By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
INDEPENDENCE, Ore.– Central’s Ty Cirino went out on a blazing pace to open the John Olivier Invitational 1,500-meter race. He, with Thruston’s Carson Buergey, led the pack. Cirino in the lead with Buergey on his heels.
The two met in last year’s 1,500-meter race with Cirino taking the win.
“I knew Carson was going to be right with me. He was last year. He was right here, so I just focused on myself and that’s all I could do. I didn’t try to let my mental game get in the way and just knew that I needed to go as hard as I can,” said Cirino. “It was my PR, but one of my best races ever. Just staying in there mentally and not letting anything get in the way. I felt great with one of my best races All-Time.”
Cirino kicked it into gear in the roughly last 100-meters to separate him and Buergey to take the win with a PR time of 3:53.60 in the 1,500 meter race.
The motivation for Cirino is there. The last year running hasn’t been anything amazing, he points and the senior is going through some injuries and mental blocks. But the success today, against some great competition, has boost Cirino’s confidence coming the stretch of his senior season.
“I didn’t know where I’ll be this season, but being able to run a fast time and at home with some of the top guys that are top guys in the State, it’s a huge mental boost. Now I want to build off every race and not let anything get in the way,” Cirino said.
Cirino finished second in the 800 meters and helped the Panthers 4×400 relay team to a third place finish.
The Central Boys Track and Field team finished first as a team while the Panther Girls finished fifth as a team.
David Rice finished third in the 100-meter dash and fifth in the 200-meter dash. Aidan Wendring finished fourth in 1,500 meter race. Asher Baker finished fourth in the 110-meter hurdles, Ryan Burgett finished second in the 300-meter hurdles. Ryan Perkins won the Long Jump, his 22-foot-4.25-inch junp was good enough for second Al-Time in School History. The Central 4×100-meter relay team won their race. Adam Menke finished eighth in the Shot Put. Alexis Ramirez won the Pole Vault with a PR jump of 12-feet.
Brynn Taufa’asau finished second in the Shot Put, eighth in the High Jump. Anna Cole finished second in the Discus, eighth in the Javelin. Mikayala Young finished eighth in the Discus.
Ashlyn Vine finished third in the Pole Vault, Lyala Olsen finished second in the Long Jump with a PR Jump of 17-feet-2.5-inches. Olsen’s Jump was also good for second All-Time in school history. Kenzii Bennett finished seventh in the Triple Jump. The Central Girls 4×100 meter relay team finished second. Ava Sanchez finished sixth in the 400-meter race with a PR time of 1:00.96.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
