Girls Division 1 Preview - Field Events
UCLA-bound Natalie Ramirez swept the throws in D2 as a junior and is the favorite now in D1.
High Jump
Rachel Glenn may need to run off of the apron to compete in the 300 Hurdles during
this one, but the defending divisional and state champion is a heavy favorite
to pull the hat trick. The defending State Champion comes in with a seasonal best of 5-8.5 and is currently second in California. Two others have cleared 5-6, headlined by Trabuco Hills' Hannah Bevan and Aaliyah Mendoza of Etiwanda. The rest of the field has cleared 5-3 this season and if they match that, that should be enough to advance forward to the Masters Meet.
Pole Vault
Morgan Flynn of Aliso Niguel is the favorite as she gets onto the runway with a 13-0 seasonal best and is second in the Southern Section. Fouth in this event in 2018, she is a heavy favorite. In search of major points, Great Oak's Kaitlyn Swenson comes in with a 12-6 best. She was sixth a year ago but surged forward to advance to the State Meet in 2018. With four of the top eight efforts in this division unable to advance this far, Erika Flaherty of Roosevelt and Vista Murrieta's Tamara Bader have both cleared the 12-0 bar in 2019. The Division 1 forecast in this event has been completely altered over the past several weeks. Sierra Meier of Vista Murrieta and West Ranch's Amber Racina have both soared over 11-7 this season.
Long Jump
Upland freshman Caelyn Harris has been consistently hovering just around the
20-foot mark all season. Her best is 20-2.5, which was without a wind-indication. Redondo Union's Mahkaia Lee steps onto the runway with a wind-legal 19-9.5 best. If Queen Okoh can reproduce her 18-1.25 effort from last weekend, along with teammate Lauren Reed, this could be the event that leans the team title towards Long Beach Poly. Along the lines of the team battle, Roosevelt's Chaselyn Amos looks to take on both of them here. Several others look to clear 18 feet and qualify for the Masters Meet, led by Burbank's Jayla Flowers.
Triple Jump
This event cemented Great Oak's 2018 team title a year ago, as Summer Stevenson and
Sami Bollinger went third and fourth, respectively. They look to outdo those results and contribute to the team title cause. Stevenson has the top wind-legal mark in the Southern Section at 40-5. Upland's Kerrington Smith bounded out to the coveted 40-0 mark and will be her main competition. Burbank's Jayla Flowers has been one of the most improved in the section with a 38-8 best, while Bollinger recorded a personal best last weekend of 37-7. Los Osos' Mariana Lanz improved to a 37-7.25 best while Ayala's Madison Moneymaker also a 37+ foot best.
Shot Put
West Ranch's Natalie Ramirez (Jeffrey Parenti photo above) is seeking another title, to complement the one she earned in Division 2 a year ago. While she is ranked third in California which matches the medal she earned at the 2018 State Meet. Roosevelt's Lydia Liu has experienced over a five-foot improvement and THE reason why Roosevelt is in contention for the Team Title as she was seventh a year ago. Her 43-1.25 best is fourth in the section. Rancho Cucamonga's Abby Venglass (39-4) and Downey's Dayanara Cendejas (39-2) are seeking two of the twelve spots to the Masters Meet. Watch for Long Beach Poly's Destiny Okoh (38-4) and how many points she earns for her squad.