VS.
- This is a dual meet team competition that matches the all-time marks in one section against those in another using dual meet scoring and individual event participation rules.
- The first phase was head-to-head. If you missed any of those articles,click hereto get caught up.This phase of the competition is head-to-head semifinals in a double-dual scoring format.
- There are six sections that range between 101 and 198 schools: Central, San Diego, Los Angeles, Central Coast, North Coast, Sac-Joaquin. Those are the six in the dual meet competition.
- There are three sections with a combined total of just 105 schools: San Francisco, Oakland, Northern. Those sections don't have the depth of athletes to be competitive in this virtual format. Sorry, but they are not part of the dual meet tournament.
- From the dual tournament, two three sections from each gender were eliminated leaving three semifinalists, which would be scored in a double-dual: North Coast, Sac-Joaquin and San Diego in the boys and Central Coast, North Coast and Sac-Joaquin in the girls.
- And then there's the Southern Section, which includes 37 percent of the schools in the state. We have something special lined up down the road to involve the beast that is our friends in the SS.
- Meets are held at neutral sites on a perfect 70-degree evening with no wind. Scoring is based on the best all-time marks from each section. Times may be converted. Altitude is not a factor.
- Sections are limited to three entries per event and athletes are limited to four individual events. Dual and double-dual meet scoring is 5-3-1 for 1st through 3rd with a 5-0 score for both relays. There is separate competition for boys and girls.
- Meets are presented in order of events with updated scoring after each event. The approximate conclusion of each field event is slotted throughout the track event schedule.
Word
- If only this could happen for real!
BOYS: North Coast Section vs. Sac-Joaquin Section
4x100 Relay
Although Concord De La Salle (40.85 in 2009) is the NCS record-holder by just a hundredth of a second over sectionmate Berkeley (1981), the Spartans have a little more distance over Vallejo (40.91 in 1999). Score: NC 5, SJ 0. Running score: NC 5, SJ 0.
1600
With St. Joseph Notre Dame's Cooper Teare (3:58.76 en route to a 4:00.16 mile in 2017), the NC is able to bookend Riverbank's German Fernandez (4:00.29 in 2008) with De La Salle's Rich Kimball (4:01.0 in 1974). Score: NC 6, SJ 3. Running score: NC 11, SJ 3.
110 High Hurdles
Arizona State-bound Jamar Marshall (13.22 in 2019) of Stockton St. Mary's just might have been the first to dip under 13-seconds had he been able to run this spring. Instead, he is the winner here over James Logan's Kevin Craddock (13.39 in 2004) with Harry Ells' Dedy Cooper (13.3 in 1975) nipping Merrill West's Warren Williams (13.55 in 2019) for third. Score: SJ 5, NC 4. Running score: NC 15, SJ 8.
High Jump
Vista Del Lago's Jakob Grimsman (7-3 in 2018) tops this event but the '70s pair of Berkeley's Kerry Myers (7-2 in 1978) and Danville Monte Vista's Mark Wilson (7-1.75 in 1974) jump up for second and third. Score: SJ 5, NC 4. Running score: NC 19, SJ 13.
400
Clearly there aren't going to be many-if any-sweeps between these sections. American's Steve Lewis (45.76 
in 1987), one of the U.S.'s best-ever quarter-milers, wins here with Monterey Trails' Zach Larrier (46.49 in 2019) and Atwater's Tony Berrian (46.49 in 1997) get up for second and third. Score: NC 5, SJ 4. Running score: NC 24, SJ 17.
100
Salesian's Jahvid Best (10.36 in 2014) is definitely the 'best' in this event. Berkeley's Kenny Robinson (10.39 in 1981) tops Sacramento's Jim McGee (10.45 in 1996) for a 1-2 finish for the North Coast. Score: NC 8, SJ 1. Running score: NC 32, SJ 18.
