header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


Brandon Jauregui

Brandon Jauregui

Here we are again, recapping a very fine weekend for Santa Clarita Valley distance running. From Lauren Fleshman and Shannon Murakami’s return to the track to Sabrina Janes and Samantha Ortega’s impressive sub-five-minute clockings in Temecula, runners impressed all around Southern California last weekend. Here’s some highlights:

 

1. Can anyone stop Lizzy Nelson?

LizzyNelson does it again, this time over 1,500 meters! Over the weekend, the Glendale College standout and former Saugus junior varsity runner won the event at the Occidental Distance Carnival, clocking a mind-boggling 4:33.65 mark that converts to 4:53.76 for 1,600 meters and now ranks #7 in SCV history. See below:

 

Women’s 1,500m
4:05.62   Lauren Fleshman, OTC Elite, 2007
4:21.44   Nancy James, Cal State Northridge, 1999
4:25.10   Shannon Murakami, UCLA, 2010
4:28.43   Alysia Johnson, Bay Area Track Club, 2009
4:28.86   Grace Zamudio, Glendale College, 2013
4:32.23   Alyssa Selve, Adams State University, 2013
4:33.65   Lizzy Nelson, Glendale College, 2014
4:33.68   Jennifer Owen, UCLA, 2013
4:34.21   Brooke Russell, Princeton University, 2009
4:35.91   Lauren Walker, Harvard University, 2009

 

Nelson is also the #1-ranked junior college female in the country by over 8 SECONDS. Last week, we stated that she was a contender for the 1,500-meter state junior college title in May. Now she’s the heavy, heavy favorite. Can anyone stop Nelson from making history? … There’s really not much more we can say about her performance. The time speaks for itself. Lizzy Nelson running 4:33.65 for 1,500 meters is simply magnificent!

.2. Fleshman, Murakami post big 5K marks in returns to the track

Lauren Fleshman and Shannon Murakami, the two greatest distance female runners in Santa Clarita Valley history, making their returns to the oval on the same day is a coincidence. For Fleshman, her 15:53.02, despite a quick 4:50 opening mile, at the Sydney Track Classic in Australia marked her first 3.1-mile race since she ran in the U.S. Olympic Trial Finals in June 2012. As for Murakami, the UCLA graduate ran a big personal best of 16:17.47 in winning at the Ben Brown Invite in Fullerton, her first track race at any distance since running in the 2011 Pac-10 Track & Field Championships. Her former best was 16:28.97, set four years ago. Returning to Saugus head coach Rene Paragas after a seven-year hiatus is obviously paying off. Might we see a sub-16-minute performance by Murakami at the Mt. SAC Relays in April? Fleshman is the only one in SCV history to accomplish the feat, having set the valley record (14:58.58) in 2008.

 

3. Chris Low breaks 1:50, just misses the oldest SCV record in the books

We knew Chris Low was back after he clocked 1:52 (indoors) in his first 800-meter race since running for College of the Canyons in 2012. But 1:49.43 in his first race of the outdoor season? That’s some impressive stuff. For a third time, Low, now competing for Long Beach State University, just missed the oldest SCV record in the books – Chuck Kirkby’s 1:49.06, set way, way back in 1955. The former Canyon runner also ran a personal best of 1:49.16 at the 2012 California Junior College Finals and 1:49.44 at the Stanford Invite in 2012 as well. It’s only March, so we’re expecting a couple more attempts at the above record this spring.

 

4. Zamudio’s track season with Loyola Marymount turns around quickly

After an incredible career with Glendale College, Grace Zamudio had a rocky start in her first track season with Loyola Marymount University. That all changed on Saturday, though, as Zamudio finished fifth at the Brown Invite, clocking an impressive personal best of 16:45.47, about six seconds faster than her winning mark from a year ago. The other two races she ran this year were off days, as she ran 10:11.24 for 3,000 meters on February 14th and 10:02.14 on March 8th.

 

5. Saugus quartet continues to impress in 2014

For the second consecutive week, the Saugus quartet of Ashley Heys, Brian Zabilski, Sabrina Janes and Samantha Ortega had a big weekend. At the Great Oak Distance Invitational, Janes won the 1,600-meter event in a meet record and big personal best of 4:55.44, while Ortega finished fifth in 4:57.12. Those two marks now rank #11 and #13 in SCV high school history, and #8 and #10 in school history. In the same race, teammate Heys took sixth in an all-time best of 5:08.57, showing a sub-five-minute performance could be in the near-future.

The three returned for the 800-meter event, where Janes set an SCV-leading mark of 2:17.40, while teammates Ortega and Heys clocked 2:21.06 and 2:22.98, just of their personal bests of 2:20.90 and 2:21.00.

On the boys side, Zabilski won a slow 1,600-meter race in a another all-time best of 4:24.10, blazing a 60-second last lap, then, returned to set an 800-meter best of 1:58.96. Expect Zabilski to challenge Dave Hartman’s SCV 3,200-meter junior record of 9:06.28 at the APU Distance Meet of Champions this Saturday night.

 

6. The Redondo Union Distance Carnival was a barn-burner

There were a lot of big marks posted in Redondo Beach, beginning with a blistering 3,200-meter invitational on Friday. Six Foothill League runners broke 10 minutes, led by Bailey James 9:33.81 and Ashton Garcia’s new West Ranch school record of 9:38.30. The big surprises of the six came from Ryan Painter and Ruben Rubira, though, as the two clocked 9:50.90 and 9:51.80 over eight laps. For Painter, it was a big all-time best, while Rubira’s performance marks the second best time of his career. The next morning, Hart returned in fine fashion over 1,600 meters. James, Andrew Orona and Ryan Ortiz ran their second personal best within a few hours, clocking 4:20.97, 4:26.61, and 4:26.92.

 

Also…

Saugus junior Jonathan Summer enjoyed two big personal bests over 1,600 and 3,200 meters as well, running 9:37.41 and 4:29.70 within a couple hours.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

3 Comments

  1. Greg Brown Greg Brown says:

    Robert Jauregui, any relation?

  2. No, but looks like he belongs in the family.

  3. No, but looks like he belongs in the family.

Leave a Comment


WATCH NOW
LOCAL SPORTS HEADLINES
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Monday, Mar 25, 2024
The Master's University men's volleyball team took to the road and came away with a 3-set victory, 25-19, 25-16, 25-22, over the Hope International Royals in Fullerton.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Battling back from a 12-point deficit, The Master's University basketball team had the lead late but could not hold it, losing to the No. 1 seed Freed-Hardeman 68-69 in the Round of 16 at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
GOLETA — College of the Canyons fielded two teams at the annual 3C2A State Preview event at Sandpiper Golf Course on Monday, with the Cougars finishing sixth and eighth in the field of 18 teams from around the state. 
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Cason Brownell had a bases-loaded double in the first and added a home run in the sixth to knock in all four runs The Master's needed in a 4-3 win over Westcliff Tuesday in Irvine.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDEC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman of the Office of Inspector General has issued a report entitled "Tenth Report Back on Implementing Body-Worn Cameras in Los Angeles County."
Office of Inspector General Issues Latest Report on LASD Body Cams
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Canyons Closes Out Ventura 7-2 in Final Home Match
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce with the Latino Business Alliance at the Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration on Tuesday, May 7.
May 7: Latino Business Alliance Cinco de Mayo Celebration
SCVNews.com