Girls Seniors-Only Southern Section Masters Highlights
100 Dash
Janae Oneal (Quartz Hill) is the only athlete in this field with Masters experience, and it shows as she runs a strong race. Chrystal Aluya (Valencia Placentia) and Sierra Smith (Vista Murrieta) both close in late to make it a photo finish, with Aluya squeaking out the win and Oneal in second. Those three separate by just a bit from the next group, which also has three nearly side by side sprinters. Kennedy Peppers (Corona) takes fourth from that cluster, followed by Kirstin Light (Norco) and Naomi Kilson (Long Beach Wilson).
200 Dash
We've already written as much as can be said about the rivalry between Egbe Ndip-Agbor (Corona) and Nia Mosby (Archer School). Today it has become clear that they have different focus races, as Ndip-Agbor pulls away to win this race with her second straight sub-24 time. Mosby has to hold off Anisa Rind (Dana Hills) to secure second place, with Aluya not far behind them. Valeia Payne (Chino) and Light round out the state meet qualifiers.
400 Dash
In a bit of a surprise, Ndip-Agbor decided not to move on in the 400 after division finals, concentrating on a title run in the 200. That leaves us with a duel between Iman Babineaux (Quartz Hill) and Mosby, who wins today as she looks to improve on her performance in the 2019 state meet prelims. Rind leads the next group, about 2 seconds behind the lead pair, as she gets past fourth-place finisher Nakyia Buckner (Centennial Corona). Payne and Jenna Krostag (La Reina) claim the last two qualifying spots, holding off Rosemary Kehoe (Fullerton Union).
800 Run
Hannah Wilson (Oaks Christian) has multiple races that are faster than the PR's of everyone else in this field - she is too strong to be beaten today, adding another sub-2:10 to her resume. Ashley Johnson (Mission Viejo), having just missed out on making the state meet in 2019, outleans Hailey Golmon (Newbury Park) for second place this year. Rylan Engels (JSerra) emerges from the pack to take fourth, ahead of qualifiers Mia Lawrence (Dana Hills) and Makayla Fick (Vista Murrieta).
1600 Run
Tori Gaitan (Great Oak) has been in fast 1600's before, which gives her the confidence to take the lead and force the pace through the middle two laps. She pulls the lead group under 4:50 only to be passed by Whitney Valenti (Brea Olinda) down the final stretch. Arianna Griffiths (Great Oak) also breaks 4:50, with Carly Corsinita (Capistrano Valley) less than a second behind her. Rebecca Schulz (Westlake) completes a nice comeback from a 2019 season that ended too early, taking fifth today and moving on to the state meet. Savannah Scriven (Palos Verdes) survives a mad scramble for the last qualifying spot, out kicking Maria Hernandez (Santa Ana) and Aubrie Nex (Great Oak). Later, Corsinita elects to drop this race to focus on the 3200, so Hernandez moves on to the state meet.
3200 Run
Hana Catsimanes (San Clemente) takes the lead early and doesn't give it up, fighting off a final charge from Madeleine Locher (Ventura) and Gaitan, who recovers nicely from her earlier race. Corsinita fades a bit to fourth, which explains why she doesn't continue in the 1600. Audrey Dang (Great Oak) and Samantha Steman (Palos Verdes) claim the last two qualifying spots, both within striking range of the top four.
100 Hurdles
It's worth noting that Rachel Glenn (Long Beach Wilson) didn't even run the hurdles until her junior year, which is why it's not surprising to see her take a big step forward in her second season. She gives Taylor Shorter (Norco) all she can handle today, with Glenn closing hard over the final four hurdles to make the finish very close. Shorter holds on as both go under 14 seconds, which sets up a rematch next weekend. That allows them to separate from Jazmin Jackson (Chaminade), who barely beats Yanla Ndjip-Nyemeck (St. Anthony) to the line to take third. Deaira Jackson (Rancho Cucamonga) finishes strong to get past Nia Jones (Hesperia) as they both advance to the state meet.
