Girls Seniors-Only Central Coast Section Finals Highlights
100 Dash
This race comes down to a four-person lean at the line, as Kelaiah Moore (Kings Academy) crashes the expected leading trio of Michelle Louie (Menlo School), Kiana Ward (Los Gatos), and Nina Barry (Valley Christian), all separated by a total of 0.05 seconds. Ward, the most experienced in this event, tightens up a fraction less under the pressure and slips by for the title. Moore's late charge comes up just short of a state meet spot (more on her later), with Louie taking second and Barry third.
200 Dash
There are several comeback stories playing out in this meet, and two of them clash here. Aaliyah Carreras (Marina CC) ran in the 25's in 2018 but seemed to struggle with an injury last spring that set back the start of her season and stunted her development. Likewise for Amaya Gray (Woodside Priory), who only got in two meets before her 2019 season ended. Both are back in the 25's and stage a tremendous battle for third place today. Just in front of them are the two favorites: on paper, Louie and Anna Zaeske (Los Altos) are very evenly matched. In the race, though, Louie is able to pull away down the stretch for a convincing win. That's due in part to her focus on the 100 and 200 this season, and also due to Zaeska's tired legs from a tough 400. Hard-charging Gray and Carreras slip past Zaeske at the line, taking second and third to cap their return from difficult junior seasons.
400 Dash
Zaeske and Abby Monti (Los Gatos) go toe-to-toe over the entire lap, shoulder to shoulder down the last stretch, and it takes the camera to separate them at the finish. Zaeske claims the crown by a scant 0.01 seconds, relegating Monti to second (which gives her another shot next week) - both run in the mid-56's. Louie's decision to focus on the 100 and 200 allows Shama Tawakol (Homestead) to grab the final state meet qualifying spot.
800 Run
There is no question up front in this event, but a fantastic race develops behind Charlotte Tomkinson (Menlo School) as she steadily pulls away in her final tune-up before her state title pursuit. Fellow Knight Kyra Pretre and Claire Yerby (Half Moon Bay) already squared off in the 1600, which took a toll on them, causing second place to be determined in the 2:15 range instead of faster. That, in turn, allows three other runners to join them in a mad dash off the final turn. Pretre is too strong, separating over the last 40 meters or so to take second (expect her to drop the 1600 for next week, as she did in 2019). Yerby fades just a bit, enough for Oriana Jalal (Cupertino) to nip her for third place, holding off Kendall Mansukhani (Half Moon Bay) and Ella Ball (Palo Alto).
1600 Run
Yerby gets the better of Pretre in this race, winning the section title and posting a new PR under 4:57 in the process. Pretre eases up at the end, perhaps saving her legs for the 800, but still takes second in sub-5 fashion. Anna Mokkapati (Kings Academy), returning to the low 5 minute range she reached in 2018, gives everything she has in a final sprint with Gianna Mendoza (Presentation). Mokkapati holds on with Mendoza in fourth - but with Pretre dropping the event, it turns out both can advance to the state meet.
3200 Run
Kaimei Gescuk (Carlmont) is fresh and focused, and she methodically wears out the rest of the field to defend her second title; next, she wants to make a run at the podium in Clovis. Once again we see Mendoza and Mokkapati racing each other; this time it's Mendoza winning the battle, pulling away over the final 800. Sarah Perry (Woodside) unleashes a furious final 300, passing Mokkapati with 50 meters left to claim third and move on to the state meet.
100 Hurdles
Hopefully we can be excused for not paying closer attention to Kelaiah Moore (Kings Academy) in the semifinals; she had a difficult 2019 season and opened 2020 with a rough hurdle race (although she displayed renewed speed in the 100). She has been gradually creeping back toward the 15.51 she ran as a sophomore, when she finished 6th in this meet. Today it comes together for her as she upsets favored Isabella Reimann (Notre Dame Salinas) in a tight finish. Marcela Mantilla (Gilroy) holds off Annabriza Melchor (Los Altos) to claim the last spot in the state meet.
300 Hurdles
After a tough 400, Monti looks a little off her game, with a few minor stutter-steps interrupting her flow. Nonetheless, she is able to stay comfortably ahead of the rest of the field, which looks like a wall of runners coming down the final stretch behind her. We expect Monti to drop time as she drops the 400, and that means we expect low 43's or even a high 42 if everything clicks for her next week. Melchor emerges from the huge group of contenders to take second, with Sydney Vandenbrandhorninge (Homestead) edging out Tianna Bumbaca-Kuehl (San Lorenzo Valley) and Alexis McMahon (Valley Christian) for third.
Long Jump
Kiana Ward (Los Gatos) caught lightning in a bottle once, jumping 18-11 in April of 2019; she does it again today, busting out an 18-footer on her fourth attempt to run away with the title. That leaves a deep field competing for the other two qualifying spots. Maya Evans (Mills), whose junior season ended too early, trades off possession of second and third with Brynn Mitchell (Aptos) and Hailey Richey (Kings Academy) until the sixth round of jumps, when Mitchell moves into second to stay. Evans holds on to third place to move on to the state meet.
Triple Jump
Emma Scarra (Notre Dame San Jose) went to the 2019 state meet in this event, and she goes in 2020 - this time with the section title in her possession. She is challenged by Fallon Dexheimer (Valley Christian CC) and Mitchell, who both break 37 to earn trips to Clovis next week. Nicole Player (Los Altos) leads the rest of the field, going 35 feet for a new PR.
High Jump
As is often the case in this event at a championship meet, most of the action happens below the PR's of the competitors. Today, the height that separates the field is 5 feet, where several potential contenders take multiple attempts to clear. Naiya Edwards (Westmont) gets 5 on her first attempt, as does Tasina Westberg (San Lorenzo Valley), putting them in position to battle for the title. The next group, composed of Cynthia Diaz (Presentation), Elaine Chen (Crystal Springs Uplands), and Mariama Indula (Salinas) clears 5 on the second attempt. Kyla Tracy (Gunn), whose 2019 season was cut short after showing great promise, is the lone competitor to get past 5 on her final attempt, as a few contenders take three misses here to end their day. At 5-2, however, Tracy gets back on track and clears on her first jump, catapulting her to the win as Edwards and Westberg both need a second try. Those two head to a jump off for second place, where Westberg's stamina carries the day as both move on to the state meet.
Pole Vault
Lindsay Gigliello (Branham) wins this event handily, looking sharp all the way through 13 feet as she prepares to make a splash at the state meet. Her teammate Phoebe Roach has her hands full, ending up locked in a battle with Julie Trundle (Sequoia) and Samantha Brackett (San Lorenzo Valley) for the two remaining qualifying spots. All three clear 12 feet, but Roach does so on her second attempt to take the silver, as the other two need a third jump to get over. Trundle gets third place over Brackett based on total misses.
Shot Put
Moorea Mitchell (Castilleja) delivers on her favorite status entering the meet, hitting 43 feet for the first time and looking quite ready to compete at the state meet. Cassious Fiaui (Fremont) pulls ahead of Diem Nguyen (Evergreen Valley) on her second throw, but they switch places on Nguyen's fifth attempt. Fiaui is able to pull out one more big put in the sixth round, claiming second place as Nguyen also advances to the state meet.
Discus
Although this is her weaker event, Mitchell is in a groove today and she takes command early to win the section title. Amy Arness (Archbishop Mitty) continually improves through her six throws, but she falls just short of passing Mitchell and finishes second. Sydney Ghiglione (Aptos) has to hold off Nguyen to claim the final qualifying spot.