Top 18 storylines that made the Southern Section special

Ariyonna Augustine's Legacy


Ariyonna Augustine (5) won two state titles and five section titles in the sprints. (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport)

As a freshman, Ariyonna Augustine was the heir apparent to one of California's fastest ever, Arianna Washington.  No pressure there. ...  By her sophomore year, Augustine had supplanted herself as the new face of the Long Beach Poly sprint program and graduated with one of the more impressive resumes in its school's heralded history.  She earned the Southern Section Division 1 titles in the 100 and 200 meters that sophomore season while moving on to earn three medals at the California State Meet (all 5th place). 

Augustine went on to capture the D1 title in the 100 meters the next two seasons, along with one more victory this season for the 200.    Perhaps her greatest memories, she led her squad to the section D1 team title in 2017 and in memorable fashion two weeks later, stepped it up to another gear.  Her State Meet titles in the 100 and 200 meters propelled her squad to the California State team title.  She did not win either one of these events the week prior at the SS Masters Meet. 

Despite the disappointing finish at this year's State Meet (2nd in the 200 and 3rd in the 100), Augustine will take her talent to Louisiana State University this fall.  With six SS D1 titles, she will forever be known as one of the section's top sprinters (three D1 titles in the 100, two in the 200, and one in the 400 relay).  She was the foundation of two divisional titles to go along with two runner-up plaques.   


Breanna Bernard-Joseph's State Title in 300 Hurdles


Pure joy from Breanna Bernard-Joseph after winning the State title in the 300 hurdles. (Louis Amestoy photo)

Introduced as a 400 meter athlete, Roosevelt's Breanna Bernard-Joseph relied more on her speed and less on her form in advancing to the divisional finals as a freshman.  Perfecting her hurdling skills during the off season, BBJ emerged as one of the state's best hurdlers as she advanced to the State Meet in both events.  That sophomore season ended at the State Meet finals, with a 42.10, 2nd place medal in the 300 Hurdles. 

An unexpected junior season ensued when one of the nation's best, Shae Anderson of Norco, began competing in the same league.  With that unforeseen challenge and runner-up at league finals, Bernard-Joseph still captured her 2ndstraight Southern Section Division 1 title.  Despite making the finals in both events, and improving in the 100 hurdles, she finished her junior year in disappointment with a 4th place finish at State. 

In 2018, while continuing to be one of the best in California, her times were not improving and a sense of doubt settled in.  Bernard-Joseph even stumbled on her 8th hurdle at her own league finals and settled for 3rd place.  She placed 3rd at the D1 finals and then, 3rd once again at the SS Masters Meet.  Now, the underdog, BBJ kept her faith alive.  The long awaited title that looked elusive came to fruition over the last 40 meters at the State Meet final, as she held off those who had beaten her in previous weeks.  With all frustrations from the senior season aside, Bernard-Joseph ascended to the top of the podium and captured the State title in a new lifetime best of 41.76, the 8th fastest in the country.  She will matriculate to the 2018 NCAA Champion squad at the University of Southern California this fall.    


Bonita's State Title in the 4x400 Relay


Bonita's 4x400 relay team of (l-r) Alisha Wilson, Sierra Julian, Amari Prude and Sammie Riggs broke records on the way to CIF-Southern Section and State Championships titles. (Jeffrey Parenti photo)

After taking 8th place at the 2017 State Meet, the girls from Bonita returned three pivotal cogs from that team.  Once freshman Alisha Wilson stepped off the basketball court and onto the track team, she was the final piece of the puzzle to working their way back to the State Meet.  But, this quartet had much higher goals as we came to see at the sectional finals.  With Amari Prude leading off and giving up the baton to Wilson, the Bearcats consistently created huge leads going into the midway point of their championship races.  That formula worked out well as Sierra Julian and Sammie Riggs held off all challengers over the last six weeks, peaking with their State Title.   At the divisional finals, Bonita set a Southern Section Division 2 record of 3:44.92, eclipsing the previous mark by over two seconds.  But, with more in store, two weeks later, they all ran to personal bests and to the State Meet title in 3:42.62.  Not only was this the fastest time at a State Meet since 2014, it was the seventh fastest performance from a California team over the last 10 seasons.