11.62--"which isn't bad for this early in the season." It is also a personal record in his first year competing for the track team.

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this week for Paul Byrne?

Solis, of course, also plays for the Viking football and basketball teams.

Solis's time in the 200 was 23.77, similarly a PR.

Fellow junior Monica O'Brien Saez clocked a time of 1:03.75 in the 400 meters, a personal record. "She's really an 8 (800-meter) or 16 (1600-meter) (runner)," said Byrne, passing the end of his first day after the City Schools' announcement of cancellation for three weeks of school and sports.

Byrne also highlighted freshman Nina Korevaar, who vaulted 7 feet, 6 inches against Serra and Morse.

Finally, he mentioned freshman Cristina Alapi, "who is really going to be good," in the hurdles. In the 300-meter hurdles, her time was 53.25 seconds to win the race. In the 100-meter hurdles, she finished in 20.81.

Alapi's time in the 300 edged teammate Eugenia Kritsuk, a junior, who was recorded in 53.73 seconds.

In the 100-meter hurdles race, the veteran Kritsuk took home first-place laurels, with 17.58, to lead the field ahead of two Morse runners in second and third, a Serra hurdler in fourth, with Alapi, in only her second high school meet, in fifth place, 3.23 seconds later.

Not running at full health was the Vikings' Matteo Babic, a senior who Byrne said has been experiencing "hamstring issues".

Fellow classman Ryan Phillips had a cold, "so he didn't come out." Big Cyrus Varnum, a thrower, also didn't compete.

It was a near-miracle that the tri-meet even happened. Rain poured all morning Thursday in what was a very wet finish to the week.

"A couple of people I know, I was talking to" about the rain situation, said Byrne. "I was watching the weather. Sure enough, at 1 or 1:30, it cleared up. Not a drop. We held the whole meet."

This reporter, substitute-teaching at Canyon Crest Academy the next day, talked with students about the track meet. One Raven student said their school's meet had been cancelled.

No, lo and behold. On the website athletic.net, there appeared results for La Jolla's meet with Serra and Morse, meaning the event had taken place despite the cancellations elsewhere.

It was the last track event for at least three weeks.

Regarding the possibility of starting up again after three weeks of cancelled classes and Spring break--which is no guarantee, since the cessation of classes could extend beyond that, Byrne said, "I don't know how to look at it. There's pros and cons both ways (for cancelling the entire spring sports season versus holding a partial season). There are some kids who live for it. On the other hand, having three weeks off with no practice, then getting started again (would be a challenge)."

Byrne did say, "Obviously, if we come back and have a season, I'll do everything I can (to make it a success)."

He noted, "Carlsbad is going four weeks (with no school). They don't go back until April 13."

Said the head coach, "What I do know is the meets that are cancelled." He listed, among others, the March 19 dual meet at Mission Bay, the UC Track Classic at University City March 21, the Jim Cerveny Invitational at Mission Bay April 11, and the Viking Relays April 18 ("I cancelled them"). (March 26 falls during the scheduled Spring Break.)

"The other dual meets will be taken meet-by-meet."