Girls Seniors-Only CIF-SS Division 4 Prelims Highlights
100 Dash
There is a new girl in town, and she's fast: Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck, a Belgian by birth who landed at St. Anthony this year. She opened with a 12.33, showing potential to threaten the 12-second mark. That would have put her right on track for a clash with the top returner in the division, Nia Mosby (Archer) - except Mosby focuses on the 200 and 400, while Ndjip-Nyemeck prefers the 100 and the high hurdles. So Yanla rolled to the top seed and will be the heavy favorite next week, with Archer's Hailey Adams and Leanne Stillman (St. Bonaventure) also advancing with relative ease.
200 Dash
As mentioned above, Nia Mosby is a stud in the long sprints, and she has been dominant this spring, running consistently in the low 24's and 54-55 range despite rarely being pushed. She easily cruised through her heat, giving us the sense that she still has another gear to go to, and she will now focus on making Masters. Adams made it a 1-2 sweep as both Archer girls advance with relative ease. Behind them is a fleet of relatively evenly matched athletes, which will make for a very interesting finals race.
400 Dash
Mosby will be just as dominant in this race, if not more so - especially since Hannah Wilson chose to focus on the 800 and Jenna Krostag transferred to Thousand Oaks this season. The Archer star has a real chance to make it out of the Southern Section gauntlet and get to the state meet. Emma Goggins (Rosary Academy) also advanced with relative ease, while Kelly Grossman (Campbell Hall) and Makenna Harris (Centennial Corona) are positioned to battle for a top 3 finish next week.
800 Run
Hannah Wilson (Oaks Christian) is the prohibitive favorite here, giving her an easy path to division finals without expending full effort. She also could have advanced in the 400, but as one of the top half-milers in the state she is zeroed in on her best event. Gretchen Scherrei (Foothill Technology) leads the rest of the advancers, which should also include Syenna Ponce (Fillmore) and Violet Marko (Immaculate Heart).
1600 Run
We came into this meet with no clear favorite here, and that will make for a spirited races next week! Morgan Falkowski (Laguna Beach) started off 2020 with a 5:24 on the heels of an excellent cross country season and has since dipped well under 5:20 while flashing sub-5:10 potential; she didn't need that to advance today, however. Jasmine Ramirez (Nordhoff) and Lauren Nettles (Flintridge Sacred Heart) were among the top returners coming into the season along with Scherrei, and all three move on to finals. Mayfield teamamtes Cameron Gomez and Emma Cadena could also factor in a well-matched field like this; both ran well enough in the fall to project solid improvement this spring. The 1600 could be the most interesting race of the Division 4 Finals next week.
3200 Run
Ramirez is the top returner in this race, and she will return to division finals where she can continue her push to break 11. Nettles is capable of winning next week, as well. Expect Falkowski to be right there with them, as she continues to drops significant time, building on her cross country success. Vanessa Avila (Fillmore) could make it to division finals in the 800 and 1600, but she chose to focus on the 3200 as her best chance to succeed next week. Scherrei could have been an advancer here as well as in the 1600, but she doubled down on being the strongest (behind Wilson) in a wide open 800 field.
100 Hurdles
St. Anthony's Ndjip-Nyemeck (a contender in the 100 dash above) dominated this event, and the big question is how far she can drop her time next week. We think 14.2's would be reasonable based on her season-opening time and progression since, but she could be a sleeper to threaten the 14-second barrier. Cynara Fox (Immaculate Heart) also looks like she is poised to improve on her current PR and run in the low 15's. Brenda Huang (Oxford Academy) made it to division finals last year and does the same this year, but she may not be able to push the top 2 once she's there. Ella Whitehouse (Woodcrest Christian) and Daphne Ebenhack (Village Christian) also advance comfortably.
300 Hurdles
Valley Christian Cerritos has the top 2 returners in the division in this event, Kathryn Tamminga and Emma Spresney. Tamminga didn't have to go all-out today; she has a very good chance to run 45 or better next week, and she may have her eyes on a possible Masters spot. Kalea Brown (Serra) could crash the Valley Christian party though, with her season-opening 48 serving as a herald of the 46's she ran in the regular season. All three advance smoothly to finals, while Asher Andrus (Malibu), Grace Jordan (Pacifica Christian OC), and Amalya Mahloch (Bishop Montgomery) are set to battle for the top 5 next week.
High Jump
As was the case for the boys in this division, this event had a bunch of potential winners and even more possible advancers. McKenna Bushong (Valley Christian Cerritos), Charlotte Allison (La Reina) and Caylan Medley (Linfield Christian) all had 5-3 on their resume by the early season along with consistently hitting 5-2 through the spring. All three come into the championships having cleared 5' 4" at least once during the regular season, and all three advance easily to the next round. We give the slight edge at finals to Allison, based on her championship level experience in 2019. Hayden Hill (Marlborough) lurks just behind at 5' 2", but she has the potential to move up.
Long Jump
Allison could make it a double win next week after easily advancing, but her pursuit of the 18 foot mark still continues. Still, she has consistently jumped in the upper 17's, and that makes her the favorite. Whitehouse has also had a strong season with a couple of 17-footers, and she can definitely challenge Allison with a good performance in finals. Kalea Brown and Bushong also move on for another chance to join the 17 foot club.
Triple Jump
Bushong is a busy athlete with three jumping events, and in this one she has her hands full with Cynara Fox (Immaculate Heart). Both of them have been farther than 35 this season, and either could win next week after advancing. Could it come down to fresher legs? Bryn Polly (Oaks Christian), Sofia Ibbotson (La Salle), and Daphne Ebenhack (Valley Christian Cerritos) all have one more week to try to break 35, or else they will likely be battling each other for 3rd.
Pole Vault
This field isn't very deep, but there is a good individual battle brewing at the top between Polly and Kaelyn McCann (Linfield Christian). Both are still looking for their first 13 foot clearance, and we're hoping that they can push each other to those heights in the finals. McCann has looked stronger during the regular season, but Polly is fully capable of taking the division title. Carly Leandro (Foothill Technology) also advanced easily to the final, where she will continue to pursue the 12 foot mark.
Shot Put
Valley Christian's Ebenhack may be the best all-around athlete in the division, as she is the favorite in this event as well as a contender in the triple jump and the 100 Hurdles. She has flashed her potential with a few 40-foot throws this spring. Quincey Valle (Santa Ynez Union) is the only thrower within striking range, but with her best mark in the upper 30's she will need to elevate to pull off the upset next week. The rest of the field will be battling for 3rd, although some may be able to break 35 feet.
Discus Throw
This event looked wide open at the start of the season, with the top 2 returners within a foot of each other - Olivia Vande Vegte (Valley Christian Cerritos) and Noelle Chavez (Aquinas). That became even more muddled with the addition of Paige Nordman (Temecula Prep), who opened 2020 right in the same range. All three have popped 120-foot throws but none has been consistent there, and with all three advancing it will come down to who has the best day in finals.