Sac-Joaquin Section Season In Review

2019 Track and Field Season In Review
Jeffrey Parenti


St. Mary's junior Jamar Marshall (5) run the second-fastest time in state history in winning an epic 110 hurdles race at the State Meet that produced three of the top six times in the U.S. (Pat Rhames photo)

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The Sac-Joaquin Section claimed five titles at the CIF-State Championships and the Monterey Trail boys team placed second in the team competition behind Clovis North. 

Senior Zachary Larrier led Monterey Trail, winning the 400 meter dash (46.73) and anchoring the winning 4x100 meter relay team (41.47). 

Sophomore Camden Wheeler placed fifth in the 400 (47.45, CA No. 6) and the 4x400 relay team, including Wheeler and Larrier, placed sixth (3:20.37), accounting for the team's 27 points. 

Jesuit junior Matt Strangio, a year after winning the State title in the 3200, took the 1600 title from rival Liam Anderson, and placed third in the 3200 behind Newbury Park junior Nico Young and Anderson.

Strangio's winning time in the 1600 of 4:08.07 is a PR that ranks CA No. 3 and U.S. No. 12 for the season.

Strangio's 3200 time of 8:57.69, was nearly 10 seconds under his PR of 8:47.97 from the Dublin Distance Fiesta. That time stood as the national leader for a couple weeks until Young and Colorado's Cole Sprout both ran 8:40s at Arcadia. Strangio's time still holds at U.S. No. 3. 

Stockton St. Mary's junior Jamar Marshall had an equally impressive performance at the State Finals. The national leader in the 110 hurdles ran the second-fastest all-conditions time in state history with his winning 13.31. The 3.3 meters-per-second aiding wind cost him state and meet records. Marshall's league rival, Merrill West senior Warren Williams placed third (13.92).

Marshall's time is U.S. No. 1 for all-conditions. His 13.50 (0.4) from the SJS Division 1 finals ranks U.S. No. 1 for wind-legal marks. Williams' ran his PR in that race, 13.55, which ranks U.S. No. 4, all conditions.

Marshall came back at the State Meet to place third in the 300 hurdles (37.28) in a race that produced the nation's Nos. 2, 3 and 6 times this season. 

Lodi senior Samuel Wright was the other SJS champion at the State Meet. Wright, headed to Harvard, won the pole vault with a best of 16-05. His PR of 16-08 from the County Clash VII in March ranks as U.S. No. 12. Wright won 12 of 14 events this season, including Arcadia, the SJS Division 1 and Masters Meet titles. 

Other SJS medalists from State:

  • Del Oro junior Ryan Mulholland (No. 4 at right) placed third in the 100m (10.53/1.2) and fourth in the 200 (21.24/2.5). Mulholland's 10.48 (1.1) from State Prelims ranks CA No. 6, and his 21.17 (1.2) from Prelims ranks CA No. 5.
  • Jesuit junior Chase Gordon was a narrow second in the 800 (1:51.74, .03 behind winning Kai Wingo). Gordon's time ranks CA No. 2 from a race that produced the fastest four times in CA in 2019 and six of the top nine
  • Davis senior Juan Zarate-Sanchez was fifth in the 800 (1:52.78, CA No. 8)
  • In the long jump, Kimball junior Allan Hunter was second (23-09.25/4.2) and River Valley junior John Kroeger was third (23-06.25/1.5)
  • Oak Ridge junior Tyler Burns earned a sixth-place medal with a 15-05 clearance in the pole vault. 

Eight SJS girls earned top-six finishes and medals at the State Meet:

  • Vista del Lago junior Ceonna Pipion was third in the 400 (54.46, CA No. 6) and also made the 200m final, placing eighth (24.44/1.6)
  • Sacramento St. Francis junior Isabella Fauria was fourth in the 800 (2:10.49), a race that produced the six fastest times in CA this season 
  • Del Oro freshman Riley Chamberlain was fourth in the 3200 (10:21.31, CA No. 6, U.S. No. 1 in the freshman class)
  • Two SJS girls medaled in the 100 hurdles with Edison senior Cyvanna Bowen placing second (13.54/2.9, CA No. 2 all conditions) and Sacramento St. Francis sophomore Reyna Johnson placing fifth (14.10/2.9, CA No. 6 all conditions). 
  • Oak Ridge senior Kathryn Bingham was fifth in the 300 hurdles (43.39, CA No. 10)
  • Davis senior Hannah Lybbert was fourth in the high jump (5-06) 
  • Whitney sophomore Sydney Johnson was fifth in the long jump (19-06.75/1.5/ CA No. 6)

Ceonna Pipion (center) placed third in the 400, running the No. 6 time in the state. (Pat Rhames photo)