The 200 could see 3 guys breaking 21, which is remarkable for any division. T.J. Brock (Chaminade) has been the closest, running 21.09, and his 100 speed may give him the edge when it comes to closing out the race. Thaddeus Smith (Damien) has run 21.12, and teammate Zachary Shinnick 21.14, but unlike Brock's time both of those were wind-aided. Don't be surprised if Dominic Davis (Alemany) also gets into the mix - like Brock, he is a little better in the 100, but this is the kind of race that could bring out the best in all the competitors.
The 110 Hurdles has no clear favorite, with Gary Hawkins, Jr (Gabrielino) and Jasher Foster (St. Francis) both having season bests in the low 14's. Orlando Wallace (Cathedral City) is right behind in the 14.50's, and there are two more athletes within 3 tenths of Hawkins 14.34 from the prelims. The 300 Hurdles also looks really competitive, as Caleb Stanton (Bonita) leads 5 guys that have run between 38 and 39 this season. Along with his 38.18, Leo Brown (Covina) has run 38.23.
Three 400 runners in this division have broken 48 this season, with Greg Campbell (Chaminade) leading the way at 47.39. Shinnick has the chance to double in the 400 and 200, which is remarkable for a sophomore (if he continues to develop, he will be one of the stars in this state soon). Isaiah Jewett (Cathedral) has also run under 48, and he had the top time of the prelim round.
With Austin Tamagno focusing solely on the 1600, the door is open for Willam Ernst (San Luis Obispo) or Andrew Burkhardt (JSerra) to take the 3200. Both have run under 9:10 this season, and chances are they will have company late in the race, as Anuare Magnana (Costa Mesa) and Callum Bolger (San Luis Obispo) are both right around 9:15 on the season.
The 4x400 could be a two-team battle up front, with Notre Dame and Cathedral both coming into the meet boasting 3:16's. There is another cluster of teams that have run 3:21 this spring, including Servite, St. John Bosco, and Damien, and that competition could propel them under 3:20.
Matthew Turk (San Marcos) may have the best mark among the division's vaulters at 15' 7", but it's by the slimmest of margins. Steven French (Cabrillo) and Landon Shank (Servite) have both cleared 15' 6", while Preston O'Connell (Servite) has been over 15 feet.
The discus throw, which is an event that has a high degree of variability, should be particularly interesting in this division. Matt Katnik (St. John Bosco) is the top seed and slight favorite with his season best of 179' 10", but Bronson Osborn (Esperanza) has a 176' 6" mark on his profile this spring. Luke Wattenberg (JSerra) and Jalen Morgan (Shadow Hills) have both thrown over 170 feet, as well, giving us four legitimate candidates for the win here.
Athletes to Watch
Brock is one of the top 100 runners in the nation, but nothing will come easy in this division. In the 100 he has to contend with three other guys that have wind-aided sub-10.50 times, although Brock's 10.20 is in another category altogether. The 4x100 is the closest thing to a lock for Chaminade, whose 40.80 is the top time in the division this season by half a second.
Austin Tamagno (Brea Olinda) has been running very well this spring, with his converted mile time of 4:04.83 putting him 6 seconds ahead of anyone else in the 1600 coming into the race. The battle for second there could be intense, with Dillon Beckum (Bonita) leading several runners who are looking to break 4:10 for the first time. Tamagno even affects the outcome of the 800, simply by the fact that he decided not to run them. Beckum inherits the top seed in the 800, with Parker Nostrand (Corona Del Mar) the chief challenger there.
Earnest Sears (Alemany) has cleared 6' 8" this season, at least 4 inches better than any other high jumper in the division.
Alex Hammond (Hesperia) is peaking at the right time, with his season best long jump of 23 feet coming in last week's prelims and giving him the top seed Saturday. The closest challenger is at 22' 6" on the season, which is close enough to make this interesting. Hammond is also a contender in the triple jump, where Morrell Osling (Antelope Valley) is the favorite as the only guy over 47 feet this season.
Katnik has made throwing over 70 feet a habit now, having done it 4 times. He could probably win with anything over 65, though, and should dominate the shot put. Osborn is the only other thrower in the division to have broken 60 feet this season, which is noteworthy for a sophomore.
