After sending two competitors and three alternates to CIF Finals at Cerritos College, the varsity track and field team concluded its season on Saturday, May 2. Since no athletes from any other school cancelled in their respective event, Loyola’s three alternates, seniors Preston Ortiz and Shane Martin and junior Michael Kelly, did not compete.
Senior Kevin Quisumbing competed in shot put at CIF Finals and finished in first place. According to Quisumbing, winning CIF has been an aspiration he has been pursuing since freshman year. “It was a dream come true to take the gold for Loyola,” Quisumbing said. “I still remember winning eighth place in league as a freshman and promising myself that I would win CIF by the time my days at Loyola were finished.”
Quisumbing defended his first seed position at CIF Finals and fought through a strained back to defeat the opposition. “I was inspired to win by all my teammates and past Cubs,” Quisumbing said. “Loyola’s track and field team is a perfect example of the competitive greatness of a Cub. Although some of the other athletes we competed against may have had better physical attributes or even raw talent, when it came time for them to face us, we would almost always win, and almost everyone would PR. We simply want to win more than any other school out there.”
After throwing a new personal record of 57-05 ½ at CIF Finals, Quisumbing qualified for CIF-SS Masters Meet on Saturday, May 28. He finished eighth overall after throwing 54-04 ¾, which unfortunately did not qualify him for the State Meet.
“Kevin has made great strides this season, and although he is playing football in college, I hope to see him throwing at the collegiate level sometime in his future,” said track and field head coach Michael Porterfield ’73.
Along with Quisumbing, junior distance runner Charlie Sherman also competed at CIF Finals. After finishing fourth in his heat and sixth overall with a time of 9:19.04 in the 3200 meter race at CIF Prelims, Sherman finished ninth in the Division I 3200 at CIF Finals with a time of 9:20.62. Despite finishing in a slightly slower time, Sherman remains optimistic about his senior year. He said, “Although I did not get the result I wanted, I’m excited to represent Loyola next year as a senior,” Sherman said.
Porterfield believes this season was filled with success for the Cubs. “The reality in measuring success is asking [the question]: ‘Was I the best I could be?’ I believe the kids gave everything they had which made the season successful,” Porterfield said.
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