Dan Parker, Chico's double winner, comes up a little short in 1600 relay
Enterprise boys, Chico girls claim team titles at EAL Championships
 
Kody Atkins runs down Red Bluff's Erynn Rebol in the 1600 relay, to return the favor after a dissappointing loss to Rebol in the 800.
 
By PATRICK KINMARTIN-ER Sports Writer  - Friday, May 15, 2009
Photos and some editing by Tom Cushman

PARADISE — The first time Tim Pullen broke 50 second in the 400 meters was before a mellow crowd in mid April at the Falcon Invitational held at Yuba City's Bear Valley High. When the versatile Paradise High senior accomplished that feat again on Friday afternoon, he was on a stage he likes much better. It was also the year's most crucial meet so far. The atmosphere inside Paradise's Wraith Field helped push Pullen to his first 400 meter EAL title as he improved upon this mid season mark with a 49.59 clocking. The league championship victory and resetting of the section's leading time for the event was particularly sweet for Pullen to come on his home track as he explained "That (the prestige of the meet) makes you go faster," he said. "That felt fast."

Around the same time Pullen was celebrating his 400 meter victory, the Chico High girls were putting together its typically strong EAL title meet performance. When the event wrapped up during a ridge evening flooded by sunshine, the Panthers were awarded their ninth league title in the past 10 years. In all, Chico had seven event wins and 15 top-three finishes. Kasey Barnett was a major contributor with wins in the long jump and triple jump. Anna Kurnizki chipped in a win in the 300 hurdles, a second-place showings in the 100 hurdles and high jump along with a leg on the winning 1600 relay.

The road for Kody Atkins, Chico's talented freshman, proved a little bumpy. Atkins, the section leader in three events (400, 800 & 300 hurdles) comfortably won the 400 as her 58.10 circuit was four second clear of the field. However Red Bluff senior Erynn Rebol, with the section's second best time, would pose a bigger challenge in her second race the 800. Rebol, the 2008 Section 800 champion who had lost two previous races to Atkins this season, took the drama out of the matchup by taking the race out hard. Atkins, who has developed a reputation for ending races with a blistering kick, yet on Friday such a surge never came en route to a distant and dissapointing second-place showing. "In the middle, I just didn't have it," she said. "I like (Rebol) a lot. We've talked to each other this season. She was kinda bummed that I couldn't make it close. We're both excited about trying it again next week (at the Division I section finals)."
 
Atkins was far from done, however. In the meet's final event, the 1,600 relay, Rebol's teammates had given the Spartan senior a sizeable lead on the anchor leg. Just like she has managed to do throughout the year, Atkins used her blistering pace to bring Chico back. A game Rebol was able to hold off the hard charging freshman until the closing meters of the home stretch but in the end Atkins' sub 57 second (56.8) circuit was too much. It was a time that easily crushed her winning performance in the open 400.

The Chico boys took second behind section running power Enterprise. Dan Parker led the Panthers with wins in the 1,600 and 800, but not bringing them a victory on his anchor leg in the 1,600 relay left the junior standout visibly annoyed. Pullen beat out Parker as both surged by Red Bluff tiring XXXXX right before the line in make a dramatic finish to the meet's final race. Pullen had brought Paradise back from fifth place with a 48.1 second split to thrust him back into the mix coming down the home stretch. "I think I just run better when everyone's bunched up," said Pullen, who has the explosiveness of a sprinter and the endurance of long distance specialist.

Parker beat Enterprise's Zack Kaylor soundly in his individual 1,600 triumph, as surprising result for the 1-2 ranked runners for the event. Parker was also top in the section in the 800 coming in with Kaylor was atop the 3200 list, creating additional intrigue about whose style would prevail on middle ground. Parker emerged the easy winner in 4:23.86, a time that came up only a little short of his personal best. "That's what I really wanted to do out there," he said. "When I felt like I wasn't going to get it, I was just worrying about winning."

Pleasant Valley received its customary success from freshman sprinter Gabrielle Finley, who continued her impressive season with a win in the 100 that tied her personal record at 12.91 seconds. Finley also propelled the Vikings to a win in the 400 relay and finished second in the 200. Other top Viking top performances were a couple second place finishes in the 100, 200 by Jerrick Wallace. Dustin Gibbs took second in the 3200 and Marc Steiner took 3rd in the 1600. 

Additional photos
A fair start to the varsity boys 300m hurdle race.
 
Foothill's Julia Walker sets the early pace in the girls 3200 with Chico's Leah Arreguin (and eventual winner) close behind.
 
A tough day for the PV duo, Alex Blee (r) and ZZ console each other after their final race of the season.
 
A very tight finish to the meet's final race. Paradise wins a close one on the 1600 relay over Chico & Red Bluff.
 
Paradise's Grant Reed sets the early pace in the varsity boys 3200. Close behind are Zach Kaylor (Ent), PV's Dustin Gibbs & Payton Laurie.