The CIF State Meet is arguably the One True State Meet among all the states of our nation, because ALL of California feeds into a single championship meet - no classifications, no separate sanctioning bodies for independent schools. Only 3 athletes can advance to the state meet from most of the sections, including the Central Section. Below is a pre-season list of the contenders for those three berths in the field events. Don't forget to check out Monday's article on the Central Section distance runners!
Girls 100 Dash
Favorite: Hannah Waller (Buchanan)
Threats: Falon Wilson (Stockdale), Jazmine Ramey (Centennial), Zara Anthony (Bakersfield)
Wildcards: Jasemin Green (Liberty Bakersfield), Valerie Body (West Bakersfield), Jenna Shelton (Mt. Whitney), Daizhiana Ebert (Ridgeview)
Boys 100 Dash
Favorite: Darius Smith (Ridgeview)
Threats: Charles Williams (Bullard), Deshawn Ruffin (Sunnyside), Isaiah Robinson (Buchanan)
Wildcards: Chuby Dunu (Buchanan), Emmitt Brooks (Kingsburg), Lawrence Cairo (Central), Raymond Marquez (East Bakersfield)
Girls 200 Dash
Favorite: Hannah Waller (Buchanan)
Threats: Yamilet Biggers (Buchanan), Brooke Watts (Buchanan)
Wildcards: Dwana Chaney (Firebaugh), Sophie Jimenez (Central), Zara Anthony (Bakersfield), Sambria Morgan (Edison), Valerie Body (West Bakersfield)
Boys 200 Dash
Favorite: Charles Williams (Bullard)
Threats: Darius Smith (Ridgeview), Isaiah Robinson (Buchanan)
Wildcards: Mahmoud Adams (Bullard), Lawrence Cairo (Central)
Girls 400 Dash
Favorite: Hannah Waller (Buchanan)
Threats: Sophie Jimenez (Central), Danae Manibog (Buchanan)
Wildcards: Gabby Satterlee (Central Valley Christian), Mikayla Romanini (Reedley)
Boys 400 Dash
Favorites: Jakell Tomlin (Bakersfield), Mahmoud Adams (Bullard)
Threats: Tanner Tucker (Clovis East)
Wildcards: Byron Williams (Sunnyside), Curtis Threlkeld (North), Elijah Isaiah (Edison)
Girls 100 Hurdles
Favorites: Iesha Hamm (Stockdale), Falon Wilson (Stockdale)
Threats: Cynthia Gomez (Tulare Western)
Wildcards: Brynley Bower (Clovis West), Julianne Finch (Garces Memorial), Tyla Graves (Edison), Remington Mahlum (Buchanan)
Boys 110 Hurdles
Favorites: Ben HIbbert (Frontier), Isaac Leppke (Dinuba)
Threats: Ethan Turner (Foothill Bakersfield)
Wildcards: Jaeden Watson (Stockdale), Brandon Hill (Buchanan)
Girls 300 Hurdles
Favorite: Riley Slayton (Liberty Bakersfield)
Threats: Elyse Espe (Yosemite), Andee Poole (Sanger)
Wildcards: Mikayla Romanini (Bakersfield), Dominique Hernandez (Tulare Western), Remington Mahlum (Buchanan), Jayme Budwig (Fowler)
Boys 300 Hurdles
Favorites: Paramveer Chohan (Buchanan)
Threats: Pablo Perez (Clovis East), Jaeden Watson (Stockdale)
Wildcards: Isaac Leppke (Dinuba), Ben Hibbert (Frontier), Ethan Turner (Foothill Bakersfield)