Senior State Championship: Boys CIF-SS D2 Prelims

Seniors-Only Boys CIF-SS Division 2 Prelims Highlights


100 Dash

Patrick Dean (Colony) went to division finals in 2019, where he finished 6th. Likewise for Lamont Narcisse (Calabasas), who was 8th in the same race last year. Turner Fernandez (West Torrance) narrowly missed out on advancing to that final, but he had more sub-10.80 races last spring than anyone else. All three have been at or near the top of the rankings this spring, and all three moved on to the final. The conclusion? There is no favorite in next week's race. You can even include Devin Gandy (Silverado) as a potential wild card in this race - he has been inconsistent this season, but has popped enough strong times to make you wonder if it's not just the absence of a wind meter. The same could be true of Jabari McMillon (Summit), although we have less data on him. Also worth noting: Liam Carr could have gotten through to the finals as well, but his best events are the 400 and 200 and that's where he chose to focus his effort.


200 Dash

The 200 final will also be very competitive, but the interesting thing is that few of the 100 contenders also made it through here. Another difference: we feel safe saying that there will be a favorite: Mekhi Evans-Bey (Culver City) went under 22 twice in 2019 and several times in 2020. He isn't the only one with 21's on his resume, though, and that's why the title won't be easy for him to claim. Angel Ledesma (Canyon Anaheim Hills) has also broken 22, although with no wind reading. Fernandez has the potential to get under 22 as well, and our sleeper for this race is Liam Carr (Palm Desert) - the 400 is his best event, but he has been steadily improving here (and he certainly has the stamina to finish strong).


400 Dash

This is shaping up to be one of of the best races of the division finals weekend. Coming into the season, Evans-Bey and Carr were the top 2 in this event, having both run mid-to-low 48's. Then, Chase Walter (Sana Hills) inserted himself into the conversation by opening the 2020 season with a sub-49. Evans-Bey has the most experience, having been to Masters, and also has more than one high 47 race this spring, so he has the slight edge heading to the final. Carr and Walter have been on the verge of sub-48 for several races, though, and they're not far enough behind to count out. For that matter, neither is Reginal Day (Silverado), who has been under 48.5 this spring and could steal a top 3 finish next weekend.


800 Run

Justin Larson (Northwood) clocked 1:54 in 2019, making him one of the top returners in California in this event. This spring, he has run in the 1:53's twice, and he will have an excellent chance to get to the state meet. Today, though, he didn't need maximum effort to move on to finals, where he will be joined by a large group of runners that have either run under 1:56 or are very close. Anthony Alcerro (Villa Park) tops that group, with Mark O'Hannigan (Irvine) and Frank Lofton (Canyon Country Canyon) not far behind.


1600 Run

Jake Parker (West Torrance) and Carrick Denker (Dana Hills) finished 2019 within 2 seconds of each other at this distance, and 2020 has followed suit. Both have broken 4:10 in the big distance invitationals this spring, and the race between them next week should be very competitive. They will very likely separate from the next group, which is led by Anthony Alcerro (Villa Park) and Sean Robertson (Capistrano Valley), both of them looking to break 4:15. Ian Gerth (Simi Valley) also advanced to the final and he can definitely contend for third place in the final, but Michael Mireles and Keith Murray both opted to focus solely on the 3200.


3200 Run

This is shaping up to be a wild race next weekend, which bodes well for the division 2 runners' chances of getting through to Masters. Michael Mireles (Thousand Oaks) is the only returner to have broken 9:10 last spring, and on the heels of a strong cross country season he joined the sub-9 club in 2020. Parker has been close to the 9-minute barrier a few times, as has Keith Murray (Moorpark). Denker is a bit stronger in the 1600 but still good enough to contend here, and there's no risk to continuing to run the 3200 for another round. There is a decent gap after that first four, with the next group headed by Gerth and Ian Crocker (Serrano) - that pack is looking to go under 9:10 for the first time.


110 Hurdles

We saw a glimpse of Joshua Hornsby's potential in 2019 when he finished 3rd at division finals, but when he opened the 2020 season with a 14.25 it still caught us off guard, even if it was wind-aided. The Summit senior has continued to inch toward a sub-14 during the regular season, and it might take that to hold off Aiden Lieb (Peninsula). Lieb entered the season as the favorite, having gotten all the way to the state meet last spring, but he has had his hands full with the challenger this year. Both advanced comfortably to next weekend's final; we're predicting Lieb will pull out the win and threaten the 14-second barrier, but we won't be totally shocked if Hornsby takes the title. Jaden Edwards (Capistrano Valley) leads the rest of the field in the battle for third, although he has several athletes not far behind him.


