CIF State Meet Preview: Running Events

1600 Meters

Girls Favorites: Rylee Bowen Sonoma Academy (NCS) 4:48.44 mile, Annie Boos Claremont (SS) 4:49.74 & Maddy Denner Oak Ridge (SJS) 4:49.84
Leading Contenders: Haley Herberg Capistrano Valley (SS) 4:49.92 & Evelyn Mandel Great Oak (SS) 4:51.05
State Meet Record: Christine Babcock Woodbridge (SS) 4:33.82 2008

Amanda Gehrich Tesoro (SS) won the last two state championships in this race. She is currently at University of Utah so we will have a new champion this year. In my mind, we have have three girls that could potentially win this race. Annie Boos (SS) won the SS Masters meet 1600 with a season best time of 4:49.74. She finished in 7th place at last year's state meet with a time of 4:52.89. Rylee Bowen Sonoma Academy (NCS) won the NCS MOC meet with a time of 4:51.42 and has a faster time in the mile from the Mt. SAC Relays. Maddy Denner Oak Ridge (SJS) won her section final with a personal best of 4:49.84. Another runner that may be a factor is Davis (SJS) junior, Olivia O'Keeffe. She is the fastest returner from last year's final as she finished in 3rd place with a time of 4:48.66. She was sidelined for most of the season with an injury and will need to rally once again for a podium finish.

Boys Favorite: Luis Grijalva Armijo (SJS) 4:10.61
Leading Contenders: Ryan Renken Claremont (SS) 4:10.95, Solomon Fountain Great Oak (SS) 4:11.88 & Liam Anderson Redwood (NCS) 4:12.91
State Meet Record: German Fernandez Riverbank (SJS) 4:00.29

The four fastest 1600 meter runners (Cooper Teare, Callum Bolger, Michael Vernau and Evert Silva) this season have all chosen to pursue a 3200 meter state title. That leaves the favorite role in the four lap event to Luis Grijalva Armijo (SJS). He ran the fastest time at all section finals with his 4:10.61 winning effort at the SJS Masters meet. He also recorded a US #1 1500 meters at the Cardinal Classic with a time of 3:47.17 which converts to 4:03.91 for the 1600m. His competition will come from the leading runners at the SS Masters meet, Ryan Renken Claremont (4:11.02 mile), Solomon Fountain Great Oak (4:11.88) & Trad Berti Paso Robles (4:10.55 mile). With no rabbits in the final, the pace may not be swift enough to lose the kickers and if this is the case, the runner to fear is Redwood (NCS) sophomore, Liam Anderson. He recorded his personal best of 4:12.91 in winning the NCS MOC meet with a mighty kick.