Boys Seniors-Only Southern Section Masters Highlights
100 Dash
In a field as close and talented as this one, if you're not dominant, you're vulnerable. With no clear favorite in this race, it comes down to who runs well when the gun fires. Lamont Narcisse (Calabasas) gets a step on the field out of the blocks, but he is caught at the 40 meter mark by Anthony Johnson (Long Beach Poly) and Kaden Reynolds (Aliso Niguel), the only two returners from the 2019 Masters meet. As they battle shoulder to shoulder again, it's Lorenzo McMillan (Cajon) that slips by both of them to take the win, with Reynolds second and Johnson third. Silas Bolden (Rancho Cucamonga) gets past Narcisse at the line to take fourth, with Jacob Williams (Brea Olinda) edging out Patrick Dean (Colony) for the final state meet qualifying spot.
200 Dash
As was the case at the division finals last week, it comes down to Solomon Strader (West Ranch) and Johnson in the last 40 meters. Strader will not be denied today, coming very close to breaking 21 seconds as he pulls away by a few meters at the finish. Johnson is solidly second, staying ahead of Mekhi Evans-Bey (Culver City) and David Garcia (Channel Islands). Donovan Nelson (La Sierra), whose 2019 season was cut short, advances to the state meet in 5th place to cap his comeback. Emmanuel Jones (Vista Murrieta) is the last to advance to Clovis, just nipping the Savage twins at the line.
400 Dash
Congrats to the Dana Hills coaches for getting star baseball player Chase Walter to run track this spring - he has been a revelation in this event, opening his season sub-49 and dropping time since then. He finishes third today, slipping under 48 for the first time to continue his remarkable debut season. It's not enough to threaten the top two athletes in the field, however: Strader looks very strong today as he handles a strong challenge from Everett Steward (Long Beach Poly) up front, both looking like contenders next week. Evans-Bey rallies from a subpar performance in the division finals to take fourth, just ahead of Caine Savage and Liam Carr (Palm Desert), who grab the last two spots in the state meet.
800 Run
Four runners are able to separate from the rest of the field in the last 200, setting up a wild sprint for the title. The fresh legs of Justin Larson (Northwood) carry the day as he holds off a late charge from Preston Green (Oak Park) as both run well under 1:54. Dylan Wilbur (Crescenta Valley) and Anthony Grover (JSerra) both advance in their second race of the day, with Billy Atkinson (Mira Costa) closing late to finish right behind them in fifth. Anthony Alcerro (Villa Park) wins a tight race with Micah Baird (Great Oak) for the last ticket to Clovis.
1600 Run
Nico Young (Newbury Park) is on a mission in the 1600 this spring, and he is simply too strong for the rest of the field; he goes sub-4:10 to take the title and set up a huge race next week. The tactical pace leads to a fantastic finish as Grover, Jake Parker (West Torrance), and Wilbur cross the line within a tenth of each other, followed closely by Carrick Denker (Dana Hills). Cole Sawires Yager (Great Oak) just barely outruns teammate Christopher Verdugo for the final qualifying spot - until Denker later decides not to carry this race to the state meet, allowing both Wolfpack runners to move on.
3200 Run
Young and teammate Jace Aschbrenner (Newbury Park), both under 8:45 on the season, are able to control the race and pull away over the last 400 for the 1-2 finish, which they may just repeat next week. Gabriel Abbes (Great Oak) leads the next group, working hard to stay in front of Denker and Michael Mireles (Thousand Oaks). Running on fresh legs, Keith Murray (Moorpark) is able to fend off Parker and Logan Brooks (Laguna Beach) for sixth place and a trip to the state meet.
(NOTE: this series was begun before Billy Atkinson posted an 8:57 in a time trial this week, which is a very different outcome than what we wrote for him. We're staying consistent with what we put into the division finals article, but wanted to acknowledge that he would have been a candidate to make the state meet in this event.)
110 Hurdles
Defending champion Aiden Lieb (Peninsula) doesn't have an easy path to a repeat title, as Joshua Hornsby (Summit) has been excellent all season. Lieb's greater experience prevails, allowing him a smoother exit from the 10th hurdle and bringing him back-to-back Masters wins. Hunter Escorcia (Vista Murrieta) gets past Hornsby at the line for second place, as Anthony Forrest (Big Bear) runs out of real estate for his late charge and takes fourth. Jaden Edwards (Capistrano Valley) finishes fifth, holding off Aaron Fontes (Oxnard) as both move on to next week.
