Southern Section Division 1 Prelims Preview

Boys 400 Relay (42.74)
Long Beach Poly has assembled their best team in a generation with California state leading, 40.91 performance.  Meanwhile, Rancho Cucamonga, arguably the deepest group of sprinters in the nation, continue to improve and pushed a 41.11 over the line last weekend to capture the Baseline League title.  They are second in the state.  Patiently keeping their horses out of the spotlight for much of the season, Trabuco Hills has emerged with a 41.46 squad that is currently fourth in California.  Riding the vapor from Rancho Cucamonga last week, Upland comes in with a 41.72 seasonal best, which ranks as the seventh fastest team in the state.  One of the most improved squads in the state and now ranked eighth, ML King exploded with a 41.76 victory to capture the Big VIII league title.  With six of the top nine squads in California getting into the blocks, that ninth-ranked squad is Aliso Niguel.  Their 41.84 places them as the top seed in their heat but our seeds have them with Long Beach Poly just to their outside in what should be the fastest heat up front.  Great Oak (42.05) and Vista Murrieta (42.06) renewed their rivalry last week as they are 13th and 14th in the state, respectively.    

Girls 1600 Meters (5:01.67)
The favorite in this event and the defending 2018 champion, Chino Hills' Jacqueline Duarte did not need to redline it at the Baseline League Finals and is hidden far down on the seed lists.  Her monster Mile at the Mt. SAC Relays converted to a sub-4:47 performance for the 1600 meters while she also placed third at the California State Meet and is currently ranked second.  Top seed Fatima Cortes (UC Berkeley) of Great Oak was also a State Meet finalist and was runner-up to Duarte at the 2018 Division 1 Finals.  She comes in with a seasonal best of 4:51.33.  Meanwhile, Ayala's Mikaela Ramirez (University of Indiana) rolled at the Mt. SAC Mile with a 4:51 converted time (fifth in the state) and should line up next to Cortes.  Ramirez was fourth at last year's divisional finals.  Also 'hiding' in the heat sheets but with a 4:55.23 best is Walnut's Chloe Arriaga (UC Davis).  She is seeking her fourth time of advancing to the divisional finals and is currently 15th in the state.  Also coming in with sub-5:00 performances this season are Newbury Park's Fiona Hawkins (4:57.52c) and San Clemente's Hana Catsimanes (4:58.26).  Great Oak's Arianna Griffiths comes in off a 5:00.91 effort at last week's league finals, while she was a State Meet qualifier in 2018 and finished third at the divisional finals.  Griffiths and Cortes will be joined by two teammates that qualified as wild-card entries in Aubrie Nex (5:04.88) and Brianna Weidler (5:05.54) while Audrey Dang (5:04.14) also joins those four!  This could look large if Great Oak looks to defend their 2018 Team Title next week.           

Boys 1600 Meters (4:18.78)
Some of the top guns on the season for this event have opted to focus solely on the 3200 meters.  With that, it still features four of the top fourteen in the state.  Dana Hills' Cole Stark leads the way with a 4:14.64 performance, which is tenth in California.  Representing Claremont, Jacob Moran's Mile conversion has him just under 4:15 as well, ranking him 11th in the state.  Using his league finals' time for seeding purposes, do not be fooled by how low he is listed.  The second-best freshman in the United States, Colin Sahlman of Newbury Park, joins the seniors as he unleashed a fury over the last 200 meters of the Arcadia Rising Stars Mile, converting to 4:15, he is currently No. 12 in California.  Capturing the South Coast League title last week, just ahead of Stark, Dana Hills' Carrick Denker lines up with a 4:15.41 best, which is the 14th fastest in the state.  Meanwhile, seeking another trip to the finals, Ayala's Andrew Martinez has rolled to a 4:15.70 this season.  Completing the Dana Hills trio is Garrett Hough with a 4:16.43 best.  But, coming in with FOUR qualifiers is Great Oak.  Tyler Tickner (4:17.11), Chris Verdugo (4:17.87), Cole Sawires-Yager (4:17.88) and Ryan Shields (4:18.09) represent the Wolfpack while Verdugo comes in as a 'wildcard' entry but looks to qualify for the divisional finals once again.  Do not overlook Dylan Wilbur, who owns the seventh-best seasonal best coming in with a 4:16.69.  Wilbur also brings postseason experience as he was a finalist as a sophomore in 2018.

