Boys Virtual Round 1: Jesuit vs. Burbank

Burbank's Victor Goli (left) and Jesuit's Matt Strangio each had the top times in their specialty distance races but both needed plenty of help in the tightest virtual of the tournament. (Credits: Frank Bellino/James Leash)

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This article highlights the results of first-round dual as part of the MileSplitCA March Madness Virtual Meet Tournament. Virtual meets are scored based solely on 2020 results using the standard dual meet scoring points format of 5-3-1 for individuals and 5-0 for relays. Athletes are scored in no more than four events. Teams are limited to three athletes per event. Stay with us for the entire tournament to see which boys and girls teams reign supreme in this virtual meet format.

Read more about this series.

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No. 2 JESUIT (SJ) vs. No. 31 BURBANK (SS)

In the closest dual yet, No. 31 Burbank came about as close as possible to upsetting No. 2 Jesuit, falling short by half a point, 68.33-67.66.

The distance juggernaut led by seniors and State Meet medalists Matt Strangio and Chase Gordon, owe a huge virtual high-five (social distancing rules apply) to senior Cooper Shults, who picked up a HUGE 10 points with top marks in both the discus throw and shot put, and to junior Eitan Goore, who added another 10 big ones for Ws in both the pole vault and 110 hurdles.

Strangio is the defending State Meet champion for 1600m whose 4:12.23 from the Sacramento State HS Track Classic ranks CA No. 1 and U.S. No. 5 for times achieved before the 2020 outdoor season was interrupted. 

The USC-bound Gordon, runner-up at the 2019 CIF-State Meet in the 800, posted a time at Sac State (1:54.80) that ranks CA No. 3 and U.S. No. 14. 

Both of those guys put up five-points for having top times in their events in this dual but neither scored elsewhere. In fact, Shults and Goore are the only two from the meet to claim multiple titles. 

Burbank won the sprints, hurdles and jumps and split the relays. Senors Victor Goli and Dayne Ellis went 1-2 in the 3200. Junior Layne Buck had the top mark in the triple jump and was runner-up in the long jump behind senior teammate Owen Cusumano. Chipping in for Burbank was junior Kaze Gibbs, who was second in the 200, third in the 100 and tied for second in the high jump.

Next: Jesuit will be scored against the first-round winner between No. 15 SOuth Hills (SS) and No. 18 Mission Viejo (SS).