Jada Hicks Wins State Title In 100 Hurdles
Upland's Jada Hicks has always been accustomed to high expectations since her days as a youth, before high school. She made headlines as a freshman when taking 2nd place in the 100 hurdles at the Southern Section Division 1 finals, and just missed the State Meet finals. Making the State Meet, she did earn a 3rd place medal in the 400 relay. In rolling to a 13.83, 5th place finish as a sophomore at the State Meet, she came back to earn the 3rd place medals in the 2017 finals while also leading her squad to a runner-up spot in the 400 relay.
Out of the shadow of Tara Davis of Agoura, Hicks went undefeated against all Californians while capturing the State title in 13.35. Her 13.24 wind legal mark from the prelims elevated her up to #7 on the all-time California list. With an explosive start unmatched by any other Californians this season, Hicks also led off Upland's 4x100 relay team that peaked at 45.71 as the CA leader until Serra leapfrogged them at the State final. Hicks also advanced to the State finals in the 200, where she finished 7th in a season best of 24.37. While the rest of her team fell off the grid the last month of the season, Hicks remained steadfast and brought home the State title in the 100 hurdles. (Pat Rhames photo of the State final)
Christian LaValle Wins Discus Throw State Title
An All-Orange County linebacker that will take his talents to Arizona State, Christian LaValle of Mission Viejo was the unlikely winner in the discus at the State Meet. At no time was he ever ranked in the top 10 for CA and still ended the season outside that list, albeit, with the 1st place medal in California! Part of the slow start to his senior campaign was the fact that he was recovering from a torn ligament in his foot from football. Despite feeling the pop early on, LaValle basically played on one foot the remainder of the Diablos' CIF playoff game before understanding the extent of his injury. The expected recovery is usually 10 months. With incredible determination, Lavalle stuck to competing this track season and all of the hard work to recovery paid off. Citing his experience from placing 7th the year before at State, LaValle peaked at the perfect time with a 3-inch victory and the State title. He was runner-up at his league finals along with the SS D2 championships. Continuing to throw the seedings aside, he was also the runner-up at the SS Masters Meet and even went into the State Meet final seeded in the 7th position. In the end, he got it done ... on the day where it counted most. (Jeffrey Parenti photo)
Sean Lee Does It Again In The High Jump
No one individual walked into the 2018 season with higher expectations than Trabuco Hills senior Sean Lee. The UCLA-bound high jumper had already captured three Southern Section Division 1 titles to go along with three State Meet medals -- 3rd as a freshman, 2nd as a sophomore, and 1st as a junior. Once Lee cleared 7-3 at the opening meet of the season on his own school's apron, eyes were firmly gazed on him setting the D1 record, and even elevating up over the CA record of 7-4.25. When Sean Lee opened at 6-8, clearing it meant his fourth straight Southern Section divisional title. Regardless of division, there had never been a boy that won the same event at the sectional finals ALL four years! Lee set his eyes on the SS D1 record at that point. When he cleared 7-2.5, he then carved his name into the record books, taking down the 24-year old, 1994 record held by Jeremy Fischer. Lee had several strong looks at going over the state record of 7-4.5, but we will miss how Lee was able to steal the attention away from the track during the meets as she will forever be one of the best high jumpers in the Southern Section history for his generation. (Lizette Adams photo from the Southern Section Division 1 Championships)