Girls High Jump
Long Beach Wilson sophomore Rachel Glenn has been the standard for Div. 1 since her 5-11 clearance at the California Relays in the middle of March. California's current state leader and tied for 3rd in the USA, Glenn will able to focus more on qualifying in the 400 and 4x400 relay as she should have no issues advancing here. Defending state champion, Dartmouth-bound Abigail Burke from Riverside Poly is gearing up for another postseason run (jump) to Fresno. She is coming off a 5-7 league title effort and should have issues as we suspect that 5-3 will be the height to advance. Santiago's Ashlyn Blotzer, in the same meet as Glen, cleared 5-8 back in March and is currently tied for 3rd in California. Meanwhile, Woodbridge's Emily Garner placed 5th at the 2017 state meet and has a seasonal best of 5-6. Along with Burke, she is tied for 6th in California. The two sophomores in Newbury Park's Jillian Kolarik and Huntington Beach Xolani Hodel come in confident with 5-4 clearances at their respective league finals. Kolarik has a seasonal best of 5-5, which places her amongst the top 20 in the state. Aliso Niguel's Lauren Battle, Ayala's Madison Moneymaker, Millikan's Darline Schroeder along with Hodel have 2018 bests of 5-4. Opening height is 4-11 while we suspect the elite girls to come in at 5-1.
Boys High Jump
Trabuco Hills senior Sean Lee is the defending CIF-State champion, is the current CA co-leader and US tri-leader at 7-3 and he already has five meets this season where he has cleared at least 7-feet. Other top qualifiers in this event include Kevin Schmitt (Los Alamitos) who has cleared 6-9 for CA #7; Alan Tabales (Millikan; 6-6), Aiden Garnett (Edison; 6-6), Jack Wiseman (Huntington Beach; 6-6) and freshman Darius Hill (Vista Murrieta; 6-4).
Girls Pole Vault
In what continues to be the deepest league in California regarding this event, the Southwestern League qualifying an unprecedented EIGHT girls into the postseason. But, our top seed belongs to Mira Costa's Brigette Grau, whose 12-9 clearance for the Bay League title moved her up to #5 in California. Grau's explosion of sorts redefined her status in California with her previous best being only 12-0. She was able to hold off Redondo's Amari Turner during that competition. Turner has cleared 12-6 and owns the #2 mark in the division and is tied for #9 in California. In featuring five of the 12 girls that have cleared 12-3 in California this season, Aliso Niguel's Morgan Flynn has a seasonal best of 12-4. Capturing the Orange County Championships, she is currently #11 in the state. In leading that brigade at the SWL Finals, Vista Murrieta's Katrina Meier captured the league title with a 12-1 effort. With her personal best being 12-3, she is currently tied with Roosevelt's Tessa Watkins for 12th in California. With Roosevelt relying on big points from their duo, Erika Flaherty has cleared 12-2 this season, which is tied for 14th in the state. Murrieta Valley's Madison Kast, Chaparral's Alexandria Gray along with rounding the Vista Murrieta trio, Nicole Silverlake and Tamara Bader have all cleared the 11-9 bar this season. Opening height is 10-6, but we suspect that it may take a 11-6 to advance onward (10-7 has been the average the past three seasons).
Boys Pole Vault
Ernesto Collazo (Great Oak) and Ethan Amata (Roosevelt) both come in with 15-1 qualifying marks. While that was a PR for the junior Amata, the senior Collazo has a PR of 15-9 set at Arcadia. Other top contenders include Andrew Sandberg (Mira Costa; 15-0), Will O'Brien (Loyola; 15-0) and Jakob Ernst (Roosevelt; 14-7).
Girls Long Jump
With so many variables that take place in the midst of conducting the horizontal events, projecting which athletes should qualify here comes back to overall consistency throughout the season. The two seniors from Upland, Chelsea Daye and Kennedy Smith, have consistently measured out over 18 feet all season long. Both are amongst the top 10 in California for wind legal marks. With that, neither one captured their own league title. That honor went to Chino Hills' Maraian Raymundo-Link last week as she took advantage of a generous wind to go out to 18-10.5. Redondo's Akaylah Hill, Woodbridge's Simran Maholtra along Ayala's Anyssa Romo are not too far behind with all coming in with 18-7+ wind legal credentials. With Ayala presenting one of the best jumping crews in California, Ayanna Sadipe has also gone out over 18 feet. JW North's Sydney Reid and Arcadia' Stephanie Yen also come in with seasonal bests of over 18 feet. With a qualifying round being wide open, Woodbridge's Madison Lyon went 18-3 at her league finals while Camarillo's Bella Pantoja posting a seasonal best of 18-1.75.
Boys Long Jump
Great Oak senior CJ Stevenson has the top mark in the division (24-03) and the top qualifying mark (23-3). Los Osos' Almani Bishop, also a contender in both of the horizontal jumps, qualified at 23-1. San Jacinto's Kevin Maria (22-11 season best), Rancho Cucamonga's Niko Busque (22-1) and Los Alamitos' Sean Ayale (22-6) are the other top qualifiers.
