The562’s cross country and track & field coverage is sponsored by an anonymous donation, in appreciation of Coach Ron Allice.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
The track and field season has only just begun and it’s already been a great year for the Wilson boys’ team, which started off the Moore League season with a landmark win over Long Beach Poly that could lead to the Bruins’ first outright league title since 1995. Between that and the energy boost that came from the Wilson girls’ team’s CIF-SS and CIF State titles last year, things are sunny in Bruin Land.
“I feel real good about the season, we’re progressing well,” said coach Shannon Fisher. “We’re going to try to match the girls and surprise some people to have their names called a couple of times in the postseason. The excitement is there.”
The Bruins are stacked as always in the middle distances, with multiple likely CIF-SS qualifiers in the 400 and 800. Fisher will spend much of the next month figuring out who’s looking like a 200/400 athlete and who’s looking like a 400/800.
Harvard commit JT Kraemer is a great example–the converted baseball player has plenty of potential in both directions.
“We’re still trying to figure out which direction, he could be the 400 or he could be the 800,” said Fisher. “He’s going to be great no matter what he’s running.”
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Freshman Kaedyn Burroughs is off to a great start too and has won two events in the 400 already, as well as a pair of podium finishes in the 200. Wyland Obando is a half-miler who has the speed to run in the 400 as well. In addition to who’s running which individual events, Fisher will also have to figure out how to put the 4×400 and 4×800 together for the postseason. The Bruins have a bevy of options in Kraemer, Burroughs, Obando, and talented sophomore JaeRon Harris.
In the sprints, Andrew Johnson is the top dog for the Bruins in the 100 and 200, with Burroughs also able to compete in the 200. Johnson has also long jumped in league. Johnson, Harris, and the Burroughs brothers (Kaedyn and Ky’Zir) will make up Wilson’s 4×100, which is off to its fastest start in the Fisher/Nelson era with a 42.4 early season clocking.
Cash Obando and Kyle Holland are the team’s best distance athletes right now on the mile and two mile, according to Fisher. As usual, the Bruins’ field program will be one of its strengths, with Johnson long jumping and football star Laighton Scott competing in the throws, as well as Dejon Harold triple jumping.
“Me and Neil don’t like to talk too much but we’re hoping the kids stay healthy and keep progressing,” said Fisher.