Long Jump
While the NC may have the sprinters, the SJS has some pretty fair jumpers. McClatchy's Ken Duncan (26-2.25 in 1972) and Merced's Heulon Hewitt (25-10.75 in 1968) get back the points lost in the 100 with Castro Valley's Nate Moore (25-8.75 in 2014) giving a courageous effort for third. Score: SJ 8, NC 1. Running score: NC 33, SJ 26.
800
With the NCS having two of the top three all-time runners in this event plus No. 8, the meet has its first sweep. Berkeley's Pete Richardson (1:47.31 in 1981) and El Cerritos' Dale Scott (1:47.9 in 1972), all that was needed was James Logan's Aaron Richberg (1:48.40 in 1995) to edge Golden Valley's James Levine (1:48.52 in 1997) for the 1-2-3. Score: NC 9, SJ 0. Running score: NC 42, SJ 26.
Pole Vault
Although Acalanes' Brent Burns (17-8.50 in 1987) stands third on the all-time list, he wasn't able to stay with Davis' Sondre Guttormsen (18-10.25 in 2018). Granite Day's Scott Roth (17-5 in 2006) captured the bronze in a stellar event. Score: SJ 6, NC 3. Running score: NC 45, SJ 32.
Shot Put
Amador Valley's Nathan Esparza (69-4.25 in 2016) just missed being a member of the elite 70-foot club but he captures this event in an impressive way over Atwater's Dave Porath (65-10.75 in 1978) and Sonora's Brad Vassar (65-1 in 1975). Score: NC 5, SJ 4. Running score: NC 50. SJ 36.
300 Hurdles
This is the North Coast section's best events and they show it here to suddenly get within a win of capturing the team title. California's David Klech (35.45 in 2006), James Logan's Kevin Craddock (35.93 in 2004) and Ells' Dedy Cooper (36.2 in 1975) were too much for the SJS. Score: NC 9, SJ 0. Running score: NC 59, SJ 36.
200
With Salesian's Jahvid Best (20.65 in 2007) making it a sprint sweep, even a second by Cordova's Kevin Willhite (20.81 in 1981) couldn't deny the NCS, which added a third by Clayton Valley's Cameron Reynolds (20.99 in 2019). The NC closes in on the team title. Score: NC 6, SJ 3. Running score: NC 65, SJ 39.
Discus Throw
Atwater's Dave Porath (209-6 in 1978) kept the slim hopes of a sweep alive until Clayton Valley's Jeff Williams (205-7 in 2017) came through and grabbed second place. Although Hughson's Lucais McKay (203-10 in 1999) by two inches over Pittsburg's Iffy Joyner (203-8 in 2017), the NC needs just one point in the final three events. Score: SJ 6, NC 3. Running score: NC 71, SJ 45.
3200
Riverbank's German Fernandez (8:31.42 in 2008), is usual, is unbeatable, but when St. Joseph Notre Dame's 
Cooper Teare (8:41.46 in 2017) finishes second, the NCS faithful erupt into cheers with the team title secured. Armijo's Luis Grijalva (8:43.63 in 2017) makes it a 1-3 for the SJS. Score: SJ 6, NC 3. Running score: NC 74, SJ 51.
Triple Jump
With Cordova's Joel Smith (51-11 in 1987) bounding away to victory, the SJS has something to cheer when Franklin's Zuheir Sharif (51-6) in 2006) hits his PR on his final jump to edge James Logan's Nikosinza Balumbu (51-5.75 in 2005). Score: SJ 8, NC 1. Running score: NC 72, SJ 59.
4x400
Berkeley's great stable of 400-meter runners produces the champion here as the Yellowjackets (3:08.94 in 1981) polish off the victory in impressive fashion. Score: NC 5, SJ 0
FINAL SCORE: NC 77, SJ 59 -- CHAMPIONS!!! With wins over the San Diego and Sac-Joaquin sections, the North Coast boys prove to be the best section not named the Southern Section.
- Next: Girls, North Coast vs. Sac-Joaquin
- State Records Source
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Photos: James Leash, Kirby Lee/Image of Sports, Pat Rhames, Eric Taylor, Daniel Tyree.