Girls Triple Jump
On paper and on the state wide wind-legal charts, the Woodbridge duo of Madison Lyon and Emily Garner should advance with ease this weekend. Lyon owns 39-9.5 personal best while Garner comes in with a 38-3. Both are amongst the top four in seeds and will be in that top flight. Ranked #3 for wind legal marks in the division, Great Oak's Summer Stevenson bounded out to a 39-6.5 last week to capture the Southwestern league title. There was actually no wind whatsoever when she achieved this mark but there was no wind indicator provided. Yes, the name Stevenson and Great Oak tend to vibe when referencing the Triple Jump. Redondo's Akaylah Hill and Ayala's Madison Moneymaker are slated to advance as both have jumped out beyond 37 feet this season. Fresh off an impressive league finals in all aspects, Tesoro's Maddie Jocson captured the South Coast league title with a 37-10.5 effort. Throwing her name into the finals' conversation is Temecula Valley's Charisma Davis. Also an accomplished pole vaulter (11-7 best), she recorded a 37-1.5 at the SWL to take runner up. Looking for valuable points in the team scoring, Upland's Kerrington Smith is in the mix to advance while Fountain Valley's Courtney Moreno has been consistent all season long and in the 36-37 foot range.
Boys Triple Jump
Great Oak senior CJ Stevenson is the defending Southern Section Division 1 and CIF-State champion in this event and he's the CA leader and US #4 with a PR of 50-5. Valencia senior Tanner Berney has the second best qualifying mark (46-00, a PR), followed by Camarillo's Alonzo Francisco (45-02.75; with a PR of 46-08.50). Upland sophomore Namir Hemphill has the division's second best jump this season at 48-10. San Bernardino Cajon senior Jerome Weber, a Masters qualifier last year, has a season best of 44-10.
Girls Shot Put
Of all events on the slate, the one that is a runaway is here. Los Alamitos' Faimalie Sale comes in with a personal best of 46-2, which is almost SIX feet longer than anybody else in the division. Her seasonal best places her at #2 in California and the best in the Southern Section. Valencia's Skylar Ingram showed the most improvement from their league finals in a 40-4.5 Foothill League title. Rancho Cucamonga sophomore Abby Venglass has a seasonal best of 40-0.5 while Warren's Cyrena Chavers comes in with 39-1.5 best. Weaker than it has been in quite some time, only four girls in the division have cleared 38 feet whereas 10 girls have achieved the feat in Division 2. Hoping to take advantage and earn crucial points is Long Beach Poly's Syanne Patton, who owns a best of 36-11.5. Defending her hometown ring, Trabuco Hills' Kyleigh Wilkerson has improved out to a 37-10. Meanwhile, Carter's London Bland and Santiago's Onyi Anigbogu both claimed league titles last week with efforts at 37-8.
Boys Shot Put
Millikan senior Noah Holm comes in with the top season mark in the division at 60-01.75 while San Juan Hills' junior Sean Rhyan popped a PR 57-4 for the #1 qualifying mark. Great Oak's senior duo of Harrison Gould and Jaime Navarro have the Nos. 2 and 3 qualifying marks and the Nos. 3 and 2 seasonal marks. Navarro has a best of 58-10, while Gould's SB is 58-06.50. The Newbury Park duo of seniors Nick Krause (55-2) and Jake Radwan (53-09.50) rank Nos. 6 and 9, respectively, in the division. Corona Santiago's Silas Hurst has a best of 55-9.
Girls Discus
Trabuco Hills' Kyleigh Wilkerson has shown incredible improvement over this past month and her 140-2 PR from Mt. SAC stands as the top mark among remaining throwers in the division. A whole slew of girls have thrown out into the 120-130 foot range in 2018. Dana Hills' Rosie Ballo has a seasonal best of 127-4 while we witnessed some great improvement when Roosevelt's Lydia Liu set a new school record with her 126-0 victory at the Big VIII league finals. Millikan's Alaine English has a best of 123-2 while Rancho Cucamonga's Abby Venglass owns a 122-11 seasonal best. Etiwanda's Nysiah Ledardye saved her best for the Baseline League finals in finishing right behind Venglass with a 122-9 personal best. Paramount's Sieni Viena is coming off a best of 122-1 while Valencia's Skylar Ingram brought home the Foothill League championship with an effort of 122-6.
Boys Discus Throw
Paramount's Leatoa Otine popped and 11-foot PR to 169-02 at the league finals and is the top-seeded thrower based on league qualifying marks. Jaime Navarro, one of two seniors looking to qualify here and score big points for Great Oak at Division Finals - and beyond - has the best season best in the division of 185-8. His teammate Harrison Gould, who won the Southwestern League title, has a best of 176-2. Newbury Park's Jake Radwan has the #3 qualifying mark of 168-10 and a season best of 172-10. Dana Hills senior Max McKhann has the #3 overall throw this season in the division at 179-9. Corona Santiago's Silas Hurst, runner-up in the this event at Division Finals last year, has a best of 157-7. He was a CIF-SS Masters qualifier in both of the throws last season. While Great Oak is expecting both of its seniors to move on easily, freshman James Wright uncorked a 154-3 PR in the league final and another PR or close could land him among the top 12 moving on. In addition to Radwan, Newbury Park also has junior Gino Cruz, who has the division's #2 throw, 184-11. His qualifying mark is 160-11.