300 Hurdles
Namir Hemphill (Upland) rolls smoothly over 8 hurdles before coasting to the finish line with a comfortable win, leaving no doubt that he has the potential to run 36 and contend for the title next week. John Burns (Mission Viejo) closes strong to claim second place, just ahead of a photo finish between Michael Ventura (Santa Margarita) and Isaac Korn (Trabuco Hills) - which is interesting, as they opened their season with a duel in the Mustang Roundup that ended with the opposite order. Edwards advances for the second time today, and Glen McKenzie (Rancho Verde) slips past Lieb for the final qualifying spot.
Long Jump
When he's on his game, Hemphill can beat just about anyone, even though this isn't his best jumping event. Last year, he wasn't on his game at the end of the season, failing to advance from division finals. Today he goes 23 feet on his first attempt, setting the standard for the rest of the field. Angel Ledesma (Canyon Anaheim Hills) and Lieb also get into the 23's, finishing second and third, respectively. JD Martinez (Villa Park), Jeremiah Harris (South Hills), and Kyrie Wilson (Pacifica Oxnard) round out the state meet qualifiers.
Triple Jump
Hemphill has shown even greater emphasis on this event in 2020, hitting 48 twice in the winter before opening with a PR of 49-11 this spring. Having crossed the 50 foot barrier, he is able to use this meet as a tune-up for the state meet, using his first three jumps to work on technique and then passing the last three on his way to the title. Tianhao Wei (South Pasadena) is still trying to recapture the magic he used at last year's state meet, but his high 47 is enough for second place today, giving him a chance to repeat his 2019 performance and set a new PR. Issac Muanza (Lawndale) gets to the state meet after missing by one place last year, with James Smith (St. John Bosco) and just behind in fourth. Harris and Adama Fall (Royal) take fifth and sixth, just ahead of Victor Trejo (Citrus Valley).
High Jump
It's hard for two athletes to go head to head for four straight weeks with full intensity, which explains why Tyler Cash (Canyon Country Canyon) and Kyle Jankans (Villa Park) were a bit off rhythm last week. They face off again today, and this time they both bring their A game. In the end it's Cash taking the win and clearing 7 feet for the first time, as Jankans tops out at 6-10; he will have to wait another week to try to crack the barrier. Lieb, who took up the event just this season, gets over 6-6 along with Muanza, Reno Vasquez (Murrieta Mesa), and Rae'Kwon Alvez (Mojave). When all the tiebreakers have been applied, we end up with Muanza third and Alvez fourth, followed by Lieb and Vasquez.
Pole Vault
This is an outstanding event to watch, with five competitors over 15-6 in contention for the title. Kyle Yonker (Great Oak), Kendall Gibbs (Vista Murrieta), and David Miketta (La Canada) all clear 16 feet, with Gibbs getting it on his first attempt to take the lead. Yonker then clears 16-6 to claim the crown, Gibbs finishing in second and Miketta third. Aaron Rodriguez (Covina) leads a cluster of vaulters that topped out at 15-6, with Lucas Tailin (South Pasadena) and Danny Affleck (Aliso Niguel) securing the last two qualifying spots based on misses.
Shot Put
Jeff Duensing (Esperanza) defends his Masters title, and this year he hopes to carry that momentum to the state meet, where he finished a disappointing 8th in 2019. He will be the favorite there, having led the state most of the season. We know that Aidan Elbettar (Newport Harbor) is capable of beating Duensing, having taken second in Clovis last spring; today, he is a foot short of the win. Sawyer Howard (Los Alamitos) and Quinten Lyons (Notre Dame Sherman Oaks) also saved their best for last in 2019, getting 4th and 5th at states. Both occupy top three spots at different times during today's competition, but it's Lyons that finishes in third. Jake Porter (Canyon Anaheim Hills) is not quite on the level of the four in front of him, but way better than anyone else in the section, so he is never challenged for fifth place. That leaves only one more qualifying spot, which Quincy Stokes (Thousand Oaks) and Nicholas Meeker (Great Oak) go back and forth holding through the six rounds until Meeker grabs it for good.
Discus
Elbettar has been very consistent this spring, and he takes the win with six throws over 180 feet (2 over 190) as he seeks to redeem himself after a rough finals showing at the 2019 state meet. Duensing has to rally past Edward Ta'amilo (Vista Murrieta) on his fifth attempt to take second, but that still puts both of them in contention next week. Lyons and Porter both advance with solid performances, leaving three athletes battling for the final spot in the state meet: Michael Norzagaray (Jurupa Hills) is able to hold off Mo Bradley (Canyon Anaheim Hills) and Khai Redd (Bishop Alemany) to claim it.