Chandy claims 400 title

Chris Yemma

Against the top runners from the state and country at the Arcadia

invitational two weeks ago, Zach Chandy was a little overwhelmed.

Saturday, though, he owned the Orange County field.

Chandy, representing Sage Hill School at the Orange County track

and field championships at Trabuco Hills High, staked claim to the

county’s best one-lap sprinting title, winning the 400 meters in a

personal-record 48.10 seconds.

His time was the second-best in meet history and just .01 off the

record of 48.09 set in 1996 by Garden Grove’s Kevin Griswold.

“It feels pretty good, I really worked hard for this,” said

Chandy, who finished seventh at the Arcadia invitational April 9 in a

field including two-time defending state champion David Gettis of

Dorsey, among others.

“I just wanted to run a good race; I wasn’t really thinking about

winning.”

Chandy beat out Esperanza’s Wes Williams, who had a slightly

faster time entering the meet. But Chandy hit full stride in the last

stretch to top Williams’ 48.39.

Chandy also edged Williams in the 200 to finish second, behind Los

Alamitos’ Justin Woods, who clocked in at 21.47. Chandy marked 21.71.

“This was a great day for him,” Sage Coach Nate Miller said. “He

was more than a second faster in the 400 than he was at this time

last year. [Saturday] was a great accomplishment, especially as a

junior.”

Newport Harbor’s Trevor Theriot also had a breakout day Saturday.

Theriot, who is walking on to play football at UCLA in the fall,

tossed 55 feet, 7 inches in the shot put for second and a personal

record. Esperanza’s Dan Aaron, who has the state’s second-best throw

this year, according to DyeStatCal listings, won Saturday with

56-10”[Theriot] came through on the last throw,” Sailors’ throwing

coach Tony Ciarelli said. “He’s a great competitor. This is just

another little ribbon he’s going to hang on his hat because he’s done

a lot of great things.”

Estancia’s Bryce McKendry was second in the long jump (21-9).