ETHAN BAROK on the final lap of the 1,500m at the Winter Championships. He closed the race with a 1:02.29 final 400m to place 6th in 3:58.74. That’s the 2nd best time in LA City history and converts to a 4:16.34 1,600m.

Heard on the Track . . .

  • Ethan Barok set a school record in the 1,500m at the City Championships, placing 6th in a time of 3:58.74

  • Annabelle Refnes has transferred to Venice from Palisades Charter. Last year, running for Palisades, Annabelle finished the season with a 2:14.93 in the 800m at State Prelims.

  • New Palisades transfer Ernesto Jalomo was scheduled to run the 1,500m at the Winter Championships but was still recovering from illness. He did run a leg on the 4000 DMR but was well off pace. Nevertheless, Palisades set a new school record and ranks #3 all-time in City led by Zach Taylor’s 4:20.46 1,600m.

W ILL ABIRAGI - Cleveland (Sophomore)
Lots of great performances at the Winter Championships and Will Abiragi’s 1:23.20 in the 600m may have been the best. The performance ranks #2 all-time in the LA City section for 600m and the best sophomore time. The time converts to a 1:54.82 for the 800m which would be a City grade-level record and the 14th best time for any grade in the last 20 years.

ANNABELLE REFNES was in 5th place headed into the final event of the Pentathlon, the 800m. She ran a 2:21.49 to smoke the competition and take the gold in the competition.

JACKSON TAYLOR finishes the 1,200m 1st leg of the distance medley relay handing off to BRENDEN HARPER for the 400m leg. Palisades placed 5th in the race and set school a school record of 10:36.78.

YESENIA VALDEZ competes in the 3,000m at the Winter Championships under the lights. She ran 10:26.53 which is the 3rd best City performance all-time and converts to a 11:12.71 3,200m. Earlier in the day she competed in the 1,500m, running a 4:54.95 (5:16.69 1.600m), the 9th best time ever In City.

Palisades Charter School Record - 4K DMR 10:36.78
(l-r) Jackson Taylor, Ernesto Jalomo, Zach Cohen, Brenden Harpe

Canoga Park senior ABRIELE ARCILLA runs in the 1st heat of the 1,500m at the Winter Championships.

‘The Drive’

Is dedicated to LA City’s high school distance running community

The goal is to evangelize exceptional teams and athletes with high quality, curated content and editorial perspectives in an online periodic publication.

Each volume will include a ‘Special’ section, as well as Athletes of the Week/Month, ‘The Week in Pictures’ including a ‘Picture of the Week’, ‘The Numbers’, and ‘Heard on the Trail’.

ENJOY!