MileSplitCA Super 17 All-State Team: Freshman Boys


Cathedral freshman Anthony Taylor (l) battled eventual CIF State champion Jaden Ellis (r) in the 110 hurdles in the seeded race at the Brooks Mt. SAC Relays in April. (Scott Padgett photo)


The MileSplitCA Super 17 All-State Teams are subjective selections with strong consideration given to CIF-State Meet finals qualification (3200 excluded), top placing at the section finals level, season-long consistency at a high level, and versatility. Top marks within the class is a consideration but not a guarantee of making this list.

In the case of freshman boys, where no one in the 2021 class made it to the State prelims, top marks within the class became a larger factor in this team's selection. There were five boys in the class who made the state's overall top 50 across the traditional 16 events. Those are indicated (**). Most if not all of the other selections were based on ranking within the class nationally. There are two who are ranked US #1 and two more who are ranked US #2 among marks from across the nation in the class of 2021. 

Note: All rankings references in the comments below are either statewide (CA) or national (US) within the class of 2021 unless specified that they are overall (regardless of class).

This is the second installment of a 10-part series leading up to the overall MileSplitCA All-State teams. 

Photo above: Camden Wheeler (left) runs with teammate Zachary Larrier in the 400 at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet. Wheeler, who had the top qualifying time in prelims, was the only 2021 in the final. (James Leash photo)


Antonio Abrego (far right) was the only freshman in the 800 at the SS Masters Meet. (Lizette Adams photo)


2018 Freshman Boys MileSplit Super 17 All-State Team

(listed alphabetically)

NameSchool/SectionEventsComment

ANTONIO ABREGO**

Golden Valley High (SS)

800SS Masters Meet finalist where he placed 10th; ran 1:55.09 PR in SS D2 finals; Mark is CA #1, US #2; Also CA #44 overall.

KEVIN ANDREWS

Los Altos High School (CC)

1600, 3200

CA #2, US #6 1600 (4:20.11 at CC trails); 9:52.25 PR for 3200 at CCS Top 8.

AUSTIN GILLEN

Buchanan High School (CS)

400, 800

CA #3, US #13 in 400 (49.39 for 3rd at CS North Area trials); CA #5 for 800 (1:58.83 to win the Fresno F/S County Championships).

DARIUS HILL

Vista Murrieta (SS)

HJ, LJ

CA #1  in the HJ (6-4); won both Southwestern League and Inland Empire Championships HJ titles; CA #2 in the class for LJ (21-10.50) where he was runner-up in league to State medalist CJ Stevenson.

DARIEN LANGLEY

St. Joseph Santa Maria (SS)

100, 200

CA #1 all conditions 200 (21.97 to win the Pac 8 Championships varsity race), CA #2 all conditions 100m (10.87 for 2nd at Pac 8 in the varsity race). SS Division 4 finalist in the 200 (22.65/-0.9 for 8th).

AIDEN LIPPERT**

La Costa Canyon (SD)

400

CA #1, US #7 (49.25) and runner-up at SDS finals; older brother Karson was State 400 runner-up in 2017; Also CA #49t overall.

ELISHA LLOYD

Cathedral Catholic (SD)

100

CA #1, US #10 (10.80); 5th at SDS Finals (10.98); Won 200m at Dick Wilkins F/S Invite (22.67 PR).

JACKIE MAC HALE

Bellarmine College Prep (CC)

TJ

CA #1, US #6 in the TJ (43-1 for 4th at WCAL Championships).

SIMON OPSAHL

Redlands East Valley High (SS)

1600

CA #3, US #10 for 1600 (4:22.63 at SS Division 2 prelims); older brother Elias is a three-time State qualifier at 1600 who placed 3rd this year.


COLIN PEATTIE**

Bellarmine College Prep (CC)

800, 1600

CA #1, US #1 for 1600 (4:16.83 from the Central Coast Section finals, where he placed 4th); Also CA #49 overall; CA #2, US #14 for 800 (1:57.93).

DIEGO REYNOSO

Esperanza High School (SS)

SP, DT

CA #1, US #8 in the SP (51-11 for 2nd at the Trabuco Hills Invite); exceeded 50-feet two other times; CA #3 DT (151-5).

ANTHONY TAYLOR**

Cathedral High (SS)

110H, 300HCA #1, US #1 for 110 hurdles (14.38/1.3, for 2nd by .02 to eventual State champion Jaden Ellis in the seeded race at Mt. SAC); Also CA #16 overall; CA #1, US #4 for 300 hurdles (39.49 in winning the LA County Championships).

NOLAN TOPPER

Bellarmine College Prep (CC)

3200CA #1, US #18 for 3200 (9:37.66 for 8th at WCAL Championships, the only 2021 in a 31-runner field).

CAMDEN WHEELER**

Monterey Trail High (SJ)

400

CA #1, US #2 for 400 (48.42 PR as the top qualifying time at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters prelims; 5th at the final 49.78); Also CA #19 overall.

XAVIER WORTHY

Central High School (CS)

LJCA #1, US #5 for the LJ (22-2 recorded in winning the F/S title at the West Coast Relays).

JACK WRIGHT

Great Oak High School (SS)

PVCA #1, US #9t in the pole vault (14-0 for 8th at Mt. SAC Relays); only 2021 vaulter in CA over 14-feet, one of only 11 over 14-feet nationally; exceeded 13-feet in eight of 10 meets; went 14-1 "indoors" for 5th at CA Winter Championships held outdoors.

JAMES WRIGHT

Great Oak High School (SS)

DT, SPCA #1, US #4t in the discus throw (156-10 at the SS Division 1 prelims); CA #6 in the shot put (48-0).



Vista Murrieta's Darius Hill won the Southwestern League title in the high jump. (Frank Bellino photo)