Division 2
With Great Oak's boys claiming the title for Division 1, another Southwestern League school, Murrieta Mesa easily sprinted away with the title in Division 2 (Jeffrey Parenti photo above).
Christian Shakir-Ricks, who won the D3 title in the 200 meters last year while at Cerritos Gahr HS, ensured a trip to the Masters Meet in both sprints this year. His 21.47 victory in the 200 meters was the fastest of the day and his 10.74 (-0.3 wind) also qualified with ease as he moved away over the last 40 meters to the victory. He is the current CA leader for the 200 meters.
But Shakir-Ricks brought some help and outscored our original projections.
After claiming the D2 crown for the 400 meters in 48.34, Matthew Okonkwo placed 2nd to Shakir-Ricks in the 200 meters at 21.96. Meanwhile, Davonte Williams, who had already earned a 5th place in the 400, was right there to confirm the sweep with his 22.07 effort! With those individuals earning 49 points, and leading both of their relay teams to victories, there was no chance for any other squad to challenge the Rams.
For added support, Kenneth Williams had to put plans for that evening's prom aside and celebrate the title with his teammates. He helped the cause with 5th-place points in the triple jump, cranking out a personal best 44-04.75.
Coming into the postseason, Mission Viejo was poised to challenge for the title. But, Murrieta Mesa did exactly what it was projected to do and did not allow the Diablos any opportunities.
MV kicked it off with a 2nd place finish in the 4x100 relay (42.25). Later, Josh Hill gathered valuable points in holding on for the victory in the 300 hurdles in 38.95. Brett Hickman came back from a disappointing 5th place finish in the 1600 meters -- albeit a 4:13.34 where Hickman challenged all the way -- to a 2nd place, 1:53.38 finish for the 800. Both were personal bests and advanced him forward. Luis Chavez' 4th place finish in the 3200 meters provided the cushion they needed to secure 2nd place as a team to hold off Mater Dei. With Hill taking 7thplace in the 110 hurdles, MV also found needed support from the field events. Mason Gariepy cleared 15-0 to take 3rd in the pole vault. Meanwhile, State Meet finalist in the discus a year ago, Christian Lavalle took 2nd with a 174-09 mark. This advances him forward for another shot at State.
The 1600 meters provided a dose of drama. With Redlands East Valley's Elias Opsahl seemingly moving away with the victory, he hit a physical wall that allowed everybody back into the race. With his pace putting everybody in position, it was the fastest 1600 race of the day, with six boys qualifying to next weekend. With Opsahl struggling that last 100 meters, West Ranch's Timothy Sterkel leaned over the 4:12.03 victory, just ahead of West Torrance's Rory Abberton at 4:12.13. Buena's Brett Beattie also came up at the end with 4:12.75 with Opsahl's 4:12.79 easily advancing. Even at 6th place, Claremont's Ryan Congill moved on with a 4:14.55. Sterkel's victory was the #2 time in California this season while Abberton was #3. (Mira Costa's Xavier Court still owns the top time in the state at 4:10.94 but dropped the event to focus on the 3200.)
Division 2 could lay claim to the fastest 800 meters as well, leaving with the top four marks of the day. The favorite, Sam VanDorpe of Mater Dei held everybody off for a 1:52.36 victory. This is now the top time in California this season. Going along for the ride, MV's Hickman at 1:53.38 while West Torrance's Caleb Terrill emerged with a two second best of 1:53.47. Joining VanDorpe (Lizette Adams photo above) this postseason, teammate John Wacker's 1:54.33 was another personal best. Meanwhile, Thousand Oaks' Mitchell Burr (1:54.48), San Marcos' Jason Peterson (1:54.88), and Golden Valley freshman Antonio Abrego (1:55.09) earned a trip back next weekend. Abrego's effort is the fastest time of any freshman in the United States while seven altogether from D2 advanced.
The Foothill League certainly left its mark on this meet. The girls discus was dominated by Foothill League throwers. On the boys side, it was the 3200 where the league proved dominant.
In what he did at their league finals, Canyon Country Canyon junior Ethan Danforth moved away for the victory over the last two laps in 9:07.47 (Lizette Adams photo above). The West Ranch juniors, Isaiah Seidman and Evan Bates gathered up 14 points for their team in the next two spots. But, with the combined D2-4 race operating at a more conservative pace, Seidman was the last qualifier to the Masters Meet with a 9:12.66.
In the long jump, Elsinore junior Kamari Maddox came in as the favorite and left winning with an effort of 22-08.25. This was the 4th best mark of the day while he also took 2nd in the 100 meters (10.98) and 6th in the 200. Also advancing to the Masters Meet with Maddox in the long jump, Ventura junior Derek Pekar's 22-05 2nd place finish highlighted his busy afternoon. Pekar placed 4th in the pole vault and 5th in the 110 hurdles to earn 17 points for his Cougars.
Ventura's Carlos Aviles captured two titles in both throws, but not without a struggle as he was well below his personal and sectional leading bests. Aviles (Jeffrey Parenti photo above) catapulted into the lead on his last throw of the shot put (58-02.5) while his 176-10 was strong enough to win the discus. In the shot, three others advanced in Santa Barbara's Devon Cetti (57-10.75), Newport Harbor sophomore Aidan Elbettar (57-01.5) and West Ranch's Danny Bryant at 54-09.5. In the discus, Simi Valley's Dexter Stephens (174-03) and Hart's Clifford McMullen (169-0) both advanced.
After watching his sister capture the D2 triple jump title, Titan Ruotolo kept it in the family with his 45-09.75 victory. He is the sole athlete from the division in this event to advance. Meanwhile, San Marcos' Beau Allen captured the high jump title and was the only one to clear 6-06. Three others qualified with 6-04 efforts, including state meet qualifier in 2017, Cerritos' Destin Flucas.
Only six boys from all four divisions cleared 15-0, with three of them coming here. In what was the best competition of the four divisions, Marina junior Skyler Magula earned the title on misses as both he, and Christian Valles of Canyon Country Canyon, cleared 15-06. (Magula pictured in Lizette Adams image above)
In the 110 hurdles, Vista del Lago's Jaden Ellis moved away for the victory over the last three hurdles from Simi Valley's Riley Hunt, 14.49 to 14.74. Along with Derek Porter of Silverado (14.78), all three advanced. No one from Division 2 moved on in the 300 Hurdles.