After a week off, we're back to recognize the top performances from the Southern, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Central Sections. And boy, do we have a lot to recognize this week! That's what happens when you have one of the biggest meets in the country in your part of the state, though, and when it also coincides with good weather then the performances can go through the roof, as you can see below.
Looking Back at Weekend 8:
Of course, most of the weekend's highlights came from the Brooks Mt SAC Relays, held at Cerritos College while construction is underway on a new Hilmer Lodge Stadium. The top performances are almost too many to mention, but here's my best effort:
- Austin Tamagno hit US #1 in the mile at 4:03.21 (converts to 4:01.80 for 1600), earning a ticket to the Brooks PR meet in the process and touching off all kinds of speculation that he could join the ranks of sub-4 minute high-schoolers. In the girls race, Rylee Bowen continued her outstanding season, moving up to US #5 with a 4:47.26 (which would be 4:49.59 for the 1600).
- Great Oak's boys set their second national 4x1600 record in as many weeks, this time clocking 16:52.95 (an average of 4:13!!!). The Wolfpack wasn't done there, posting a US-leading 7:37.61 in the 4x800.
- Zaria Francis tied for the national lead in the 100 dash, clocking a wind-legal 11.50 US #1. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see her square off against Lauren Rain Williams, as the Oaks Christian junior false-started. Undefeated by the mistake, though, Williams powered to a US #1 23.07 in the 200
- Bronson Osborn had a HUGE day, throwing 71' 7.25" US #2 in the shot put and 204' 4" US #1 in the discus throw. That makes the Esperanza star the second in state history to be over 70 and 204 in the same season.
- Michael Norman clocked 10.27 into a headwind, good for CA #1 US #2 and putting him into the top 2 in the country in all three sprint races.
- Koty Burton (La Quinta) continued to tear up the hurdle races, this time running 36.92 CA #1 US #7 in the 300 Hurdles, which goes nicely with with his 110 Hurdle time from Arcadia.
- The girls from Palos Verdes are back on top of the state rankings in the 4x8 after clocking 9:08.18 US #1 (Centennial is US #4 at 9:12.24 after this weekend, as well). Serra's girls almost took over the state lead in the 4x100, going 46.01 to move up to US #7.
- Rancho Verde's boys became the first California team to break 3:15 in the 4x4 this season, their 3:14.02 ranking US #4 this season.
- While Great Oak's girls lost the 4x800 state lead, they still had a tremendous meet, posting California-best times of 4:01.69 in the 1600 SMR, 19:52.88 in the 4x1600, and 11.41.54 in the DMR, the last two also earning them US #1 rankings.
While the Southern Section (and many others) were in the limelight with one of the nation's biggest meets, there actually WAS other action around this area of the state on Saturday. At the Central Valley Classic, Lauren Moffett (Clovis North) got the double with wins in the 800 and 3200, Alexis Vincent-Walker (Clovis) joined the logjam of 5' 7" high jumpers, and Daniel Ambriz (Merced) took home the boys 1600 gold.
Down in San Diego, the Valley Center Jaguar Invitational had its usual strong field of competitors, including Jackie Patterson's 100-200 double win, in which the Rancho Bernardo sprinter went sub-12 and sub-25.
Gabby Satterlee (Central Valley Christian) cruised to 2:14 and 5:07 wins at the Exeter Monarch Invitational. De'vid Lawson (Redwood CS) also won those two events on the boys' side.
Looking Ahead to Weekend 9:
With the two Mega-Invitationals out of the way, the talent in Southern California spreads out for the next several weeks. Which is not to say that there won't still be incredible meets, of course. In fact, we will have on-site coverage at two mid-season "bragging rights" championship meets this Saturday, and you can bet there will be some great performances, even if pride is the only thing on the line.
The Orange County Meet of Champions always stirs up some emotions and some big marks to go with them. Last year's edition produced 167 MileSplit Elite Gold or Silver performances, including a double win by Amanda Gehrich and big 800 times from Cassie Durgy and Austin Tamagno (not to mention some big throws).
One mountain range to the East, the Inland Empire Championships will kick off at Vista Murrieta. The meet is smaller than the OC Champs, but if the top teams decide to load up, there will still be fireworks.
Not to be outdone, the schools in the San Gabriel Valley will stage their own championship this weekend, one that could include some very strong athletes. Kayla Richardson (Walnut) is always worth seeing, and her teammates, the Arriaga sisters, will face off against strong distance runners from Bishop Amat and Arcadia. Santa Barbara County also holds its championship meet this weekend.
There are also a number of Frosh/Soph Invitationals in SoCal this weekend, which would make for some interesting combined results.