Girls Preview By Event Groups
Girls Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays
While leading her squad to the California state team title in 2017, Ariyonna Augustine (pictured) of LB Poly will focus on the 200 meters. Augustine is the defending state champion in the 100 (11.57) and 200 (23.41). This is her first 200 of her 2018 senior campaign. She is currently #3 in the state for the 100 meters (11.82). LA City Section runner up and State meet qualifier while at Carson in 2017, LB Poly junior Saundria Martin will also play a huge role for the Jackrabbits this Spring. Meanwhile, Poly junior Jaelyn Predium impressed last weekend with her wind legal 12.13 effort. But, providing us perhaps with a preview of the section finals in May, Upland has put together a formidable squad this Spring that will challenge Poly for the state and section titles. Seniors Jada Hicks and Chelsea Daye lead the way for those Highlanders along with freshman Jordyn Grady. Hicks currently owns the #3 time in California under all conditions for the 200 meters. Also a major factor in the short sprints are the duo threat from Redlands East Valley. Senior Emerald Bowens (11.71w personal best) opens her season up after her 9th place finish at the 2017 California state meet in the 100 meters. Her teammate, Azariyah Scott is a two-time Div. II CIF Finalist in the 100 (12.06w) and 200 (24.69w) meters. Also look for Hamilton senior Ayana Fields (24.79 best) as she was the LA City Section runner up and a state meet qualifier in 2017. Long Beach Poly's Kenya Payne will forgo the 300 Hurdles (43.26) and focus on the 200 meters. The 400 meters is loaded with all nine girls in the invitational heat coming in with sub-58.50 second credentials. Making her 2018 season debut, El Toro senior Maliyah Medley is the class of the field. Medley took 3rd at the last two California State Meets in the 400 meters (53.32 best). She will double back and challenge Augustine in the 200 meters, where she was also 5th at the state meet (23.73) in 2017. Woodbridge junior Milana Malec is two-time CIF Finalist and owns a personal best of 55.96. Carson senior and state meet qualifier, Elisha Salazar (56.60 best), the aforementioned Chelsea Daye (56.80) along with California's top freshman, Cieanna Norman Thomas of Citrus Valley (56.69 last weekend), will all challenge Medley.
Upland is the current state leader in the 400 meter relay (46.64) while Long Beach Poly is not too far behind after their 46.95 (#3 in California) effort last weekend. Upland took 2nd place at the 2017 California State Meet. After qualifying for the 2017 Div. I Finals, Redondo (48.40 this season) is ready to challenge our front runners. The Lions of Carter High are coming back from a 48.65 seasonal best last weekend while just out leaning Mission Hills at a 48.68. Quartz Hill and Redlands East Valley are also capable of breaking 49 seconds. For the longer relay, Long Beach Poly, Quartz Hill, and Citrus Valley are our top seeds. Poly impressed two weekends ago, rolling under 3:54 (#3 in California). They took the state title despite not qualifying any relays past the sectional prelims and would obviously look to turn that around in 2018. Quartz Hill has a nature of churning out quarter milers, breaking 3:48 in two of the past three seasons while taking 4th at last year's State Championships. Sophomore Iman Babineaux (57.17 this season) leads this group. Citrus Valley is coming back off a 3:58 victory last weekend and is currently #11 in California. Mission Hills and Woodbridge will also challenge our top seed in the 4x400 Relay. Keep your eye out for Poly's 4x200 squad as well as they look to break 1:41 and take over the state lead in that event.
Upland's Jada Hicks is the current state leader and #2 in the USA for the 100 Hurdles (13.54) under all conditions. Hicks was 3rd at the 2017 California State Meet and one of the best in the nation. Grady will be pushing her teammate in those 100 Hurdles while Daye is currently #9 (44.46) in the state for the 300 Hurdles. Carter senior Mya Greene is two-time CIF Finalist in the 300 Hurdles and took 4th place at the 2017 Div. II CIF Finals. Greene is currently #7 in California after rolling to a 43.85 effort last weekend. Upland's DeMia January (45.12) was the Baseline League champ en route to qualifying to the CIF Finals as a freshman in 2017. Staying with Upland, also watch for senior Kennedy Smith (14.67w) in the short hurdles.
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