CIF-Southern Section League Finals Recaps (updated)



Freshman Jacqueline Duarte won the 800 & 1600 at the Baseline League Finals. (Jeffrey Parenti photo)

Baseline League

The sprinters from Upland put on a show Friday night under warm and often breezy conditions at Rancho Cucamonga HS. But it wasn't all good news coming out of the Baseline League, as two of the brightest young stars in the league went down with injuries that very well could have ended their season. 

On the track, Upland senior Chelsea Daye was the class of an extremely deep girls 200-meter field, blistering an all-conditions CA #1 time of 23.61 (3.8 meters per second) to win the league title. Daye's teammate Jada Hicks was 2nd in 23.73 (CA #3), Etiwanda's Ezinne Abba was 3rd in 23.92 (CA #4) and Chino Hills' Zani Meaders was 4th in 24.24 (CA tied #10).

On the boys side, Upland junior Caleb Roberson PRed in 100m (10.56/3.2) for CA #3 (all-conditions), 110 Hurdles (14.12/2.7) for CA #4 and 300 Hurdles (37.57) for CA #2. His teammate, sophomore Namir Hemphill took home four Gold Medals: 200 (21.67/3.7), 400 (50.55), TJ (44-9), and overcame about a six-second deficit to rally the 4x400 Relay team to victory over Rancho Cucamonga in 3:22.16. 

In that 100m, Rancho Cucamonga junior Christopher Hill, who had earlier helped his team to victory in the 4x100 Relay (42.21), tried to close on Roberson at the end but grabbed the back of his leg right as he crossed the finish. He finished 2nd in 10.60 (3.2) but was done for the day, if not beyond. Hill, who came in as CA #7 in the 100 and CA #3 in the 200, said he had struggled with hamstring issues during the season. While waiting to receive his medal for the relay victory, before the 100, he said he felt about 90 percent and was looking to go all out at this meet. 

Another young star whose legs weren't cooperating with the challenge, was Upland freshman sprint star Jordyn Grady. She is the anchor on the CA-leading and US #3 4x100 relay. She anchored the team to an easy 46.31 victory (the team's SB is 45.71) but then got treatment. She tried to run the 300 Hurdles but had to walk off the track. 

Hicks easily won the 110 Hurdles (13.75/4.8) - she's already CA #1 at 13.54 - and ran second to Daye in the 200. She also ran lead-off on the 4x100 relay. Upland DNF in the 4x400. At the prelims, Hicks decided to drop the 100, where she is CA #6 (11.82), to focus on the longer sprint. She said she loves running the curve and said the 200 helps her to maintain her speed in the 100 hurdles. 

Also from the Baseline League:
  • Ezinne Abba won the 100m in 11.71 (4.1) (CA #4)
  • Zani (pronounced 'Zon-ee') Meaders won the 400m in 54.89 (CA #3) and anchored the 4x400 Relay victory (3:58.99)
  • Oluwatobi Adegoke (Los Osos) was 2nd in 110H (14.20/2.7) (CA #6 all-conditions)
  • Abby Venglass (Rancho Cucamonga) swept the throws (40-00.25/121-5)
  • Freshman Jacqueline Duarte (Chino Hills) won the 800m (2:16.74), 1600m (5:14.29) and ran lead-off on the winning 4x400 Relay team (3:58.99). (Note that Duarte is a high-level club soccer player who just discovered XC and T&F this season. She said she will eventually need to focus on one sport.)
  • Maraian Raymundo-Link (Chino Hills; junior) won the long jump 18-10.50 with Kennedy Smith (Upland; senior) 2nd (18-5) and Daye 3rd (18-2).
  • Deaira Jackson (Rancho Cucamonga; sophomore) won the 300 hurdles (45.60) and was 3rd behind Hicks and Kennedy in the 100 hurdles (14.86/4.8)
  • Daye was second to Meaders in the 400 (56.83) with Brooke Savage (Chino Hills; junior) 3rd in 57.63, just edging out Mariana Lanz (Los Osos; junior).
  • Jacob Teague (Upland; junior) won the discus throw (131-08) and was second to Garrett Fawcett (Chino Hills; junior) in the shot. Fawcett won it on his final attempt (44-07.75). Teague's best was 43-10.50.
  • Almani Bishop (Los Osos; senior) won the long jump (23-01.00) and was second to Hemphill in the triple jump (44.05.50).
  • Jeremiah Castellano (Upland; sophomore) and Darius Riley (Rancho Cucamonga; senior) split the 1600 and 3200. Catellano won the four-lapper (4:21.92-4:22.84) and Riley won the eight-tour trip (9:37.30-9:48.88).
  • Hassani Hawkins (Upland; sophomore) won the 800m (1:59.52).


Kennedy Smith, Jada Hicks, Deaira Jackson on the medal stand for the 100 hurdles (Jeffrey Parenti photo)