Local athletes perform well at Inland Empire track meet

Liberty's Troy Thompson finished second in the boys 100-meter invitational. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

Several athletes from Menifee high schools performed well last weekend at the Inland Empire Championships track meet at Vista Murrieta High School.

The Liberty boys team placed third overall with top performances including that of Troy Thompson, who finished second in the 100-meter invitational with a time of 10.74 seconds and second in the 200 meters in 21.74.

Boosted by some outstanding performances in the field events, Paloma Valley’s boys team placed seventh overall. Sophomore Arthur Clemons was a double medalist, placing fifth in the triple jump (43-10) and sixth in the long jump (21-02.5). In the high jump, Matthew Monsanto and Nathan Cook of the Wildcats both medaled at 6-1. Jayden Epps finished third in the shot put at 52-04.5.

Terrence Whaley had a big day for Heritage, placing second in the 110-meter hurdles at 14.58 and taking third in the 300 hurdles in 39.27.

In the boys 400, Juan Juarez of Liberty placed third with a time of 50.39 seconds. In the boys 4x400 relay, Liberty placed first in 3:30.27. In the 4x100 relay, Liberty took third in 42.37.

In the girls competition, Heritage finished ninth as a team and Liberty placed 17th. Heritage’s Andreese Ortiz won both the shot put (43-5) and discus (134-10) events.

Liberty’s Rebeka Kpepke placed fifth in the 100-meter invitational with a time of 12.55. She also placed eighth in the 200 in 25.88. The Bison placed sixth in the 4x400 relay in 4:21.22 and fifth in the 4x100 relay in 49.61.

Heritage's Terrence Whaley finished second in the 110 hurdles. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Paloma Valley's Arthur Clemons placed fifth in the triple jump. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)