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Several competitors shine in second annual track meet Photo by Andrew Mariman / Mail Tribune New Hope Christian's Arnoaldo Felix hits paydirt in the long jump on Friday. By GREG STILES This time last year, Arnoaldo Felix probably would've had a hard time pegging Medford or Grants Pass on the map. They were simply cities in another time zone and another country far from home. But there he was Friday night on Newland Track at Spiegelberg Stadium, more than a 1,000 miles from his Mexican home of Culiacan, Sinaloa. By the same token, many of the competitors in the second edition of the Bob Newland Invitational track and field meet might have had a hard time identifying New Hope Christian School's whereabouts. It didn't take long for Felix, a 15-year-old New Hope freshman, to catch people's eye as he flew a personal best and meet record of 20 feet, 91/4 inches. "Every time I've jumped (this season), I've made my goal," Felix said. "Today it was 20 feet. When I came up here, I thought I was only doing the 400 and 800 meters. The long jump was for fun, but I jump 18-3 in the first meet at St. Mary's and I'm getting better and better." Felix easily bettered the previous long jump standard by South Medford's Andres Reed of 18-10. Felix described his home as being "two states from the American border." His journey began when a Spanish-speaking coach from Los Angeles told him about New Hope. His dad presented the options. " 'I no force you to go, but it's a big opportunity,' "Felix said. To this point, he's making the best of it and Friday night so were the scores of Jackson and Josephine county freshmen and sophomore taking part in the second-annual event. Judging by the marks, the second go around clearly surpassed the original on a crisp night. Fourteen of 17 winning girls performances and 11 of 17 triumph boys marks eclipsed those of last spring's inaugural Newland Classic. South Medford's girls won eight events in outscoring second-place Eagle Point 140-97. Grants Pass' balance and depth proved too much for the Panther boys, however, as the Cavemen scored in every event, while South came up empty in three events. Grants Pass won just three events, but nabbed eight seconds to finish with 141 points, while South had 127. South's Teri Silva packed the pit broom off the field after sweeping the high jump (5-4), long jump (15-103/4) and triple jump (34-01/2) in meet-record fashion. Last Saturday she upped the school high jump record to 5-6 at the Crater Classic. "I'm trying not to get too comfortable with it," Silva said. "I don't want to get too cocky. Once I do I'll get horrible. But I want to be confident." Noi Hilgendorf, possessor of one of the better 800-meter times in the state, was one of two record holders to better their own marks, when she won the two-lap race in 2 minutes, 25.1 seconds. She also turned in a blistering 59-second-flat third leg of the 4-x-400 relay, while making up a 20-meter deficit. Natasha Wright won the 400 in 1:00.4, overhauling Eagle Point's Jenna Bilden, then added a sub-60 anchor leg in the relay. "I need to get out faster," said Wright, who hopes to dip well under a minute before the end of the spring after missing last season with an ankle sprain. Heidi Meador surged past St. Mary's Leah Sawyer in the final 300 meters to win the 1,500 in 5:06.0. Sawyer shaved off fractions of a second from her own Crusader record in the event then tacked on an 11:15.6 victory in the 3,000. Eagle Point won five events, including Alisa Lee's double in the shot put (33-41/2) and discus (119-5). The Eagles' Robbie Johnston skyed an eye-catching 13-6 in the boys pole vault, bettering the old record by 21/2 feet. It was the third time Johnston has topped 13 feet this spring, but it was the first time at 13-6. Alando Pacas knocked off a second from his 1,500 record (4:25.0) then doubled back to win the 800 meters in 2:03.6, outkicking Grants Pass' Khalub Doyle (2:06.1). "I wanted to shoot for two minutes, but it was too windy and cold," Pacas said. Landes Reed won both the 100 (11.4) and 200 (22.7) and had a hand in South's triumphant 4-x-100 (45.2) and 4-x-400 (3:34.7) relay victories. "I've finally figured it out and I'm pushing myself," Reed said. "John Klenke and I have been pushing each other and our coach has been pushing us too." Reed broke under 23 seconds for the first time earlier this month against Klamath Union. "I thought I couldn't do any better than 23," Reed said. "Then I ran into a really good runner that pushed me to a 22.6 and now I'm running under 23 all the time." Crater hurdler Jason James posted a double in the 110 highs (16.1) and 300 intermediates (41.7). Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.