Grossman, Bettendorf Lead Seabury Hall at Mt. Carmel

Seabury Hall’s Dakota Grossman finished third in the girls 1,600- and 800-meter runs Saturday in San Diego, Calif., at the Mt. Carmel Invitational Track & Field Championships. This photo is of Grossman competing in last week;s Victorino Invitational on the Valley Isle. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

Four members of the Seabury Hall girls track team — Dakota Grossman, Alyssa Bettendorf, Christy Fell and Kiana Smith — spent part of their spring break in San Diego, Calif., at the Mt. Carmel Invitational Track & Field Championships.

For their efforts Saturday, the girls won three Division-I third-place medals against some of the best prep track athletes in the West Region. Seabury Hall’s boys half-miler Jacob Higa also made the trip.

Grossman finished third in her two events — the 1,600 and 800 — and Bettendorf, Hawaii’s best sprinter,  was third in the girls 400.

In the 1,600, Grossman was timed in 5 minutes, 3.03 seconds. Megan Huebner of La Quinta won in 4:58.0 and Emma Abrahamson of La Costa Canyon was second in 4:59.90.

Grossman was also third overall in the 800 at 2:19.61, behind winner Melissa Mongiovi of West Hills (2:16.99) and Erica Schroeder of San Marcos (2:17.75).

The Spartans’ Smith was 20th overall in the 800 (2:25.50).

Bettendorf placed third overall in the girls 400 in 57.82. Rai Ahmed-Green of Irvine was the winner in 57.49, followed by Shamara Carney of Los Osos in 57.73.

Bettendorf ran 12.23 seconds in the 100-meter dash, which was good for 10th overall and third in her heat. Jackie Patterson of Rancho Berna won the third heat in 12.13, while Kayla Wison of La Quinta was No. 1 overall in 11.73.

Bettendorf was second in her heat of the 200 in 25.01 and No. 7 overall. Wison also won the 200 in 24.33.

Seabury Hall’s Christy Fell finished 17th overall in the girls 100 hurdles (16.35) and 28th overall in the 300 hurdles (50.05) Saturday at the Mt. Carmel Invitational in San Diego, Calif. This photo is of Fell competing in the 300 hurdles last week at the Victorino Invitational here on the Valley Isle. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Fell finished seventh overall in the girls Division 2 triple jump at 32 feet, 8 inches. The winner was Allison Detrick of Point Loma at 35-3.50. Fell was also 17th overall in the girls 100 hurdles (16.35) and 28th overall in the 300 hurdles (50.05).

Seabury Hall finished last in its 4 x 400 heat in 4:11.59 and 22nd of 34 teams overall. Paramount won the heat in 4:00.35 and was 5th overall behind winner Cathedral Catholic in 3:57.97.

Higa was 23rd overall in the boys 800 in 2:01.21.

The San Diego Section meet, which draws talent from all over California and across the country, was highlighted by a photo finish in the girls 3,200.

Meet officials took more than two minutes of dilberation to determine that Sarah Baxter of Simi Valley and Bethan Knights of Northwood finished dead even and an official tie at 10:07.52.

The time is the best in the state of California and the tie meant Baxter remains unbeaten at 3,200 meters in her high school career.

For complete results of the meet and stunning images/video of the Baxter/Knights race go to: http://www.prepcaltrack.com/2014/03/29/sunny-skies-fast-times-mt-carmel-invitl/