Even in lovely California, the weather can be a double-edged sword. In the case of this weekend's meets, heat was the biggest environmental factor. Warm temperatures can greatly boost performances in the "power events" (the sprints, hurdles, and field events), as it helps those athletes get peak explosives out of their muscles. Kaylah Robinson had the biggest single performance of the meet, defeating Jurnee Woodard in the 100 Hurdles with a barely wind-legal 13.32 CA #2 US #3 (Woodard improved to CA #3 US #5 with her 13.42). Robinson also won the 100 Dash in 11.85, while Woodard went on to claim the 300 Hurdles in 42.20, winning by almost a full second.
As further testimony to the positive effects heat can have on sprinters, witness the work day that Kaelin Roberts put in: a 400 win in 53.86, a 200 win in 24.19, plus she helped Carson win the 4x100 (46.14) and the 4x400 (3:52.39 CA #5). That's how you get prepared for the championship season grind! The other double winner in the meet was Deion Lightfoot-Shelton, who ran 13.75 in the 110 Hurdles and then came back for a season-best 37.78 CA #8 in the 300 Hurdles, holding off Bikram Thiara (37.93 CA #10) for the gold.
There were some great performances in the field events, too. Sanjay Kettles took over the wind-legal state lead with his 23' 10.5" effort, giving him a scant half-inch lead over the previous CA #1. Hannah-Sophia Hall moved up to CA #3 in the shot put by posting a 46' 2.5" mark, and Nicole Warwick earned the same ranking in the long jump with her 19' 3" leap (Warwick has a 19' 11" mark that did not have a wind reading). The meet produced two 40-plus triple jumpers: Kali Hatcher went 40' 7.5" to improve her CA #3 mark, edging out Arianna Fisher's 40' 6.5" in the process. Jake Grimsman set a new PR with a 6' 10" clearance in the high jump, good for CA #2 this season.
The biggest hype coming into the meet was centered on Cooper Teare's second attempt to run a sub-4 minute mile. Unfortunately, warm weather has the opposite effect on distance runners, and the heat took a brutal toll on the field. Teare held on the best of anyone (by far), clocking a meet record 4:01.29 and winning by over 8 seconds. Michael Vernau was the only other runner to break 4:10 (he ran CA #3 4:09.85), with Anthony Oceguda (Reed NV) just above that time. Several runners ended up below their season bests despite the loaded field, although Evert Silva was able to post a new PR of 4:11.37 to finish 4th.
Maddy Denner was able to shake off the heat to win the 1600, although her time of 4:54.62 was well below her season best. She also ran well in the 800, losing a close race to Anitha Graves (Woodcreek), 2;15.75 - 2:16.01. Sister Elena was victorious in the 3200, clocking 10:26.55. Although he didn't win his race, Xavier Weaver (Franklin Elk Grove) ran the #2 800 time in the state so far this season, a 1:52.76 that earned him second place.