CIF State Meet Preview: Distance Running Events

1600 Meters

Girls Favorites: Olivia O'Keeffe Davis (SJS) 4:42.71 and Mariah Castillo Saugus (SS) 4:43.69, 
Leading Contenders: Maddy Denner Oak Ridge (SJS) 4:44.01, Elena Denner Oak Ridge (SJS), Fatima Cortes Great Oak 4:46.73, McKenna Brown La Costa Canyon (SDS) 
State Meet Record: Christine Babcock Woodbridge (SS) 4:33.82 2008

The first event I get to preview may be the best one of them all. According to Saugus coach Rene Paragas, "depth-wise, this has to be the deepest 1-12 there has ever been." The at-large mark for this event this year is 4:56.02 and following Friday's trials, this mark could be lowered significantly. Throughout the season, 17 girls have dipped under the 4:50 mark and 12 of them will toe the line aiming at a state title. I believe the favorites at this point are Olivia O'Keeffe of Davis and Mariah Castillo of Saugus. O'Keeffe just posted her fastest time at the SJS Masters meet at 4:42.79 while defeating the defending state champion in this event, Maddy Denner of Oak Ridge. Castillo finished a comfortable 5th place at the SS meet and has the kick to win it all. Great Oak's Fatima Cortes won the always uber competitive Southern Section meet with a best of 4:46.73. Among the ten Southern Section runners that qualified for this meet are three freshmen who will gain valuable experience, Audrey Suarez of Mayfield, Mia Barnett of Village Christian and Jacqueline Duarte of Chino Hills. 

Boys Favorite: Liam Anderson Redwood (NCS) 4:11.43
Leading Contenders: Jagdeep Shahal Burroughs (SS) 4:11.09, Alex Scales Bellarmine (CCS)
State Meet Record: German Fernandez Riverbank (SJS) 4:00.29

The fastest 1600 meter runner in California (Xavier Court of Mira Costa) has chosen to focus his effort in winning the state 3200m title. With or without Court, the favorite to win the 1600 state title will be Redwood junior, Liam Anderson. He is top returner from last year's final where he finished in 4th place behind three seniors. During the fall cross country season, Anderson finished in 3rd place at the NXN meet establishing himself as the favorite to win next year's meet. His main competition should come from a couple of section champions. Burroughs senior Jagdeep Chahal kicked to win the Southern Section Masters meet and will be a dangerous threat. Bellarmine senior Alex Scales won the Central Coast Section meet for the 2nd year in a row and finished in 2nd place at last year's state meet 800m. A couple of wild cards in the field are Dublin sophomore Christopher Middleton-Pearson who chased Anderson to the line with a personal best of 4:12.15. Double Central Section champion Moises Medrano of Highland is a dangerous threat with his 1:52.69 800m speed and is solely focusing on this event.

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