Girls Seniors-Only LA City Section Semifinals Highlights
100 Dash
It's no secret that Carson is loaded in the sprints, and this year is no exception. Kaitlyn Williams is the defending section champion and she has only one true challenger (that is, with teammate Lacefield opting for the 200 and 400). She holds off a late charge from Olivia Adams (University Senior) as both she and Williams advance easily to the state meet. Susie Fowler (Hamilton Senior) has the third qualifying spot locked down, pulling away from her challengers convincingly. Desiree Hansford (Carson) leads the rest of the field, scoring more points for Carson's team title quest.
200 Dash
Ryan Lacefield (Carson) defends her section title over teammate Williams, both under 25. Adams makes a valiant attmept to break up the sweep but falls just shot, leaving her only one more week in her pursuit of sub-25. Behind them is a substantial gap, with Maleah Haro (Woodrow Wilson) and Avionna Salazar (Taft) in front of the next cluster of athletes.
400 Dash
Lacefield rolls to the win here, shutting down with 20 meters left. With several 56's on her resume this spring and the potential to run 55, she may be a sleeper to make the finals next weekend. Haro is able to push her through 350 meters before falling back just a bit and taking second. Makayla Bernadez (El Camino Real) runs in the 58's to advance comfortably to the state meet ahead of Jada Love (Carson) and Ana Estrada (Chatsworth).
800 Run
Brianna Johnson (Narbonne) takes the win but falls short of another goal: she is still looking for her first 2:19. which will have to wait another week. Salma Anibar (Reseda Senior) stays with Johnson through 600 meters before battling to hold off Destiny Lopez (Santee) for second place. Carina Sierra (Santee) wins an all-out, three-person sprint over the last 50 meters to take fourth, just hundredths ahead of Jasmine Corralejo (Chatsworth) and Andrea Gallardo (Venice Senior).
1600 Run
Sarah Bentley (Palisades Charter) has been in pursuit of the 5 minute barrier all season, but it has frustrated her so far. Now she advances to the state meet where she will certainly get the push she needs to break through. Gallardo holds off Lauren Delgado (Granada Hills) in a spirited battle for second, with neither of them threatened for the final qualifying spot - Johnson and Lopez opted to focus exclusively on the 800, opening the door for Riley Cameron (San Pedro) to take fourth place.
3200 Run
Bentley has been aiming to go sub-11 since her sophomore year, and she finally achieved that goal this spring. Today she is able to cruise through to the state meet without giving maximum effort, but expect her to push for one more PR in Clovis. Delgado advances in her second event of the day, while Cameron outkicks Amber Hughes (Granada Hills) for the last ticket to the state meet.
100 Hurdles
In arguably the most exciting event of the meet, we get to watch tight races for both first and third place. Susie Fowler (Hamilton) avenges a close loss last May that kept her out of the state meet, taking the title by mere hundredths over Justina Graham (Carson) as both move on. Graham's teammate Tirah Timms holds off Susan Fuentes (Grant) for the final state meet spot.
300 Hurdles
Graham has been dominant within the section in this event, and today is no exception: she rolls to a 46 and the title. Fuentes edges out Fowler for second as both advance to the state meet. A bit behind them comes a wall of competitors racing shoulder to shoulder to the finish line, with Brianna English (Taft) holding off Amber Telles (Sylmar) and Arianna Jackson (Carson) to take fourth.
Shot Put
Mia White (Taft) earns her second straight section title in this event, giving her another week to try to close on the 40 foot mark that she has been chasing all season. Maia Robertson (El Camino Real) emerges from a crowd of contenders to take second, leaving a very close group to battle for the third and final state meet spot. Shadae Davis (USC Hybrid) claims that ticket to Clovis, edging out Crystal Madumere (Granada Hills) and Brana Phillips (Hollywood Senior).
Long Jump
As good as Carson is in the sprints, the jumps are where they really dominate this section. Kaitlyn Williams leads a 1-2 sweep in this event with Jourdan Murphy, both over 17 feet. Fellow Colt Arianna Jackson finds herself in an intense battle for third place with Havana Thomas (Birmingham Community), Nyah Villareal (Taft), and Jane Nwaba (Palisades Charter). The consistency and experience of Nwaba prevails, as she pulls ahead on her final jump to advance to the state meet.
Triple Jump
Unlike the long jump, Nwaba is unable to break up the Carson sweep here. She settles for fourth behind champion Ar'reiya Harper and teammaates Tirah Timms and Justina Graham. This is the strongest girls event in the section, as Thomas makes it five athletes over 36 feet in this competition. Harper is never threatened, using the meet to sharpen up for a run to the state finals following a season with multiple 40-foot jumps.
High Jump
Canoga Park's Samantha Hernandez is now the two-time section winner in this event, but neither win was easy. Today she has to hold off Denise Ortiz (Carson) and Nwaba, who both cleared 5 feet to pose a serious threat to the champ. Nwaba ends up in third based on the tiebreaker, but don't be surprised if she comes back strong at the state meet. Ciara Setz (El Camino Real) and Shereka Scott (King-Drew) both make solid attempts at 5 feet before falling just short of the top three.
Pole Vault
Defending section champion Erica Bagby (Palisades Charter) repeats easily, moving on to the state meet with a few 12 foot jumps on her resume this spring and a goal of making the finals. Melanie Gramajo (Birmingham Community) takes second.
Team Results
Carson wins another section title by 90 points in what has become a regular occurrence in this area. Granada Hills Charter and Palisades Charter tie for second place with 49 points, 10 ahead of fourth-place El Camino Real.