Members of the Our Lady of Malibu School “B” division track and field team, made up of fifth and sixth graders, made school history by placing fourth at the Catholic Youth Organization Track and Field Championships at Serra High School in Gardena April 19. The Bull Dogs, the smallest team in the finals, competed against 70 other schools and more than 2,500 athletes to earn two silver medals and one bronze medal.
Ben Holmes and Michael Carner led the team, scoring 22 points between them. Holmes placed second overall, taking home a silver medal, and broke the OLM school shot put record by nearly a foot with a career best 34 feet and 10.5 inch throw. His other throws ranked third and fourth.
Carner set a new school record as well, earning a silver medal in the 800-meter dash with a personal best time of 2:38:43. He also won a bronze medal in the long jump, with his competitive best of 14 feet. Carner is the first OLM athlete to qualify for the CYO finals in three events.
The 4 by 100 meter relay team, comprised of Kyle Wilms, Otto Charity, Jack Beetly and Carner, ran successfully to earn points for the team as well. Additionally, eighth grader Devon O’Grady placed sixth in the varsity shot put at the meet.
Coach John Meyers praised his team for their accomplishments.
“These kids were ready, they were fired up, and they were not intimidated by the scope of the event,” Myers said. “Michael and Ben were simply monsters out there.”