On the girls' side, we witnessed a few more examples of some of the projected athletes not advancing. In regard to the team title race on tap for next weekend, Long Beach Poly came out slightly ahead on the day but will need to execute as Roosevelt and Great Oak are ready to capitalize on any opportunity that may present itself at next week's CIF Finals! Great Oak is the defending team champion, while Poly captured the titles from 2008-2015 and 2017. Roosevelt was runner-up to Poly in 2012-2013.
With Long Beach Poly securing an automatic spot in both relays as expected, Queen Okoh and Saundria Martin took care of business in their individual events. Okoh (Frank Bellino photo above) qualified in the 100 meters (12.14) and the long jump. Meanwhile, Martin advanced in the 100 (12.20) and 200 (24.36). Martin has run the fastest 200-meter time (24.01) in the division this season. State Meet finalist in 2018, Kenya Payne moved on once again with the third fastest time on the day in the 300 hurdles (43.93). But it was Destiny Okoh who stepped up for her squad in qualifying in the shot put with a 38-4 lifetime best and now projected to earn points. Lauren Reed also claimed a spot next weekend in the long jump. The long jump and 400 relay should be early indicators of which way the team scoring is leaning next weekend.
Scoring across the board and advancing in 10 events, Roosevelt is seeking its first crown. Lydia Liu leads 
the way as she is expected to score 16 in the throws. She broke her own school record with a 150-2 effort in the discus. A couple of breakthroughs on part of their seniors. Chaselyn Amos (long jump) and Alexys Ford (800 meters) had qualified in the three previous seasons but they advanced onto the CIF Finals for their first time. Erika Flaherty advanced in the pole vault while in just missing in the 100 hurdles, Myah Hatcher came back with a personal best of 44.70 to win her heat of the 300 hurdles. Meanwhile, freshman Naomi Johnson looked comfortable in advancing onward in the 400 meters and the 4x100 relay team, already ranked fifth in the state, won its head in 47.45.
With the hope of defending its team title and earning a third in four seasons, Great Oak may need some help and at the very least, some step-up performances next weekend. Fatima Cortes looked as well as 
we've seen all season with a comfortable 4:54.68 to advance in the 1600 meters but was even more impressive in her 2:12.68 breakthrough victory in the 800 meters. Disappointed to not qualify in the long jump as projected, Summer Stevenson came back to advance once again in the triple jump. Fellow sophomore, Sami Bollinger also moved forward for the second year in a row. Kaitlin Swenson had no problem advancing in the pole vault while Audrey Dang took control on the sixth lap on the 3200 meters to advance with the top time on the day. State Meet qualifier in the 1600 meters a year ago, junior Arianna Griffiths qualified in the 1600 and 3200 meters. Her postseason experience could come into play in both events next week.
Long Beach Wilson's Rachel Glenn looked sharper than we've seen in both hurdles. Running to a personal 
best of 14.63 (into a -1.3 wind), she is poised to earn three individual titles next weekend. Checking in briefly for another day of work in the high jump with a 5-3 clearance and qualifying mark, she has more in her in the 300 hurdles. Glenn comfortably ran away from the field with the top time of the day (41.81) in the event while she is the current state leader in the 300 hurdles and defending State Meet high jump champion. She closed out the day with a 55.2 split to help her squad advance in the 1600 Relay!
West Ranch's Natalie Ramirez is the heavy favorite to capture the shot put and discus titles. She easily advanced with the top marks of 45-0 and an impressive 158-2 measurement. She captured both events at the Division 2 finals last year.
California State leader in the 400 meters, Murrieta Mesa's Chioma Okonkwo ran well in controlled efforts of 
of 24.44 and 55.68 to advance. She was a Division 2 finalist a year ago in the 100 and 200 meters. 2018 State Meet qualifier in the 400 meters, Corona's Egbe Ndip-agbor crossed with the top time of the day in the 200 meters (24.26) while handily winning her heat of the 400 meters. Upland freshman Caelyn Harris easily advanced in the long jump and won her heat of the 100 hurdles while also helping her 400 relay crew advance. Millikan freshman Samarra Monrroy raced like a veteran as she burst forward with a 54.72 victory over Quartz Hill's Iman Babineaux. She came back to also qualify in the 200 meters before running a strong third leg to help her 1600 Relay move on.
Chino Hills' Jacqueline Duarte paced Cortes and crossed first with a seemingly comfortable 4:54.92. She is the defending Division 1 champion in the event and finished third at the 2018 State Meet. Duarte came back to also earn an automatic spot in the 800 meters. Ayala's Mikaela Ramirez looked relaxed in advancing on in the 1600 and 3200 meters. The 1600 meters was the most extreme negative-split affair that we've seen in quite some time as she paced the group through with a lethargic 2:39 split going into the third lap. Putting on the jets, she returned back with a 2:19 finale, crossing with a 4:58.41.