300 Hurdles

Lieb is also strong at this distance, but John Burns (Mission Viejo) is the man to beat next week. After a season filled with low-38's, he cruised through to the final and will continue his quest for a 37. Lieb is fully capable of winning this race, as he has trailed Burns but just a few tenths all spring. Behind the two leaders, a strong second group asserted themselves today: Glen McKenzie (Rancho Verde), Jaden Edwards (Capistrano Valley), and Hornsby. All of them can run under 49, and that means all of them could take third and threaten for a top 2 finish if things break right.


High Jump

Two of California's best advanced easily to the final, which will be the first of what is likely three straight competitions between the two. Kyle Jankans (Villa Park) had a best of 6-8 last spring (good enough to get him to the state meet), then he opened 2020 with a 6-10. Tyler Cash (Canyon Country Canyon) saved his best for the big stage in 2019, clearing a PR of 6-10 at the state meet to finish 2nd. Both of these jumpers, the top 2 in the Southern Section as a whole (not just the division), have been thwarted by the 7 foot barrier so far this spring, so we're hoping their upcoming battles will push both of them over new heights. Issac Muanza (Lawndale) and JD Martinez (Villa Park) both advanced to the final, both with season bests of 6-8, and both capable of advancing to Masters as well as the state meet. Division 2 is loaded in this event!


Pole Vault

One of the many things I like about the pole vault: every year is like a fresh start, because vaulters can make sure big improvement from season to season. Case in point: in this division, only Cameron Pench (Royal) had cleared 14 in 2019, and now we have six athletes either over that mark or about to be. Pench is the season leader, having cleared 15' 3" a few times, but Anthony Nuber (Peninsula) and Nick Chan (South Torrance) have been over 15 feet to keep within striking range. Cash, Alec Walker (Golden Valley), and Nicholas Caamano (El Rancho) have all jumped in the upper 14's, and next week's final would be an optimal time to break through into the 15's.


Long Jump

This has been the most unpredictable event in the division all spring, and next week is shaping up to be very interesting with no less than four jumpers who have exceeded 23 feet at some point. Angel Ledesma (Canyon Anaheim Hills) is the top returner, while Jeremy Justice (Apple Valley) has performed the best in 2020. Martinez and Devin Gandy (Silverado) are also capable of winning with a good performance. None of these jumpers got past prelims last year, so they're all in new territory, and all four have been inconsistent this spring. That could be good news for Aiden Lieb (Peninsula), who hasn't broken 23 but HAS been more consistent in the upper 22's (and he also has championship experience, having been to Masters last year.


Triple Jump

While Muanza is one of several contenders for a Masters spot in the high jump, he is the favorite to make a return trip in this event with his PR in the 47's. Victor Trejo (Citrus Valley) has broken 46 once this spring, and he has division finals experience. Adama Fall (Royal) has been remarkable consistent the last two seasons, but he hasn't gotten past 46 feet yet, and that will likely be necessary to finish in the top 3 and have a chance to move on to Masters. Teammate Christian Foster is in the next group of jumpers, which includes Donovan Moreno (Vista Del Lago) and Kevin Character (Redlands). With all six of these athletes moving on to finals, the atmosphere should be right for several PR's to be set. Lieb also had a good enough mark to potentially advance to finals here, but he opted to focus on the hurdles and long jump.


Shot Put

Jake Porter (Canyon Anaheim Hills) is a beast, and it would be a major upset if he doesn't claim the title (although ensuring his place in Masters is the bigger challenge next week). He made quick work of the 60-foot mark once the weather warmed up, and now he wants to improve on the ending of his 2019 season. Quincy Stokes (Thousand Oaks), Tyler Davies (El Toro), and Hunter Keneley (Mission Viejo) are all still hunting for their first 55-footer, but they are evenly matched and their battle for second should be fun to watch.


Discus

Porter can also win this event, but the competition is MUCH closer - and also wearing the same uniform. Mo Bradley has been right with Porter all season, both right on the threshold of 170 feet. You also can't count out Michael Norzagaray (Jurupa Hills), who has been extremely consistent in the mid-160's this spring, and also has division finals experience from 2019. In an event where big throws can seem to come out of nowhere, the title could go to any of the three. Jack West (Dana Hills) and Adrian Armendariz (Miller) also both move on to lead the next group of throwers, who are in the 150-foot range and looking to move up.