CASTRO VALLEY — Castro Valley High's Dash Oliver took the baton on the final leg of the 4x100-meter relay race with a few feet of ground to make up on rival Mario Brown of Bishop O'Dowd.

Oliver roared down the final straightaway and passed Brown to help the Trojans' relay team edge the Dragons at Wednesday's Hayward Area Athletic League track and field championships at Castro Valley.

But it was more than just a victory for Oliver, who had neck surgery earlier this year and competed in his first meet in three weeks. It was a boost of confidence and assurance that he was back to form.

"When I caught (Brown)," Oliver said, "I knew right then that I was back and ready to run. It feels good to get my legs back."

The junior carried his confidence right into the 100 and 200 sprints, capturing both titles to give him four championships at the league meet.

Oliver tied the meet record in the 100, finishing in 10.98 seconds. The record was set by Castro Valley's Lance Riley in 1987. Oliver won the 200 in 22.52 and won the long jump title on Tuesday.

"I am definitely trying to get to the (North Coast Section Meet of Champions) in the 100," Oliver said. "I am really happy that I was able to show I am the best in the league."

Wednesday's running finals and three field finals concluded the boys HAAL championships. The top four finishers in each event qualified for NCS Bay Shore on May 17 at Castro Valley High.

The Trojans claimed the boys

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team title with a score of 168. Bishop O'Dowd was just behind with 116 points.

The Trojans' Maurice Valentine, who finished second in the state in the high jump last year, is making a run in the hurdles this year. The junior eclipsed the meet's 43-year-old 110 hurdles record, running a blazing 14.27.

Gary Kerr of Castro Valley and Will Brown of Tennyson had shared the record of 14.4. Kerr achieved the feat in 1965, and Brown in 1961.

"I got out of the blocks really fast," said Valentine, who also breezed to the high jump title with a 5-foot-10 mark. "But I didn't feel like I ran that fast. It was a little surprising."

Mt. Eden senior Myster Holliman overcame a nightmarish incident in the 110-high hurdles race by capturing the 300-intermediate hurdles title (39.87). Holliman hit the third hurdle in the 110 race and fell to the ground and finished last, but was able to regroup in time for the 300.

"My coach always tells me how much I need to focus," Holliman said. "I listened to him before, but after that, it was the first time I really took it to heart."

Arroyo senior Derek Thomas broke the 800 record, winning the event in 1:53.96. The previous record was 1:54.23 set by Beau Bettinger of Castro Valley in 2002. Thomas also captured the 1,600 title (4:26.63).

Hayward's James Aubrey, who captured the discus title Tuesday, also advanced in the shot put with a first-place finish. Aubrey's mark of 49-101/2 topped Adam Tulloch of Bishop O'Dowd by one foot.

Bishop O'Dowd's Chad Jones won the triple jump title (44-9), and Castro Valley's Jack Leng was first in the 3,200 with a time of 9:49.11. Elliot Rice of Castro Valley edged Carlile Garrick to win the 400. Rice finished in 50.17, and Garrick was just behind at 50.25.