Girls 100 Hurdles (15:41)
In a year where this event lacks the top-end depth as seen in the past, Long Beach Wilson's Rachel Glenn comes in with the fastest wind-legal effort of the season with a 14.68.  This is currently 12th in the state amongst wind-legal marks.  Right behind her, the vastly improved Logann Williams of Murrieta Mesa rolled to a 14.70 victory at last week's Southwestern League Finals.  She is 15th in the state.  Rancho Cucamonga's DeAira Jackson seeks another trip to the finals and owns a best of 14.76, which is good enough for 18th in California.  Dana Hills' Hailey Ray has come on strong recently in this event and lines up with a 14.98 best.  But, do not overlook Upland's Caelyn Harris who crossed at 14.72 in a wind-aided effort last week.  Mira Costa's Amari Frasier has excelled in 2019 with a wind-aided 14.80 effort while Ayala's Arianna Gonzalez raced to the Palomares League league title last week with a 14.93 clocking (no wind indication).  Roosevelt's Myah Hatcher claimed the Big VIII League title with a 14.99 wind-legal performance last week and seeks a spot to the finals as well.   

Boys 110 Hurdles (14.96)
Long Beach Poly's Liam Anderson comes with the fastest wind-legal effort of 2019 with a 14.43.  This is eighth in California.  But, right there with him will be ML King's Reyte Rash, who has crossed in a wind-legal 14.49 in 2019.  Rash was a State Meet qualifier last year in this event.  Also amongst two of the best in the Southern Section, Los Osos' Oluwatobi Adegoke (14.46w best) has crossed in a 14.52 while Paramount's Drew Pickett rolled to a 14.53 on this same track back in late March.  Both are 12th and 13th in California in regard to all wind-legal bests.  Diamond Bar's Matthew Uballe is one of the most improved in the section and has a 14.39 (no wind indication) to his name this season.  Vista Murrieta's Hunter Escorcia captured the Southwestern League title last week with a 14.67, just ahead of Vista Murrieta's Daniel Browne at 14.75.        

Girls 400 Meters (57.22)
No event is more loaded than this one!  The top four girls in California back step onto the track, while two others in the top ten will also compete.  Murrieta Mesa's Chioma Okonkwo has exploded onto the scene in 2019, steadily improving and emerging with a 54.25 victory at last week's Southwestern League Finals.  Just up the freeway, and only ten minutes later, the Big VIII saw the Roosevelt freshman, Naomi Johnson pull off the upset over Corona's Egbe Ndip-agbor, 54.38 to 54.49.  Those are the third and fourth fastest in California, while Ndip-agbor was a State Meet qualifier in 2018.  But the previous weekend witnessed Iman Babineaux crossing the line in 54.27, which stands as the second-best mark in the state.  Babineaux, a Masters Meet qualifier in 2018, did not need her best to win her league finals, so she is hidden down as the 16th seed, so expect one of the heats to be much faster than the others.  Millikan's Samarra Monrroy came into the picture two weeks ago as she emerged at the Moore League champion in an impressive 55.07 effort.  She is currently seventh best in the state.  San Clemente's Emilie Bennett comes in with a 55.41 best, which is currently ninth in the state.   In a very deep field, Jocelyn Niemiec (56.24) of Beckman and Dana Hills' Anisa Rind (56.48) are projected to advance while Roosevelt's Jordyn Crutchfield is coming off an impressive 56.53 performance last week.       

