Burke Defends State Title, Sharing it with Glenn
It was a surprise that Riverside Poly's Abigail Burke emerged as the 2017 CA champion in the high jump. Going into 2018, the obvious expectation was to defend it. But with a coaching change and some uncertainties surrounding Burke, she got off to a slow start to the season and had only managed to clear 5-6 going into her league finals. Meanwhile, seemingly coming out of nowhere, sophomore Rachel Glenn of Long Beach Wilson stepped up as one of the best in the country with her 5-11 clearance at the California Relays. But, as the postseason got underway, Burke regained her confidence and the two matched up in the State Meet finals. When it counted most, Burke was not only able to match Glenn, she actually elevated up over 5-10 to a new personal best.
Adding in an element of drama though, both cleared 5-10 on their second attempt with no misses on their way to that height. Both girls did not clear 6-0 which would naturally lead to a jump-off. The bar would naturally be lowered back down to 5-10, allowing the girls to jump off to decide which one would be the state champion. Inexplicably, this did not take place and both girls were rewarded the high jump state title.
Credit goes to the incredible season Glenn put together. Dabbling in the event in her youth days, she did not compete in it as a freshman. She elevated up over the 5-10 bar three separate times during the season while also competing in the 400 meters and Wilson's relays teams. So, despite running to a 6th place finish at the SS-Division 1 finals for the 400 meters, Glenn then ran over to capture the high jump title (5-7) on dead legs. With her outgoing personality as we witnessed at the State Meet, Ms. Glenn will be one to watch over these next two seasons. (Louis Amestoy photo of Abigail Burke above)
Mariah Castillo's Season In Perspective
Saugus senior Mariah Castillo had a season for the ages in 2018. (Lizette Adams photo)
Saugus' Mariah Castillo raced her way into the history books this season. At the Southern Section Division 2 finals, she cruised to the 1600 meter title in 4:43.73. But, the 3200 meters created its own history. Castillo had to hold off Capistrano Valley's Haley Herberg for the victory in the fastest 3200 meter affair in Southern Section finals history, 10:06.47 to 10:09.54. Castillo's time not only set a new D2 record but was the 6th fastest performance in section history while Herberg was 9th with both dropping well below the previous record.
After a forgetful State Meet where Castillo admitted that she let her own expectations of capturing two titles overwhelm her, she took a trip to the Brooks PR meet outside of Seattle, Washington the following weekend to compete in the 1 mile race. Comfortably sitting in 3rd place with 450 meters to go, Castillo unleashed her signature kick, that was absent the previous week, and created a 20 meter lead over the next 200 meters. That lead only widened as she crossed the line with a 4:41.40, converting to a 4:39.77. The Texas Christian University-bound Castillo ran the 8th fastest time in California state history and 5th in section history.
She is one of only five girls that are in the Top 15 in CA history for both the 1600 and 3200. She joins Woodbridge's Christine Babcock and Great Oak's Destiny Collins as the Southern Section girls in that elite group. No other athlete ended the 2018 season among the top 20 in state history for two events! She finished #3 in the United States for the 1600/Mile and #12 for the 3200/2 Mile (most competitive season that event as ever witnessed). Going into mid-April, Castillo was also #3 in California for the 800 meters, an event she did not focus on from there on out. Castillo, arguably, had the best season of any single athlete in the Southern Section in 2018 as she permanently placed herself among Southern Section distance lore.
Jaden Ellis' State Title in the 110 Hurdles
The 110 hurdles graduated everybody from the 2017 State Meet final, so the door was open for some new faces. But, Jaden Ellis was not on anybody's radar until he captured the Inland Empire Championships on April 14. The Vista del Lago senior out of Moreno Valley, just east of Riverside, continued to ascend out of obscurity. Ellis was a Southern Section Division 2 finalist in the 300 hurdles in 2017 but was not among the top 10 returners for the 110's coming into the 2018 season. After winning IEC, Ellis captured the seeded section at the Mt. SAC Relays in 14.36. Going into the SS D2 finals as an underdog, he emerged with the victory only to take 4th at the Masters Meet in back-to-back 14.49 efforts. With a whole new crop of faces advancing to the finals, Ellis seized the opportunity and raced to the 13.97 victory. (Pat Rhames photo from the State final)