300 Hurdles
Glenn is hitting her stride, and that means she has a chance to reach the rarefied air of sub-40. It's not often that you see someone pull away from a hurdler running under 42 seconds, but that's exactly what happens as Glenn takes the lead off the curve and powers down to the line. Shorter and Amari Jenkins (J.W. North) both run in the 41's as the girls that went 1-2-5 in the 2019 state meet all head back to Clovis for another round. They leave quite a gap between them and the next group, which is led to the line by Myah Hatcher (Eleanor Roosevelt). Tori Olera (Northwood) and Isabella Ales (Troy) cross shoulder to shoulder, just ahead of Demia January (Upland)
Long Jump
We get to watch a two-event battle between several outstanding combo jumpers, most of them better in the triple. That means no clear favorite in this contest, and so the lead changes hands several time. Sophia Hartwell (Orange Lutheran), Madison Lyon (Woodbridge), and Ryann O'Bannon (St. Joseph Lakewood) all hold first place at some point during the six rounds, with Hartwell wearing the crown at the end. Lyon finishes second as Jodeci Weems (Rancho Verde) gets past O'Bannon on her final jump to take third. Elizabeth Jezek (Mission Viejo), who had a frustrating junior season, has been back on track this spring and grabs fifth place today. Sheredyn Pfeiffer (King) fends off Rionna Wallace (Lakewood) and Kelsey Ehinlaye (Ayala) to claim the final qualifying position.
Triple Jump
Three 40-footers square off in what could be a preview of the state meet final. Hartwell struggled to find her rhythm in this event early in the spring, but over the last 5 weeks she has been clicking; she puts on the early pressure with a near-PR on her opening attempt. Steady, consistent improvement from Lyon puts her in the lead after three rounds, with Kerrington Smith (Upland) moving into second place. That's how they finish, with no changes to the top three over the final three jumps - but plenty happens behind them during that time. Weems leaps into fourth place on her fourth attempt and makes it stand up the rest of the way, staying ahead of Avery Benitez-Fanslow (Thousand Oaks) and O'Bannon.
High Jump
Rachel Glenn was an elite high jumper before she even tried the hurdles, and she is the defending champion in this event. Today is Victoria Plummer's day, though, as the Moorpark star soars over 5-8 on her first attempt to take the win and make her third state meet. Glenn also makes it three trips to Clovis over her career in this event, and don't forget that she cleared 5-11 and won the state championship as a sophomore. Today, she gets 5-8 on her second jump, comfortably separating from the rest of the field. Aaliyah Mendoza (Etiwanda), O'Bannon, and Jazmin Jackson all top out at 5-6, with Mendoza taking third and O'Bannon fourth on tie breakers. Jillian Kolarik (Newbury Park) misses at 5-6, but she got over 5-4 on her first attempt, putting her through to the state meet as the final qualifier.
Pole Vault
Morgan Flynn (Aliso Niguel) and Kaitlyn Swenson (Great Oak) handle their business matter-of-factly, equaling their season bests of 13 feet while working on technique for the state meet. Swenson, working on a new pole for her top-end heights, has more misses and settles for second. Kaelyn McCann (Linfield Christian) and Bryn Polly (Oaks Christian) both get 12-6, with McCann winning the tie breaker for third. Sierra Meier (Vista Murrieta), Jenny Kroeger (Mission Viejo), and Sophia Zarcone (Mater Dei) all clear 11-6 on their second attempt with two total misses, setting up a jump-off for two spots in the state meet. Kroeger sails over on her first attempt to grab fifth, and Meier gets sixth with her final jump.
Shot Put
This event was dominated by seniors last year, to the point that Abby Venglass (Rancho Cucamonga) is the only returner. She shows her experience by taking control of the event early and winning solidly, posting three throws better than second-place Daphne Ebenhack (Village Christian). Leneah Olsingch (Elsinore) gets past Caitlyn Dawson (Murrieta Mesa) on her fifth attempt, giving her third place. Alejandra Rosales (Marina) struggles just a bit today, but she still has enough to get through to the state meet - watch out for her to bounce back next week. Quincey Valle (Santa Ynez Union) edges out Adelaida Peraza (San Gabriel) for the sixth and final spot in the state meet.
Discus
Rosales dominates this event, throwing over 150 with only Saloni Khandhadia (Beckman) within 15 feet of her. Emma O'Connell (Orange Lutheran) breaks 130 for the first time to take third comfortably. The rest of the field is muddled together in the 120's, and the places change almost every round. Ilaisaane Tovi (San Gorgonio) emerges with fourth place, just ahead of Venglass and Olsingch.