Competitive balance appears to be alive and well in the Humboldt-Del Norte League when it comes to track and field, with five different schools claiming a first-place team finish over the first three meets of the season.

On Wednesday afternoon in Crescent City, Del Norte became the third boys team to win a varsity meet, following in the footsteps of McKinleyville and Eureka, which won the first two league meets of 2019.

On the girls side, Fortuna won Wednesday’s team event, the Huskies’ second victory of the season, with the Arcata girls also winning last week at McKinleyville.

In addition, three different schools — McKinleyville, Eureka and Fortuna — have each won one of the boys’ three Frosh/Sophomore meets this season, showcasing just how balanced the field is right now.

Boys results

Eureka’s Connor Barres capped a big week by pacing the field in the 100 meters with a PR of 11.62 seconds, followed by Hoopa’s William Reynolds, one tenth of a second back.

Barres, who also was second to McKinleyville’s Ryan Dolan in the 200m, signed a letter of intent earlier this week to play soccer at Pacific University in Portland next year.

Dolan’s teammate Owen Lien continued to dominate in the 400m, as did Eureka’s Ian Bennett in the 800m with a PR of 2:06.23.

Arcata freshman Ian Letts had an impressive showing in the 1600m, leading the field with a PR of 5:07.87, while Hoopa senior Infallible Asenbauer was first in the 3200m with a PR of 11:11.29.

Arcata’s Aidan Hasselquist took first in both hurdle events, setting a PR of 41.82 seconds in the 300m event.

McKinleyville took first in both relay events with Stephen Watrous, Lien, Isaac Ward and Dolan timing a 45.18 in the 4×100, and Lien, Sebastian Reyes, Dolan and Nathan Witte comfortably winning the 4×400.

Del Norte’s Luke King also comfortably won the shot put with a PR of 47-08, while Hoopa’s Aiden Mendes set a PR of 119-03.5 on his way to first place in the discus.

Del Norte’s Ethan Price was first in the high jump and second in the triple jump, the latter event won by Fortuna’s Nathan Arrasmith who set a PR with a 39-03.0.

Eureka’s Nathaniel Spears also set a PR of 20-05.25 to win the long jump, while Del Norte’s Bryce Howard took first in the pole vault.

Del Norte won the team event with 147 points, followed by McKinleyville (135) and Eureka (112.5).

Girls results

Fortuna senior Camrin Dolcini took a pair of individual first places to lead the Huskies, pacing the field in the 100 meters and the pole vault.

Dolcini set a PR in the 100m, finishing in a time of 12.9, and also teamed with Kalia Yang, Katie Hurst and Samantha Bennett to take first in the 1x100m relay.

Yang, a freshman, capped a big day with another first in the 200m, finishing in a PR of 27.44.

Fortuna closed out a dominating day in the sprints with Lexy Roberts placing first in the 400m.

As expected, the Arcata girls continued to dominate the distance events, taking the top three spots in each of the 800m, 1600m and 3200m.

Riley Martel-Phillips was first in the 800m and 1600m, setting a PR of 5:28.41 in the latter, while freshman Mathilde Macdonald was first in the 3200m in a time of 11:52.82, another PR.

Del Norte’s Katherine Martinez also continued to impress with first places in both hurdle events, while Arcata’s Emma Fechner, Kayla Jay, Mathilde Macdonald and Thea Norlund won the 4×400 relay.

Another freshman who impressed at the league meet was Del Norte’s Amy West, who won the shot put with a PR of 30-04.5, while Fortuna’s Kate Carrol and Saige Grundman took first in the discus and high jump, respectively.

Fortuna capped a dominating day with Hurst placing first in the long jump and teammate Kenzie Hall winning the triple jump.

Fortuna won the team event with 170 points, followed by Del Norte (148) and Arcata (138.66).

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Ray Hamill writes at humboldtsports.com, where you can read lots more about sports in Humboldt County.