Bakersfield Liberty's Daniel Viveros, the defending state champion in the shot put, had an epic PR of 68-11 last week, a mark that ranks U.S. No. 1 and is No. 9 all-time by a California thrower. (Jeffrey Parenti photo)
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Sampling highlight performances from Central Section athletes last week ...
The standout of the weekend, clearly was the U.S.-leading shot put by Liberty senior Daniel Viveros. In his fifth shot put competition of the season, Viveros, the defending state champion, had a best of 68-11 -- a personal record by more than four feet -- at the Santa Barbara Easter Relays.
That throw ranks ninth in CA state history.
Check out our Workout of a State Champion feature video with Daniel Viveros
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This past weekend welcomed multiple standout mid-distance performances from the Central Section, particularly at the APU Meet of Champions Distance Classic. Because it is historically one of March's fastest meets, we expected to see some of the fastest competition we have in the season thus far.
On the girls' side, Buchanan High School's Meagen Lowe not-so-surprisingly took second in the Girls Invitational Mile in 4:51.01, also earning her a a 4:49.14 1600 meter split that is now good for a US #3. In her first mile attempt ever, Sanger High freshman Nia Lamas earned accolades in a sub-5 attempt, good for 4:59.5 and a 4:57.74 1600 meter split. Lamas earned fifth in the Invitational Mile.
Meanwhile in Clovis, at the Central Valley Classic, Bakersfield High School senior Kynnedi McCall dropped a new Central Section-leading 400 in 55.92, also good for a new California No. 4. McCall won the meet by nearly three seconds in the final.
The boys had an equally impressive showing this weekend, running multiple Central Section-leading times across the board.
APU Meet of Champions Distance Classic provided another shining mid-distance stage, producing new Central Section No. 1's in the 800, Mile, and 3200 for Buchanan High School junior Ronnie Barrett, Stockdale High School junior Adham Maher, and Stockdale High School senior Marcus Mota, respectively.
Barrett clocked a 1:56.96 in a close race for the Rated 800 title, earning third. Maher and Mota set the tone for Stockdale domination in 4:16.76 and 9:12.17 attempts in the Invitational Mile and Invitational 3200, where Mota walked away with the win.
Extended applause goes out to Clovis North's Naythn Scruggs' new CA No. 3 for 200 meters after his 21.32 at the Central Valley Classic, earning him first in the race by over a second.