BOYS TRACK EVENTS
400 Relay
Third place in this competition a year ago, Mater Dei is the favorites with a 41.94 seasonal best. They are also eighth in the Southern Section as well. The young Calabasas crew (including freshman Nicholas Gates pictured above) impressed last week, running away to a 42.18 best for 2019. Moorpark comes in with a best of 42.21, as they look to improve upon on their fourth place finish from last year. With not much separating these squads, Mission Viejo's best this season is 42.23 as they were runner-up in 2018. West Torrance was also a finalist a year ago and lines up with a 42.31 seasonal best while Rancho Verde steps into Division 2 this season with a best of 42.49.
1600 Meters
With the top time in California this spring, Arroyo's Noah Hibbard (at left in Frank Bellino photo) and his 4:07.25 is a heavy favorite. 
Hibbard was seventh in 2018 and qualified to the Masters Meet. Under the tutelage of coaching legend Tim O'Rourke, Hibbard has excelled into the national spotlight and is one of the favorites to capture the state title in this event in two weeks. Busting onto the scene this season, West Torrance's Jake Parker (4:17.06) is one of the most improved in the Southern Section. From not qualifying to the postseason in 2018 to being projected to qualify for the Masters Meet is quite the feat. Hart's Jeremiah Rasmussen rolls in with a 4:17.42 seasonal best as returns after his eighth-place finish a year ago. Brett Knudson of Woodbridge (4:18.44), Rowland's John Martinez (4:18.64) and Thousand Oaks' Ethan Bersley (4:18.71) will look to chase down those two and take advantage of brisk sub-4:10 pacing.
110 Hurdles (wind-legal)
Simi Valley's Riley Hunt is the class of the field as he was the divisional runner-up in 2018. Hunt would eventually advance to surprise with a third-place finish at the California State Meet. Owning a 14.17 wind-legal best, he is the atop the Southern Section rankings and currently fifth in the state as the event is much improved over the 2018 field. Peninsula's Aiden Lieb was a Division 1 finalist a year ago, and with a 14.49 best, is projected to advance to next weekend while chasing down Hunt. Out of the desert, Shadow Hills' Dylan Francis rolled to a new personal best last weekend with a wind-legal of 14.64. Hart's Cole Shirakata steps into his lane with a 14.79 wind-legal best but perhaps, more motivated than anyone else, watch for Ventura's Derek Pekar. He shined with a 14.40 wind-aided effort and will line up next to Hunt. He was fifth in 2018 and scoring in the top three here would factor in heavily in regard to the team title battle.
400 Meters
This one is up for grabs as not much separates the talent. Palm Desert's Liam Carr emerged as the favorite after his 48.53 effort at the Arcadia Invite. Carr's time is eighth best in the section of those competing this weekend. But, Culver City's Mekhi Evans-Bey has since crossed in 48.65 while Ryan Rivtuso is Edison is the most improved over the past month and will occupy lane five after his 48.86 seasonal best last week. Woodbridge's Christopher Cooper owns a seasonal best of 48.89 while Milton Woodson of Hesperia has raced to a 49.09 best.
100 Meters (wind-legal)
Mater Dei's Chad Lemmons (pictured) has been consistent this season and gets into the blocks as the favorite. His 
wind-legal best is 10.88, but he earned the fifth lane with his 10.60 wind-aided effort last weekend. He was fourth in 2018. Several challengers will look to pull the upset. Last weekend, with the winds assisting the down the straightaway, Colony's Patrick Dean ran the second fastest time with a 10.71w. Joe Hylton of Hart looked sharp with a 10.72w while Calabasas freshman, Nicholas Gates crossed with a 10.75w effort. Gates' teammate, Lamont Narcisse rolled to a 10.74 while Woodbridge's Drake Nguyen came over from the long jump to run a 10.83w. Also, watch for Jalen Davis of Golden Valley who comes in with a 10.95 wind-legal best and advanced with a 10.85w.
800 Meters
The 2018 version of the Division 2 finals sent more entrants onward to the Masters Meet than any other division. Two of those return, led by Golden Valley sophomore Antonio Abrego. The top freshman in the nation a year ago, he has rolled to a 1:53.76 in 2019, while he was seventh a year ago. Abrego is currently sixth in the Southern Section. After a patient start to the season, Thousand Oaks' Mitchell Burr has moved to a 1:55.46 seasonal best. Last year, Burr ran his best in May where he advanced to the California State Meet after taking fifth at the Division 2 finals. La Mirada's Christian Santiago advanced with a best of 1:56.23 while Justin Larson of Northwood has improved down to a 1:56.74 this season. Mark O'Hannigan of Irvine (1:57.02) and Royal's Matt Russell (1:57.23) will try to play spoilers here.
300 Hurdles
Ventura's Derek Pekar will look to score over 30 points on his own! In what will be his fourth event of the day, he emerged with the top time in the division at 38.71 a week ago. That effort moved him up to eighth in the Southern Section. Mission Viejo's John Burns and his 38.81 seasonal best is right behind Pekar as the ninth fastest in the section. Aiden Lieb of Peninsula posted a seasonal best of 39.14 at the prelims while Elsinore's Matthew Siggins came into the postseason with a 40.52 best, but erupted for a 39.20 effort last weekend. Also watch for Jake Angier of El Modena (39.27 last weekend), who usually has the 400 meters beforehand, but will focus solely on this event this weekend.
200 Meters
Coming back from the 100 meters, Mater Dei's Chad Lemmons is also the favorite here. Coming into the postseason with a wind-legal best of 21.86, he used the wind to push him to a 21.51w effort at last weekend's prelims. He was fourth at the 2018 finals. The freshman from Calabasas, Nicholas Gates, stole some of the headlines with his 21.57 wind-aided performance last weekend. Culver City's Mekhi Evans-Bey excelled with a 21.75w at the prelims while Redlands' Omar Yehya crossed with a 21.94w effort last weekend. Hesperia's Milton Woodson also advanced with a 21.98w while also challenging for the top three medal is Mission Viejo's Cassidy Welles (22.01w last weekend).
3200 Meters
This is the one event where seasonal bests may not be a factor coming into the action. Newport Harbor's 
Alexis Garcia owns the seasonal best of 9:05.77, which is the third fastest in the Southern Section and seventh in California. But, he will have to hold off a very talented group that has yet to reach their true potential this season. Defending Division 2 champion, Ethan Danforth of Canyon (CC) has experienced a frustrating season but advanced with a seasonal best of 9:21.65 last week. Meanwhile, the incredible development of West Torrance's Jake Parker has yielded him a 9:10.27 seasonal best. One cannot rule out Arroyo's Noah Hibbard as well with a 9:21.50 best. He has only run the event several times this season and with 4:07 speed from the 1600, expect him to unleash over the second half of the race. Thousand Oaks' Michael Mireles steps onto the line with a 9:19.63 best while Ventura's Charlie Hammel (9:20.58) will be running for team title points as well. Do not overlook Woodbridge's Brett Knutson as he steps in with a 9:21.08 personal best.
1600 Relay
The young Calabasas squad erupted with a 3:20.40 last weekend to easily qualify. They are now the tenth best squad remaining in the Southern Section. Meanwhile, runner-up in 2018, Golden Valley brings a 3:21.26 best to the oval. Edison has improved down to a 3:21.63 while Woodbridge has been consistent and owns a seasonal best of 3:22.39. Culver City was third at the 2018 finals and steps in with a 3:22.75 while Moorpark is right there with them, rolling to a 3:22.80 this season. As they were sixth a year ago, another 2018 finalist that qualified once again is Mission Viejo, who crossed with a 3:22.85 last weekend.