Girls 800
Meet Record - Alyssa Brewer - California - 2018 - 2:08.99
California's Alyssa Brewer steamrolled this field for the past two years that included setting two new meet records. The record she set last year may be safe for this year so let's take a look at the two primary runners that will compete for that all-important DDF 800 race title and sombrero.
The top returning 800m from last year's California state track and field meet is Concord senior, Rayna Stanziano (Anda Chu photo above). She doubled in the 1600 and 800 throughout most of the postseason but then turned her attention solely to the 800. She was rewarded with a section title and a third-place finish at the state meet. An interesting note is that her mom also had a strong finish at the state meet with a 5th place finish at the 1983 meet. You can check out my recent interview with Rayna at this LINK.
Her main competition will come from the Central Coast Section champion, Menlo junior, Charlotte Tomkinson. She was a surprise winner of last year's section race and rode her fine running to a 6th place finish at the state meet. Tomkinson is a fierce racer with a strong finish and we should be in for quite a matchup between two excellent competitors.
The other leading runners that might also make a run for a sombrero are Lauren Harper of Trinity, Maya McCabe of San Lorenzo Valley, Jazin Woodward of Vacaville as well as Tomkinson's teammate, Kyra Pretre.
Boys 800
Meet Record - Alex Scales - Bellarmine - 2017 - 1:53.27
This is quite an eclectic field with a lot of interesting characters vying for the title of top half miler in the Northern part of the state. Armijo senior Nixon McKenzie made a splash during his freshman season as a member of the Armijo distance medley team that broke the Stanford Invitational record. He will come into the meet as the slight favorite with the fastest entry time at 1:53.75.
His main competition should come from fellow Sac Joaquin Section runner, Jesuit's Chase Gordon. Also in the mix will be Sir Francis Drake runner Nicco Pompili. His teammates swept the K-Bell Classic 1600 race last Saturday and Pompili will be looking to ride that wave in his best event here. Westmont junior Garrett MacQuiddy qualified to last year's state meet in the 1600 but this seems to be his favorite event. The wildcard in the field is Vacaville freshman Kellen Steplight. He is quite a talent who won't be afraid to run with the big boys up front.
Of note, Redwood's Liam Anderson will be in the 2nd to last heat as he attempts the same double he did last year at this meet. While he won't be able to get a sombrero in that heat, he will certainly have a chance to score another DDF shirt and perhaps post a personal best in this race.