Boys 400 Meters (49.41)
West Ranch junior Solomon Strader enters the postseason as the favorite.  As a sophomore last year, he captured the Division 4 title in this event before advancing onto the State Meet Finals.  With a 47.27 under his belt in 2019, he is currently third in the state.  Loyola's Andrew Arth is one of the most improved in the state and with his 47.54 best, he is now ranked fourth.  Long Beach Poly's Everett Steward has chosen to focus solely on the 400 meters and will look for valuable team points with his 47.61 seasonal best, which ranks him fifth in the state.  With a mid-season injury forcing him to miss a month, Centennial's Gregory Lapit has put all of that behind him.  He rolled to a 48.34 victory last week and is now eighth in California.  Aliso Niguel's Andrew Koesel owns a seasonal best of 48.40, which is currently 11th in the state.  Rancho Cucamonga's Christopher Hill looks to find the form that saw him as one of the top sophomores in 2017 while Millikan's Ahmad Martin comes in with a best of 48.85.   With six heats, it is imperative that you win your heat to automatically advance as there are only three spots remaining.  
 
Girls 100 Meters (12.32)
Upland's Jordyn Grady was derailed by injury last postseason but is ready to roll, coming in with a wind-legal 11.77 victory at the Baseline League Finals.  This elevated her to fifth in California.  Meanwhile, Long Beach Poly's Saundria Martin and Etiwanda's Kennedi Porter both shared the sixth fastest wind-legal mark in the state with 11.87 efforts.  Queen Okoh of Long Beach Poly has crossed in 11.96 (10th in the state) while Arissa Thompson of Oxnard owns a best of 11.98, for 12th in California.  Okoh has been timed with a wind-aided 11.88.  The freshman that has emerged onto the scene is ML King's Raykiyat Olukoju earned the Big VIII league title last week with a 12.03 and has been clocked with an 11.98 wind-aided best.  Finally, Chrystal Aluya of Valencia (Pl.) has been consistent this season with a best of 12.07.  Improving over this past month, Centennial's Arianna Alexander crossed in a wind-legal 12.13 last week.    

Boys 100 Meters (10.91) 
The battle between Long Beach Poly and Rancho Cucamonga, with the former owning the top two wind-legal marks and the Cougars being represented by four of the top seven on the season.  Kenyon Reed (10.68) and Anthony Johnson (10.69) of Poly own the eighth and tenth fastest wind-aided marks in California.  Using a brisk wind for support last week, seven advanced from the Baseline League.  Rancho Cucamonga qualified four as Mark Perry (10.38w), Kalel Jackson (10.59w) Silas Bolden (10.61w) and Malachi Harrison (10.74w).  Upland's Caleb Lutalo Roberson (10.42w) is looking to advance to the Division 1 Finals for the second year in a row.  Watch for Great Oak's Grant Gaskins as he kicked it into another gear last week with the 10.70 wind-legal victory while Trabuco Hills' Jake Burns (10.87) is ready to advance back to the Division 1 finals once again.  Finally, Cajon's Lorenzo McMillan has laid low all season but emerged with a wind-legal 10.77 victory last week.  The fields are absolutely loaded here as this will be one of the deepest groups we've seen.   With six heats in this one, it's going to come down to the hundredths on deciding which nine move forward to next weekend!   
 
Girls 800 Meters (2:16.14)
After some pretty intense seasons where many of Calfornia's top ten had to qualify through this round, this event is relatively wide open on who will claim the title next week.  This is one of the few years where no girl has dipped under 2:13 (yet).  Chino Hills' Jacqueline Duarte is coming into her own and shined last week with a 2:13.93 league finals victory.  This is the 19th top time in California.  This landed her just ahead of Vista Murrieta's Peyton Candaele and her 2:13.95 seasonal best (20th best in the state).  Meanwhile, Dana Hills' Mia Lawrence crossed in 2:14.18 last week while Vista Murrieta's Makayla Fick presents a 2:14.20 on her resume.  Jaden Haskins (2:14.72) finished right behind Lawrence at the South Coast league finals.  Great Oak's Fatima Cortes has run a 2:14.91 but was able to outlast Candaele and Fick a week ago in a 72-63 negative split victory.  Roosevelt's Alexys Ford (2:15.07) qualifies for her fourth year in a row but seeks a first trip to the finals.  Meanwhile, Walnut's Emma Arriaga will join Ford next year at UC Davis and has a 2:15.89 seasonal best.    

Boys 800 Meters (1:56.52)
This will be one the toughest events to advance onward to next week's finals!  There could very well be an athlete of State Meet caliber see their season end prematurely this weekend.  It includes five of the top eight in the state and seven of the top 12!  Fourth in Division 1 a year ago, California State leader Kai Wingo of Valencia kicks off the action with his 1:52.11.  He is currently sixth in the United States. Transferring from Cathedral with a best of 1:59.18, Armando Bryson of Long Beach Wilson is currently fourth in California with a 1:53.16!  Right behind him is the Southwestern League champ, Willie Coleman of Vista Murrieta.  With a 1:53.19 seasonal best, he is fifth in the state and was a finalist in 2018.  But he had to hold off vastly improved Aris Valerio (1:53.66) of Murrieta Mesa last week for the win.  As Valerio went from an unknown on the statewide scene, he is now seventh.  Tesoro's Daniel White has put together a solid season and gets onto the line with the eighth fastest in the state with his 1:53.67.  Loyola's Mason Ratkovich has shown flashes of brilliance this season that reveals that he is stronger than his 1:53.84 (10th in the state) mark.  Part of that impressive Long Beach Wilson 1600 relay squad, Jesus Nichol cranked out a 1:54.00 at the Moore League finals two weeks ago.  Corona's Israel Echeverria has been consistent all throughout and comes in with 1:54.04 and the 12th fastest time in California.  Meanwhile, Loyola's Konnor Paris owns a 1:54.18 and is 15th in the state.   This is a prime example of how difficult the Division 1 prelims can be. It is a guarantee that an athlete that is amongst the top 20 in the state will not advance!   

Girls 300 Hurdles (45.86) 
All-everything, Rachel Glenn of Long Beach Wilson has adopted this event in 2019 and is now the California state leader with a 41.21 best.  She is currently third in the United States with that time.  Upland's Jordyn Grady is coming off her seasonal best of 43.56, which moved her up to seventh in the state.  Meanwhile, Long Beach Poly's Kenya Payne and her 43.81 is ninth overall.  Payne was fourth at the California State Meet in 2018.  Dana Hills' Hailey Ray impressed with her 44.16 effort at the Mt. SAC Relays two weeks ago and is 11th in California.  Ranked 16th in the state, Mira Costa's Amari Frasier (44.49) looks to capture her heat while Rancho Cucamonga's DeAira Jackson (44.69) seeks another trip back to the divisional finals. Also hailing from the Baseline League, Chino Hills' Hailey Danskin stepped it up for a 44.73 last Friday.  Also looking to qualify onward will be Roosevelt's Myah Hatcher.  She dropped her best down to 44.99 to capture her league finals last week. 

Boys 300 Hurdles (38.99)
Three of the top four and four of the top six in California take to the stage here. Defending State Champion in the event is Upland's Caleb Lutalo Roberson.  He rolls in with a seasonal best of 36.96 as this is the current state leader and fourth in the United States.  ML King's Reyte Rash was second behind Roberson at the 2018 State Meet and is second going into the postseason with a 37.20 best.  Los Osos' Oluwatobi Adegoke has improved down to a 37.31, which places him fourth on the statewide lists.  Also with sub-38 second credentials, Long Beach Poly's Liam Anderson laces up with a 37.82 (6th best in California).   Upland's Namir Hemphill impressed last week with a 38.39 for the 13th fastest time in the state.  Patrick Cundieff of Yucaipa was a Divisional Finalist a year ago and gets into the blocks with a 38.91 seasonal best, ranking him 18th in the state.  Meanwhile, West Ranch's Mya Davis is coming off a huge improvement with his 39.03 victory at the Foothill League Finals last week.  Abraham Lotfy of Los Alamitos along with Aliso Niguel's Jonah Kim both line up with 39.23 seasonal bests.     

Girls 200 meters (24.84)
When glancing at the wind legal best marks in California, five of the top nine get into the blocks here.  Long Beach Poly's Saundria Martin is currently third in the state with a 24.01.  At last week's Big VIII League Finals, Corona's Egbe Ndip-agbor was able to outlast ML King freshman Raykiyat Olukoju, 24.15 to 24.28.  Those were the fourth and seventh fastest marks in California, respectively.  Running away with the Inland Empire Championship three weeks ago, Murrieta Mesa's Chioma Okonkwo crossed in a 24.19, currently ranking her with the fifth fastest time in the state.  She was a Division 2 finalist a year ago as her school has moved up Division 1 in 2019.  Coming on strong the last several weeks, Anisa Rind of Dana Hills motored to the South Coast League title in 24.38.  This improvement moved up to ninth in California for wind legal marks.  Oxnard's Arissa Thompson has cruised to a 24.61 while bursting onto the scene at the Moore League Finals two weeks ago, Millikan freshman Samarra Monrroy crossed in 24.64.  Emilie Bennett comes back after the 400 to also try to qualify for the finals with her 24.66 seasonal best.  Meanwhile, Chrystal Aluya of Valencia (Pl.) is one of Orange County's best with her 24.72 clocking.  Also watch for Etiwanda's Kennedi Porter who with a fan at her back, rolled to a 24.18 (+5.6w) last week.  The top nine girls are in the top 20 in the state. 

Boys 200 meters (22.05)
Six heats here will make it even more difficult to qualify if you do not win your individual heat!  Long Beach Poly looks to score well here in their quest for the 2019 Team Title.  But, that means qualifying all three athletes that have here as Kenyon Reed is the top seed with his 21.09 performance to capture the Moore League title two weeks ago.  That is the third fastest wind-legal mark in California.  Also looking to join Reed are his teammates, DeAngelo Chester (21.64) and Anthony Johnson (21.73).  They are the top seed in their respective heats and currently, 14^th and 17^th in the state.  Looking to defend his home turf, Trabuco Hills' Jake Burns is looking to move deep into the postseason in 2019 as he comes in with a 21.40, which is seventh in California.  The Division 4 champion in this event in 2018 before transferring, West Ranch's Solomon Strader steps onto the track with a 21.61.  This being the 11^th fastest wind-legal time in the state, Strader was also a State Meet qualifier in this event last year.  Aliso Niguel's Andrew Koesel has improved to a 21.73 and is slated to be on the outside Johnson of Poly in their heat.  Wind-aided to say the least, Mark Perry of Rancho Cucamonga came away with a 21.50 victory last week at the Baseline League Finals.  Grant Gaskins of Great Oak also stepped to a new level with his wind-aided 21.75 effort last week.  Meanwhile, Isaiah Marecheau of Oxnard has crossed in 21.83.  Freshman Delaney Crawford of Upland rode the wind last week to a 21.90, finishing in a virtual dead heat with Rancho Cucamonga's Malachi Harrison.    

Girls 3200 meters (10:59.43)
Ayala's Mikaela Ramirez comes in as the favorite with her 10:19.42 as this currently ranks her fourth in the state and second in the Southern Section.  She was the Division 1 runner-up a year ago on her way to advancing onto the State Meet.  In regard to seasonal bests, Ramirez has a large 15-second gap on the next competitor.  But, that competitor displayed her ability to peak with the best this past Cross Country season as San Clemente's Hana Catsimanes qualified for the Foot Locker Nationals.  She has gone from being primarily a 1600 meter athlete to one of the best in the state.  Her 10:34.80 seasonal best is just ahead of Chloe Arriaga of Walnut who is at 10:35.53.   Arriaga is seeking her fourth trip to the finals in this event.  She has finished seventh three years in a row at the Division 1 finals.  Great Oak's Audrey Dang has stepped it up a notch in 2019 with her 10:43.46.  UC-Berkeley bound Kalinda Reynolds of Claremont posted a 10:49.14 seasonal best two weeks ago.  Mira Costa freshman is coming into peak form these past two weeks as she crossed with a 10:49.45 two weeks ago.  One of the best distance programs over the past fifteen seasons, Saugus' Hailey Rutter rolled to the league title at the Foothill League Finals and toes the line with a 10:49.70 seasonal best.  Meanwhile, Archana Mohandas of Newbury Park (10:52.32) and Santa Ana's Maria Hernandez (10:53.65) have been consistent all season.

Boys 3200 meters (9:16.32)
This event created the headlines in 2018, with the ninth fastest time that qualified at 9:08.28!   The 9:09.18 would have made EVERY State Meet in the history of its existence!  The nation's top ranked athlete in the 3200 and one of the fastest ever in California state history is Newbury Park's Nico Young.  He jetted his way for eight laps at the Arcadia Invite and held for the victory in an electrifying 8:40.00!  That's not a misprint as it was the third fastest time in California State history and eighth ever nationally.   His coming out party occurred here a year ago as a sophomore at the Division 1 prelims, when everybody witnessed a preview of his generational top talent.  By the way, there are A LOT of other great athletes as well led by Long Beach Poly's William Frankenfeld (9:09.18 10^th man last man).  He has crossed in 9:12.13 and holds the 15^th fastest time in the state.  The West Ranch duo of Evan Bates and Isaiah Seidman come in with 9:12.75 and 9:15.76 seasonal bests, respectively and will both lead the pacing chores in the same heat.  Meanwhile, Newbury Park's Jace Aschbrenner owns a best of 9:14.11 and will be in the same heat as his teammate.  Tesoro's Bryson Crites has been consistent this season and is 18^th in the state with a 9:13.38.  Training on this track every day, Trabuco Hills' Joshua O'Niell has motored to a 9:18.41 while Jacob Villegas of Ayala has excelled to a 9:20.76 seasonal best.  STAT OF THE DAY: In 2009, the At-Large qualifying time for this event was 9:29.58..... 10 years later, it is down to 9:16.32!  Whether it will continue to go down we will know at the conclusion of these heats. 

Girls 4x400 Relay (3:56.95)
In regard to California's best, they are assembled on this stage!  The top four teams in the state line up along with the ninth best squad.  State Meet qualifier a year ago, Roosevelt improved their time down to a 3:47.17 to capture another Big VIII league title.  While the Mustangs are the top ranked team in California, Long Beach Poly has crossed with a time of 3:48.60, ranking them right behind Roosevelt.  Poly did not need to look too far for the third ranked squad as they are in the same league in Long Beach Wilson.  They step onto the track with a 3:49.36 seasonal best.  The fourth squad in California to dip under the 3:50 line is Dana Hills.  Two other squads in the top 20 for the state in Fountain Valley (3:56.93) and Murrieta Mesa (3:57.19).  One of the top seeds will have to contend with our 'sleeper' in Quartz Hill.  A program always looking to break the 3:50 threshold, they did not need their best to capture the Golden League title.  They are definitely NOT the third fastest team in their heat, as they own a seasonal best of 3:53.73 and currently ninth in California.  Those also looking to advance to next week's finals include Millikan (3:57.30), Ayala (3:58.01) and Beckman (3:58.19).   

Boys 4x400 Relay (3:21.54)  
On the boys' side on the track, the largest pool of talent lies in the 800 meters and here, in the 1600 Relay!  Eight of the top eleven squads in California line up here to end the day.  The epic dual between Long Beach Poly and Long Beach Wilson will surely reunite next week as they are the top two teams in California.  Poly held off Wilson, 3:13.93 to 3:14.37 at their league finals two weeks ago!  They are currently seventh and tenth in the United States.  The third ranked squad, Loyola had to hold off Harvard Westlake (No. 5 in the state) to capture their title, crossing in 3:17.40.  Moving forward, Trabuco Hills is sixth in California with a 3:19.32, just ahead of Tesoro at 3:19.40.  Roosevelt won their league title in a time of 3:20.06, moving them up to ninth in the state.  Also having to win their heat and ensure an automatic entry will be the men of Dana Hills.  Their 3:20.16 best is tenth in the state.  On the bubble of advancing is Upland and their 3:20.41.  The 14^th fastest squad in California, Centennial at 3:20.69, will need their best as only nine advance.