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Track team improves to 3-1
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Ceres coach Drew Brown had a message for the Ceres High track and field team before it competed against league rivals Downey and Atwater in Modesto on Wednesday. He wanted to make sure every athlete competed to the best of his or her ability.

"The kids have really bought into the team concept," Brown said. "That's why we're winning."

The varsity boys beat Downey 61-29 and Atwater 66-56.

Ceres improved to 3-1 in the Central California Conference standings.

"I was really happy with how we competed," Brown said. "Everybody ran hard."

Chris Gregg won the 300 hurdles in 45.6 seconds and placed second in the 110 hurdles in 17.5 seconds.

"He's been one of our most improved athletes," Brown said. "This is his first year running track."

James Gmachowski won the shot put with a throw of 44 feet, 10 inches and the discus with a toss of 113 feet.

Dingko Luangchai won the high jump at 6 feet and placed second in the triple jump at 37 feet, 5 inches.

Brandon Crawford placed second in the 100 in 11.2 seconds and 200 in 23.9 seconds.

Ryan Leazer placed third in the 200 in 24.05 seconds.

Felipe Pimentel placed second in the discus at 112 feet.

Ross Tate and Kevin Dupree placed second and third, respectively, in the high jump. They both cleared 5-8.

James Walcott placed third in the mile in 5:06.

Jorge Leal placed fourth in the 400 in 58.1 seconds.

The 4x100 relay team of Leazer, Crawford, Luangchai and Charlie Cunha placed first in 44.8 seconds.

"That relay team is undefeated in league so far," Brown said. "It will be fun to see if they can win league."

The 4x400 relay team of Leazer, Crawford, Gregg and Leal placed second.

The varsity girls defeated Downey 65-25 and Atwater 71-39.

The Bulldogs would have lost if they didn't dominate the final four events. Ceres finished first, second and third in the 200 and 800, second and third in the 3,200 and first in the 4x400 relay for a total of 27 points.

"It was close up to that point," Brown said.

The Bulldogs improved to 3-1 in the CCC.

"We had a lot of girls competing in multiple events, which helped us score points," Brown said.

Sophomore Karrah Brown placed first in the 800 in 2:44, second in the 3,200 in 13:15 and tied for second in the 1,600 in 5:53.

Megan Gunzenhauser won the discus at 101-8.

Melanie Vega placed first in the shot put at 30-9.

Sophomore Jessica Mazza won the high jump at 4-6 and placed third in the triple jump at 27-1.

Freshman Melanie Casey won the triple jump at 28-4.

"We dominated the throwing and jumping events," Brown said.

Sophomore Dominika Bonner won the 400 in a personal-record time of 68.7 seconds and placed third in the 200 and 800 in 2:50.

Freshman Kyleesha Williams won the 200 in 28.7 seconds.

The 4x400 relay team of Williams, Bonner, Vicki Morales and Katie Lutes placed first in 4:45.

Natalie Alvarez placed second in the 800 in 2:46, tied for second in the 1,600 in 5:53 and took third in the 3,200 in 13:16.

Freshman Heather Jones placed second in the 100 hurdles in 17.7 seconds.

Freshman Vicki Morales placed second in the 200 in 30.5 seconds.

Sophomore Laura Morales placed third in the 200 in 31.6 seconds.

Sophomore Crystal Perez placed third in the 100 hurdles in 22.1 seconds.

Freshman Lajuana Guillory placed third in the high jump at 4-4.

Juliana Trejo placed third in the discus at 82-5.

Brandey Fillman placed third in the shot at 29-7.

The 4x100 relay team of Bonner, Williams, Jones and Morales placed second in 55.6 seconds.

The JV boys beat Atwater 78-18 but lost 68-35 to Downey.

The Bulldogs improved to 2-2 in league.

Bryant Hill won the 110 hurdles in 17.8 seconds and high jump at 5 feet, 2 inches.

Ray Green placed first in the triple jump at 33 feet, 6 inches and third in the high jump at 4 feet, 8 inches.

Paul Kane placed third in the 110 hurdles in 19.6 seconds.

Chris Par placed third in the 1,600 in 5:22. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier