Girls Event-by-Event Preview
100 Meters (Saturday, 2:26 pm) -- Defending California state champion and current top ranked Ariyonna Augustine of Long Beach Poly (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo above) is the favorite, with a 11.56 clocking at the Arcadia Invite. In that same race, she was able to hold off Amador Valley junior Chinyere Okoro whose 11.63 personal best moved her up to #3 in California. Currently sitting at #5 (11.74) is the junior from Serra (Gardena) Jazmyne Frost. She was 8th at the 2017 state meet. While Coronado junior Alysah Hickey continues to amaze off the track, her 11.87 effort was just behind Frost at last month's Mt. Carmel Invite. She is currently 7th in California. Those four will own the middle of the track with all others looking to ride under 12.00 for the first time. In lane 9, watch for Mater Dei senior Kelli Godin. She ran to the victory at last weekend's Orange County championships in 12.02, but into a slight wind. Serra (Gardena) junior Queen Okoh has a personal best of 12.08 while Upland freshman Jordyn Grady has clocked a wind aided 12.00. Long Beach Poly's Jaelyn Predium has a seasonal best of 12.13. In the seeded section, watch for La Sierra senior Mariah Allain. In winning the Inland Empire Championships, her 11.99 moved her up to 13th in California under wind legal conditions.
200 Meters (Saturday, 4:35 pm) -- The invitational section could truly be a preview of next month's Southern Section Masters Meet as it features the top six girls from the section. Defending state champion, Long Beach Poly's Ariyonna Augustine is the favorite once again. With a prudent racing schedule, this will only be her second crack at the 200 meters in 2018 as she debuted with a 23.73 wind aided effort at the Trabuco Hills Invite. Serra (Gardena) junior Jazmyne Frost has a seasonal best of 24.08w from the Mt. Carmel Invite while Etiwanda's Ezinne Abba escaped the spotlight of the Arcadia Invite by emerging with her best during the day session. In what should be a close race, Calabasas' junior De'Anna Nowling is fresh off a wind legal 24.30 this past Tuesday. Nowling was 8th place at the 2017 state meet (4th in the 100 meters). Meanwhile, Upland senior Chelsea Daye raced to a 24.36 at the Arcadia Invite. With those five in place, do not overlook El Toro senior Maliyah Medley (24.43w). Looking to double back from the 400 this weekend, she was 4th at the 2017 state meet (23.77w) and owns a wind legal best of 23.88. As she looks to run down the field out of lane one, Upland's Jada Hicks has arguably the most explosive start in the state. Hicks rolled to a 24.26w in a dual meet last month. Santa Margarita's Nikki Merritt (24. 62) is one of the nation's best 300 meter hurdlers. To further cement how this may be the most competitive event this weekend, Amador Valley's Chinyere Okoro is slated to compete in the seeded section. Okoro ran to a 24.08 wind legal best at the Arcadia Invite and is currently #3 in California! Meanwhile, La Sierra's Mariah Allain is slated for lane 9 of the seeded section, but raced to a 24.66w Inland Empire Championship victory last weekend as the seeded section is riddled with sub 25 entries. Put your seatbelts on for both these races!
400 Meters (Saturday, 1:56 pm) -- Two time California state meet finalist with 3rd place medals from both meets, El Toro senior Maliyah Medley is currently #2 in the state with a 55.30. Her best from 2017 is 53.32. In what could very well be a preview of next month's Southern Section Masters Meet, Bonita's Amari Prude was a 2017 state meet qualifier and owns a personal best of 55.51. On Prude's outside is another state meet qualifier in Chino Hills' Zani Meaders. Meaders is currently #6 in California with a 55.81 but owns a personal best of 54.98. On the inside of Medley is Quartz Hill senior Alonna Johnson. Johnson has a season best of 56.02 from the Arcadia Invite, placing her at #8 in California. Two new sophomores have emerged onto the statewide stage here. Los Alamitos' Alyssa Blockburger has improved by over three seconds, now with a best of 56.43. Meanwhile, Corona's Egbe Ndip-agbor has put an injury riddled freshman year behind her and erupted with a best of 56.14. Southern California prep track historians will truly recognize the last name from Long Beach Poly lore. Yes, this is her younger sister. Meanwhile, Quartz Hill sophomore Iman Babineaux and Oaks Christian freshman Brooklyn Courtnall will look to improve their mid 56 resumes.
800 Meters (Saturday, 1:39 pm) -- Five of California's top ten are entered 2017 California state meet qualifier, Los Alamitos senior Delaney Sanacore has a personal best of 2:11.15. Her 2:11.50 currently has her at #4 in the state. Traveling south from British Columbia, Canadian Madison Heisterman rolled to a 2:12.80 (6th place) last year at the Mt. SAC Relays. Meanwhile, Scripps Ranch junior Julia Morales posted a 2:13.02 is 6th in California. Right behind her on the statewide lists is Mission Viejo sophomore Ashley Johnson. Johnson's best of 2:13.13 is just ahead of Santa Margarita's Gwynn George's 2:13.42. George finished just behind Morales at the Mt. Carmel Invite last month. Roosevelt junior Alexys Ford finally broke 2:15 (she had run 2:16.00 or below six times in the last year) and held on to win the Inland Empire Championships with a time of 2:13.91. Ford is currently #10 in California. Ayala junior Mikaela Ramirez is having one of the best seasons of any girl in California while watch for Centennial's Rylee Penn. She is slated to compete in the seeded section but that may change after her 2:14.30 debut in the 800 for the 2018 season. Penn is a two time state meet finalist and just missed a third trip, despite a 2:11.37 at the Southern Section Masters Meet. Finally, Capistrano Valley senior Alyssa Bautista is coming back from a solid 2:15.33 performance at the Orange County Championships last weekend. She has a personal best of 2:12.63.
One Mile (Friday, 5:47 pm) -- With defending state champion, Maddy Denner of Oak Ridge (US #5 for 1,600), having to choose between mile or 3,200, and La Costa Canyon's McKenna Brown (US #1 for the mile, US #3 for 1,600) scratching, this field takes on a different look. Coming off the Div. II state Cross Country title and individual berth to NXN, Capistrano Valley's Haley Herberg comes in with a best of 4:49.22 (US #9 for 1,600) for the full mile. Herberg is looking to improve upon her 10th place finish from last year's state meet. But, watch out for Saugus' senior Mariah Castillo. Castillo is currently the top ranked Californian in the 3200, #3 in the 800 (2:10.68) and has circled this date to emerge to the top of the 1600/Mile state lists. Her ability to finish strong is unquestionable as Castillo recorded a jaw dropping 65 second last lap en route to her 10:09.12 (#2 in the United States). Meanwhile, coming in from Colorado, Peak to Peak's Quinn McConnell finished off her 2017 campaign with a 6th place finish at the Brooks PR Mile in a time of 4:50.33. This one will not disappoint as conditions will allow for several girls to go under 4:50 for the full Mile!
3200 Meters (Friday, 6:08 pm) -- After scratches and changes, this now looms as the marquee girls distance event on the Friday night schedule, as the top two returning girls from the 2017 CIF-State finals are set to take the line together. Defending state champion and two time Footlocker National Cross Country Champion, Malibu junior Claudia Lane is ready to go. Lane was the runaway champion at the 2017 state meet while she holds a personal best of 9:57.52 and a 10:01.18 for the full two miles. This will only be Lane's second 3200 race of the season as she debuted with a 10:24.72 at the Stanford Invite. Defending state champion from the 1600 while erupting over the last lap to take 2nd place at the 2017 State Meet (behind Lane), Maddy Denner has molded into one of California's best ever. She owns a best of 10:15.18. Denner ran 10:28.32 (US #14) at the Arcadia Friday session two weeks ago. Meanwhile, two time State Meet qualifier, Sylvia Cruz-Albrecht of Oak Park is preparing for another run at the state meet. Taking 5th in last year's meet, her seasonal best of 10:31.46 is actually only #15 in California. To further indicate the depth in the Girls 3200 in California, Mission Viejo's Kelli Hines' 10:29.28 is #13. The youngster, Libby McGrath, in the group comes in from San Antonio, Texas. Off her victory in the AAU Olympic Games last summer for the 3000, McGrath comes in with a 10:36.63 seasonal best. The rest of field is full of sub-10:50 girls and the great conditions should these ladies to roll.
100 Meter Hurdles (Saturday, 11:10 am) -- Some of the nation's best occupy the middle of the track for this affair. Upland senior Jada Hicks, with arguably the most explosive start from the blocks, is #3 in the United States and the best in California with her 13.54 best. In taking 2nd at the Arcadia Invite, Hicks was able to hold off Temecula Valley's Danae Dyer. Dyer's huge personal best of 13.68 elevated her all the way up to #4 in the nation, and right behind Hicks on the statewide list. Both were part of the fastest 100 Hurdles final ever in state history with Hicks taking 3rd and Dyer, 8th, in last year's state meet. Also at Arcadia, Carter senior Mya Greene raced to a 14.20, just ahead of Birmingham freshman Bella Witt (14.26). Respectively, both are 6th and 7th in California for wind legal efforts. Coming in after her victory at the Orange County Championships last weekend (14.48), Santa Margarita's Nikki Merritt is currently ranked #9 in the state. Comprising that national leading 58.50 Shuttle Hurdle squad, three Highlanders from Upland are here. Freshman Jordyn Grady (14.53w) and senior Kennedy Smith (14.61 nwi) will lace up next to one another while Alemany's Ekaterina Hupalo has a wind legal, seasonal best of 14.76. Five of the top in the state are here along with a great supporting cast.
300 Meter Hurdles (Saturday, 12:05 pm) -- Six of the top seven in the CIF Southern Section all lock up against one another. Santa Margarita senior Nikki Merritt (center in blue above; Kirby Lee/Image of Sport photo) was pushed to personal best of 42.36 at last weekend's Orange County Championships. She is now #1 in California and moved all the way up to #4 in the nation. As a virtual shadow to Merritt in that same race was Segerstrom's Nyree Brown. Brown finished with a personal best of 42.53 and is now #3 in California and 7th in the United States. Brown was 5th at the 2017 state meet. Sandwiched between those two, Calabasas' Kyle Robinson-Hubbard sits at a 42.37. That mark places her just behind Merritt and #5 in the nation. Meanwhile, Long Beach Poly's Kenya Payne is #7 in California with a 43.26 with a new personal best at the Chandler Invite last month. Continuing to improve, Carter's Mya Greene raced to a 43.28 last weekend, thus moving her up to #8 in the state. Upland freshman Jordyn Grady owns a 43.73 best (#11 in state) whole coming from the San Diego section, Maya Occiano of Mission Hills has clocked a 44.46. Already one of the best horizontal jumpers in the nation, Muir's Micah Fulton debuted with a 44.66 in this event last month.
4x100 Meter Relay (Saturday, 12:53 pm) -- California's top four squads line up against one another here. Upland's girls have positioned themselves for a CIF-SS Div. I title along with being one of the favorites for the state team title in six weeks. It all begins here as Upland rocketed to a 45.78 victory at the Arcadia Invite, moving them up to #3 in the United States. Behind them in that same race were the girls from Serra (Gardena). Upland is looking to return the favor of the 2017 state meet, where Serra took home the state title for this relay, with Upland as the runner-up. Serra's seasonal best of 46.70 at Arcadia moved them up ahead of Calabasas. Their 46.91 is #3 in California while Long Beach Poly sits at #4 with a 46.94. Etiwanda (47.70) burst up the charts at the Arcadia Invite while Santa Margarita is 10th in the state with a 47.80 best. SM finished 3rd at last year's state championships. Meanwhile, Murrieta Mesa is coming off their seasonal best of 48.02. California's best lie in the Southern Section, whereas this will a sneak peak of next month's postseason run to the state meet.
4x400 Meter Relay (Saturday, 6:25 pm) -- While current state leader, Serra (Gardena) is sitting this one out, the girls from Dana Hills are the favorites. Leaving Arcadia with a new seasonal best of 3:50.76, they are #2 in the state while they also took 2nd place at the 2017 California state meet. Calabasas joins the affair with a 3:51.79 which is #5 in the state. The Bulldogs of Centennial make the trip from Las Vegas. One of Nevada's best, they are coming off a 3:53.63 seasonal best last weekend. Meanwhile, Oaks Christian is ranked #10 in the state with a 3:54.98. Do not be surprised if Alemany gets moved into the invitational section as they are #9 in the state with a 3:54.97. State meet finalist, Bonita, continues to be one of Southern California's best with a best of 3:55.64. Mission Hills, the San Diego section top ranked team, came home with a 3:55.84 best at the Arcadia Invite.
Distance Medley Relay (Saturday, 7 pm) -- Great Oak is currently US #3 (11:54.17) and altered its lineup from what they ran at Arcadia and Stanford with Fatima Cortes (Ben Crawford photo above) Kolonnie Green, Aubrie Nex and Tori Gaitan scheduled to run. But a rematch with Oak Ridge from the Arcadia Invitational, will not happen. Oak Ridge ran US #1 11:42.85 to win from behind with a 4:44 anchor leg from senior Maddy Denner. But Oak Ridge has scratched and Sant Cruz, US #2, also from Arcadia, is not entered. So it may just be Great Oak vs. the clock on what will be the final DMR of the season. With the talent Mission Viejo has in their arsenal, the Diablos have the crew to break that 12:00 minute barrier. Claremont (12:13.51 this season) will look to flirt with that 12 minute threshold for this event while if Saugus (12:14.81 this season) has the ability to be right there with them. Great Oak's 'B' team will also be in the mix and capable of breaking 12:15 with the lineup on paper.
High Jump (Saturday, 5:30 pm) -- Making the trip back to Southern California, Semiahmoo senior Alexa Porpaczy is seeking another 5'10" victory like she experienced last year. Most would not recognize the name as she is making the trip from White Rock, British Columbia in Canada. What California's best counter with? Coronado junior Alysah Hickey took a huge step onto the national scene with her 5'9" clearance two weeks ago. Overlooked by some, her best was achieved during the day session of the Arcadia Invite. With Hickey at #2 in California, Santiago senior Ashlyn Blotzer is tied for #3 with Harvard Westlake's Tierni Kaufman at 5'8" clearances. Tierni Kaufman is looking to return back to the SS Masters Meets like she did in 2016 as she has elevated up over 5'5" on six different occasions this season. Upland's Amya Small owns a personal best of 5'5" and was a 2017 state meet qualifier. Coming in from Henderson, Liberty senior Rae Burrell is one of Nevada's best with a 5'6" clearance this season. The remaining jumpers all come in with 5'4" credentials.
Pole Vault (Saturday, 10:30 am) -- Making the trip out west from Louisiana, senior Reagann Leleux represent New Iberian Catholic. At the Reno Pole Vault Summit this past January, Leleux won the high school session with a 13'10" clearance! This places her amongst the top three in the nation. Gabrielle Carson of Liberty in Henderson, Nevada comes in with a personal best of 13 feet. Carson has cleared 12'7" on five different occasions this season. With the out-of-staters as our favorites, coming from not too far away, Mira Costa junior Brigette Grau has a seasonal best of 12'7" which places her at #4 in California. She is tied with Corona del Mar senior Morgan Simon. Simon has arguably the most improvement of anybody in the state as she took up the event as a junior and had a 10'3" best. Westlake freshman Paige Sommers opened the season with a 12'6" clearance and is currently tied at #6 in the state with Redondo Union's Amari Turner. Aliso Niguel sophomore Morgan Flynn captured the Orange County Championships with her 12'4" (#9 in the state) personal best. Apple Valley senior Darla Gonzalez took the Inland Empire Championships with her 12'3" effort, while Roosevelt sophomore Tessa Watkins cleared the same height days earlier. Her teammate, junior Erika Flaherty has a 12'2" seasonal best and #12 in the state. With ten of the top 15 in California, along with one of the best of Nevada and another amongst the best in the nation, this may be the most competitive field event here.
Long Jump (Saturday, 5 pm) -- California's best take to the pit. Coronado junior Alysah Hickey has the best jump (all conditions) in California with a 19'5.25" effort. Carson's Jonon Young and Muir senior Micah Fulton also both cleared 19 feet in preseason affairs as both qualified for the 2017 California State Meet finals. Senior Dominique Ruotolo of Mater Dei was right behind Young and Fulton at February's California Winter Championships. Her younger teammate, Jade McDonald (18'11" wind aided best) is one of the top freshmen in the state. Upland's Kennedy Smith (18'8" nwi) and Carson's Indiah Turner (18'6.75" wind legal best). Redondo's Akaylah Hill owns a best of 18'6.5" while Anyssa Romo of Ayala measured out to a wind-aided 18'11" best. A slew of long jumpers with 18+ foot resumes roam here as this is one of the more wide open events.
Triple Jump (Saturday, 7 pm) -- California's finest are here to provide another postseason preview. Muir's Micah Fulton and Carson's Jonon Young have consistently bounded out over 40 feet this season. Fulton came home with a 4th place medal from last year's state meet. Young is the defending LA City Section champ and was a state meet qualifier in both horizontals in 2017. Her teammate, Jaylen Walker, has had two 38+ foot measurements that went into a wind. Ayala junior Madison Moneymaker has shown some nice improvement and moved out to 38'6" in wind aided effort. Coming in from Las Vegas, Centennial sophomore Ashley Moore, has a personal best 38'2.5"(nwi). Arcadia's Stephanie Yen leads the rest of the group as everybody joins with 37+ foot resumes.
Shot Put (Saturday, 12:30 pm) -- If looking for a state meet preview, the top four girls in California enter the ring, all coming in as state meet finalists from 2017. The top ranked Californian is Fowler junior Jocelynn Budwig with a 46'9" seasonal best. The two time state meet qualifier was 7th at the 2017 California state meet and has continued to improve this season. Right on her heels and #2 in California is Los Alamitos' Faimalie Sale. With a best of 46'2" this season, Sale is chasing her personal best of 46'11.75" achieved in last year's SS Masters Meet while on her way to a 2nd place medal at the California state meet. West Ranch junior Natalie Ramirez (Louis Amestoy photo above) has a best of 45'9.5" which has her at #3 in California while she was 9th at last year's state meet Hannah Hall of James Logan High is currently 4th in California with a 45'3" seasonal best. Hall was 3rd at last year's state meet just behind Sale. Ranked #6 in the state with a best of 43'10.5" junior Shyann Franklin of Golden Valley also joins the group while #8 ranked Ana Tovi of San Gorgonio opened up her season with a 43'6.5" best. Franklin and Tovi both qualified for SS Masters Meet a year ago.
Discus Throw (Saturday, 2 pm) -- Like the Shot Put, the field is loaded and well represented. Fowler junior Jocelynn Budwig is #2 in California with a 162'6" best. Along with his throwing prowess in the Shot Put, Budwig took 4th place at the 2017 state meet. Natalie Ramirez of West Ranch is #4 at 154'5" while Felicia Crenshaw of Costa Mesa has a best of 153'2" and is currently #5 in the state. Crenshaw was 5th at last year's state meet as well. Starting to regain her form from 2017, Los Alamitos' Faimalie Sale has a seasonal best of 150'4" but 153'10" is her overall best as she took 9th at last year's state meet. Hannah Hall of James Logan placed 6th at last year's state meet and is also currently 6th in the state with a 150'5" best. San Gorgonio senior Ana Tovi is 8th in the state with her 144'1" launch from last month. This is a solid field that features six of the top eight in California.