Girls Seniors-Only Central Section Masters Highlights
100 Dash
Hailey Langley (Hanford) takes the win as expected, but not before an unexpected challenge from Simone Johnson (Central). Johnson, who flew under the radar at the area meet, is best known as a star jumper; today her runway speed translates onto the track as she takes silver. That leaves a titanic battle for third place between several evenly-matched competitors; Alyssa Goree (Clovis East) holds off Jill Penner (Clovis West) and Avery Collins (Centennial).
200 Dash
What looked like it would be a duel for the title became an exciting three-way finish. Ejaiya Burton (Tulare Western) and Alyssa Orr (Clovis North), both fatigued after their head-to-head battle in the 400, slow down enough in the final 50 to allow Penner to make a late charge. Burton holds on for the win with Orr second, the order predicted before the race, but Penner made it interesting as she takes the final qualifying spot. Bree Johansen (Taft) finishes at the front of the next group of athletes, breaking 26 in the process.
400 Dash
This is Orr's favorite (and stronger) race, and her strength at the end prevails today. She pushes herself and Burton into the 56-second range as they both advance to the state meet. Ashley Gardner (Clovis East), who dropped down from the 800 last year to this event, makes her decision seem very smart as she claims third place over Julia Hardwick (Clovis) and extends her season by a week.
800 Run
As we anticipated, this race developed with a four-girl pack at first, which then split into two duels down the final stretch. Rachel Fitt (Bishop Union) and Ellen Palmgren (Liberty Bakersfield) went shoulder to shoulder to the line, both clocking 2:14's as Palmgren wins by mere thousandths. Meanwhile, Jadyn Pennington (Clovis East) edges out Amanda Dolberg (Buchanan) for third in a finish just as close as the top two.
1600 Run
Fitt and Corie Smith (Buchanan) have been going back and forth in this race since the Sanger Spring Classic in March (which Smith won). Today, Fitt is able to pull away at the end, clocking 4:51 and setting herself up as a force to be reckoned with at the state meet. Smith scores strong points in second place in an event she will drop before next week's state meet, getting revenge on Unique Ford (Madera) for last week's area meet loss in the process. Ford still grabs the final qualifying spot, though, staying comfortably ahead of Constanze Paoli (Paso Robles).
3200 Run
Smith was able to push hard in the 1600 knowing that she could dial it back in this race and save her legs for next week. She methodically pulls away from the field, leaving teammate Rachel Culver to duel with Dariana Miramontes (Madera South) over the last mile. Culver pushes Miramontes all the way to the final stretch before settling for third, both under 11 minutes and ready to race again at the state meet. Mia Jauregui makes it 3 in the top 4 for Buchanan, boosting their chances in a close team competition.
100 Hurdles
It's hard to find anyone who is as dominant in a section final as Monea Jennings (Central) is in this event. She rolls to a 14.5 despite clearly easing up and riding her momentum over the final hurdle and to the line. She will be one to watch at the state meet! Carissa Hall (Immanuel), staying in the hurdles this year (she dropped this race before the area meet in 2019), challenges Penelopi Leach (Madera) for second place; Leach holds on as both advance (although we expect Hall to focus on the jumps next week). Jasmine Garcia (Arroyo Grande) edges out Leah Tauchen (Liberty Bakersfield) for fourth.
300 Hurdles
This race is a different story for Jennings, as she has her hands full with Mia Salinas. The Selma senior put all her eggs into this basket, and it pays off with a section title in a minor upset. Jennings sets a new PR in the low 44's in her second-place effort. Brooklin Woolf (Clovis) also breaks 45 in a very fast race overall, taking the third and final qualifying spot. Kaija Ambriz (Strathmore) leads the next wave in fourth place, posting the first 46 of her career.
Long Jump
We thought it would take 18 feet to win this event today, and we were not disappointed as Carissa Hall and Simone Johnson (Central) both hit that range. Hall takes the win by just a few inches as both move on. Zula Omawahleh (Edison CS) gets past Kinley McNiece (Central Valley Christian) to take third, with Indya Smith (Golden West) posting her first 17 foot jump just behind them.
Triple Jump
Johnson is a state title contender in this event, and she shows it with a 41 foot effort today in taking the section crown. Though Hall is much improved over 2019, she has to settle for second and a new PR in the upper 38's - and she has to hold off Alyssa Hayashi (Edison CS) to secure that finish. It wouldn't be a surprise to see all three make the finals next week. Marybeth Baranda (Buchanan) takes fourth over Omawahleh, but they are a full two feet behind the top three.
High Jump
This one lived up to its billing as a wide-open competition, with five athletes still jumping at 5-2 with three state meet spots on the line. Aniya Hoggatt (Central) and Brooklin Woolf are the only two to clear that height, though, with Hoggett taking the title based on misses. As was the case for the boys, there is a jump-off for the final qualifying spot, which is won by Indya Smith over Keira Aquino (Edison) and Olivia Doyle (Kingsburg).
Pole Vault
Like the high jump, several athletes came into this meet with a legitimate chance to advance or even win. Unlike the high jump, though, one athlete asserted herself and took command of the competition. Erika Guzman (Hanford West), whose never got a chance to compete at the 2019 Masters meet, makes the best of her opportunity this year and claims the title, clearing 11-6. The battle for the last two qualifying spots went down to misses among four athletes that all topped out at 11 feet. Abigail Rumohr (Yosemite) cleared it on her first attempt to take second, while Cami Lim (Golden West) is eliminated on total misses. That leaves Jacqueline Maze (Tulare Union) and Shasta Garcia (Paso Robles) to jump off for the final state meet spot (what a day in the vertical jumps!). Maze seems to have more gas left in the tank, allowing her to draw on one more successful effort and take third place.
Shot Put
Hannah Davis (Buchanan) has to set a new PR in the 41's to get past Jade Whitfield (Mt Whitney) and take the section crown. The two are set to battle again next week, and both have a good shot to make finals. Karly Soenksen (Arroyo Grande) has had a terrific senior season, and her improvement nets her third place and a trip to the state meet. Taylor Linzie (Bakersfield) holds off McKenna Chaney (Buchanan) for fourth.
Discus
The champion in this event was determined after Whitfield's first throw, although she continued to compete as she hones her technique for the state meet. Chaney finishes second, throwing over 140 to stay comfortably ahead of the next group. Soenksen moves on in a second event, getting past Tearra Haney (Golden Valley) on her last attempt.
Team Results
Buchanan survives the challenge from Central, winning by 15 points. Those two have more than double the points of the third place team, Edison.