This Spring, we're trying out a new mid-week pair of featured articles: the SoCal and NorCal Reports! We will shine the spotlight on some of the top performances from the previous weekend, then look ahead to the top upcoming meets.
Looking Back at Weekend 10:
Sacramento Meet of Champions at American River College, Sacramento
The Sacramento Meet of Champions resulted in 263 Elite performances by mostly Northern California competitors. 71 of those performances met the Milesplit US First team standard. The top efforts also resulted in California leading marks for Cooper Teare St. Joseph Notre Dame-NCS (photo above from Mt. SAC Relays courtesy of Kirby Lee), 4:07.78 in 1600 and Jurnee Woodward Vacaville-SJS, 13.52 in the 100 meter hurdles. Teare won the race going wire to wire although fellow junior, Luis Grijalva Armijo-SJS pressed him the entire way and established his own personal record, 4:08.31. Teare's time now ranks him 5th all time in NCS behind Richard Kimball De La Salle 1974 4:01.0, Larry Guinee Castro Valley 1980 4:06.18, Calvin Gaziano Castro Valley 1985 4:07.3 and Jon Stevens Mission San Jose 1998 4:07.19. Woodward had an even tighter finish as she had to scramble back to the lead and edge Kaylah Robinson El Cerrito-NCS (13.53) at the line. Those times are now #1 and #2 in California in wind legal conditions (1.7).
The Bishop O'Dowd-NCS girls won the first event of the invitational section as they established a new season best 47.15 in the 400 relay. The NCS made it a clean sweep in the 400 relay as San Leandro-NCS won the boys race in 41.67. Fiona O'Keeffe Davis-SJS, with the prom later in the evening, only participated in the 1600 and won in 4:47.69. Khalil Dorsey Colony-SS made another trip up north after the Stanford Invitational and it was equally successful with a win in the 110 meter hurdles, 14.05. Tierra Robinson-Jones Bishop O'Dowd-NCS claimed the 400 meters stopping the clock at 55.19. A couple of the closest, most competitive finishes took place in the girls 800 meters with Alyssa Brewer California-NCS (2:09.61) edging out Ariane Arndt St. Francis, Sacramento-SJS (2:09.62). In the boys' 1600 meter relay, De La Salle-NCS edged McQueen-NV 3:18.69 to 3:18.73.
Out in the field events, Jasmine Pharms Stagg-SJS established another personal best in the shot put with her winning effort of 48'11.25". Erika Malaspina Pacific Collegiate-CCS (photo above from 2015 CA state meet courtesy of Kirby Lee) won the girls' pole vault in a new meet record 13'3". The previous record was held by Tori Anthony Castilleja-CCS at 13'2". In the girls' discus, Hannah Sophia-Hall James Logan-NCS edged local thrower Hannah Chappell Oakdale-SJS 141'3" to 136'8". Nate Esparza Amador Valley-NCS was a double winner in the shot put (65'9.5") and discus (174'8"). In the boys' pole vault, Jacob Bowler Del Oro-SJS and Travis Kartz Granite Bay-SJS tied for first with a best of 15'10". Jason Smith Riordan-CCS rode a slightly windy long jump to a personal best and section leading 24'0".
Alisal, Pacific Grove Rotary and Charlie Eaton/Bob Warren Relays Invitationals
The top mark at the Alisal Invitational belonged to Raul Barraza North Salinas-CCS. He won the boys' 800 meter race with a personal best 1:55.35. That time puts him at CCS #2 and in line for a coveted state meet qualifying spot.
At the Pacific Grove Rotary Invitational, a few more notable marks took place at that meet. Cate Ratliff Santa Cruz-CCS (photo above at 2015 CA state meet courtesy of Kirby Lee) continues her comeback trail and cruised to a sub 11 minute performance (10:57.84). Tulouna Langi Mills-CCS just missed the 40 foot barrier with her 39'11.75" winning effort. Summer-solstice Thomas Santa Cruz-CCS won the high jump with a winning mark of 5'6". Kyle Henn Soquel-CCS won the boys' pole vault as he topped 14'8" for the win.
In one of the oldest invitationals in California, the 47th annual Charlie Eaton/Bob Warren Relays took place once again at Acalanes High School. This meet has settled into the Friday date before the Sac MOC. The top performance at the meet took place in the field as Noah Hurley of College Park-NCS won the pole vault with a 16'0" vault. That mark puts him at NCS #1 and CA #6. Typically, when a vaulter gets into the 16 foot range, he will usually be in the mix for a state championship podium position.
Looking Ahead to Weekend 11:
The invitational season is now officially over and all leagues in California are now in the midst of their section qualifiers. There are way too many meets to mention but look for individuals and teams to start their drive toward one of the best state meets in the United States at Buchanan HS. It is also one of the few state meets in the nation that are not broken up by divisions. The best of the best will face each other and the results are usually some very eye opening performances.
All meet directors should send results to Jeff George at jgeorge@milesplit.com. Photos and videos should be sent to jgeorge@milesplit.com and albertjcaruana@gmail.com.