Kyla Robinson-Hubbard (right) was second in the 300 hurdles at State as a junior. (Louis Amestoy photo)
Boys 110mH:
In the hurdles races, the boys 110s field includes all three of the returning finalists from the State Meet. Simi Valley senior Riley Hunt, Merrill West senior Warren Williams and Clovis North junior Caleb Foster went 3-4-7, respectively, in last year's finals. Foster (14.13), Williams (14.18) and Hunt (14.27) rank 2-3-4 in the state behind St. Mary's Stockton junior Jamar Marshall, whose 13.61 (0.5) in winning last week at Stanford, it is the fastest time in the country. Also in the field is Los Gatos senior Masaki Wada-Law (14.36/CA No. 5), Long Beach Poly's Liam Anderson (14.43/CA No. 7), and Los Osos senior Oluwatobi Adegoke (14.46/CA No. 8). One athlete arriving from out-of-state that shouldn't be overlooked is Andre Turay of Bullis School (MD). He went 13.73 last June in the prelims of New Balance Nationals Outdoor, later finishing third in the championship section.
Boys 300mH:
The 300 hurdles field includes Upland senior Caleb Roberson and Riverside King senior Reyte Rash, who went 1-2 at the State Final last June. Roberson, a football recruit to Wyoming, leads the state with a best of 36.96. Rash's 37.53 ranks fourth behind Harvard Westlake senior Brayden Borquez (37.28), and Los Osos' Adegoke (37.31). They're all in this field, along with Cathedral sophomore Anthony Taylor (38.22/CA No. 5). Don't sleep on the seeded field, which includes Poly's Anderson, St. Mary's Marshall, Upland junior Namir Hemphill and Redwood (CE) junior Brandon Andrade.
Girls 100mH:
Only two CA girls made the invitational 100 meter hurdles, state leader Jazlynn Shearer (13.52/0.1) and No. 2 Bella Witt (13.78/4.8). Shearer, a senior from Silver Creek, is the top returning 100 hurdler from the state meet where she placed fourth. Her state-leading time from Stanford is also a PR. But make no mistake, this race is stacked. National talents like Jasmine Jones, of Greater Atlanta Christian (GA), should make her footprint on this race and in the national rankings. The same will be said of Valor Christian's Hall and potentially Bullis' Harris.
Girls 300mH:
The 300 hurdles field includes the only two returners from last year's State Meet in runner-up Kyla Robinson Hubbard of Calabasas and fourth-place finisher Kenya Payne of Long Beach Poly. Both of those seniors, however, rank below Long Beach Wilson junior Rachel Glenn on the CA leader list. Glenn's 41.21 from the California Relays (her home track) is the fastest time in the country. Robinson-Hubbard went 42.36 last week at Texas and ranks CA No. 2. Norco junior Taylor Shorter, relegated to the seeded race in the 100 hurdles, ranks CA No. 4 with a best of 43.59. A couple of CA gals to watch in the seeded race are both sophomores, Upland's Jordyn Grady and Liberty's Reese Renz. Grady ranks CA No. 6 with a best of 43.98. Renz is one of the state's emerging dual-hurdle stars, ranking sixth in the 100s and ninth in the 300s. Of the country's top long hurdle talents is Wausau West's (WI) Brooke Jaworski, who finished last year as the top hurdler at 400mH with her 57.57 and third-best in the 300mH with a time of 41.40. Guess who was faster? That's right, Hall will have a busy meet. She's also the top seed here based on her US No. 1 of 40.76 seconds from 2018. Don't forget about Bullis' Leah Phillips, either.