Leo Young (left) was among the elite distance runners in the class of 2023 and Kai Graves-Blanks (right) tops the hurdles leaders in the class as well as the CA overall leader in the 110mH. (Photos by Daniel Hernandez and Raymond Tran)
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Congratulations to all 2023 boys for their selection onto the MileSplitCA All-State Boys Sophomore Track and Field Team!
Athletes were selected based on rankings within the class as well as statewide rankings regardless of class for marks achieved during the 2021 spring season. Results at section finals, major invitationals, and post-CIF events were also considered.
Rankings and athlete PRs are based on marks in the MileSplit database. U.S. rankings are within the boys class of 2023 unless noted.
Athletes are encouraged to claim their profile and provide feedback for any missing or incorrect data. Here's how to claim athlete profiles on MileSplit.
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SOPHOMORE BOYS ALL-STATE TEAM
(Athletes are listed alphabetically)
Tiger Bachmeier (Murrieta Valley/SS) - Pole Vault
Class-best clearance of 14-3. Cleared 14-feet or higher in each of his last four meets, including his PR for seventh at the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Finals.
Kathir Balakrishnan (Fremont/CC) - Hurdles
CIF-Central Coast Section champion for 300mH at 38.68, which ranks second in the class and U.S. No. 12. Placed second in the CIF-CCS Finals in the 110mH with a PR of 15.17 (0.2).
Christopher Caudillo (Clovis/CS) - Distances
CIF-Central Section Masters champion for 3200m (9:22.37) and runner-up for 1600m (4:12.70). PRs rank among the best in the state as well as near the top of the national class rankings: 4:09.67 (U.S. No. 3)/ 8:51.98 (U.S. No. 2). PR for 800m: 1:57.45 (CA No. 8).
Imari Conley (Central/CS) - Sprints
Has PRs of 10.65 (0.9) for 100m and 21.57 (2.7) for 200m, which ranks U.S. No. 7 for all-conditions marks. Placed fourth in the 100m (10.85) and fifth in the 200m at CIF-Central Section Masters. Member of the 4x100-meter relay team that ran a CA No. 2 time of 41.25.
No. 2 hurdler in the class behind his teammate Kai Graves-Blanks, with bests of 14.78 (nwi) and 14.91 (1.4), which ranks U.S. No. 22 for wind-legal marks. Runner-up in the 110s at Chandler Rotary and at Baseline League Finals, placed fifth at CIF-SS Division 1. Has 300mH PR of 40.03. and placed sixth at CIF-SS Division 1. Member of state record-setting shuttle hurdle relay team.
Kai Deines (Redondo Union/SS) - Throws
Class leader in the discus throw (173-9) and No. 2 in the shot put (53-2.98). Threw huge discus PR, U.S. No. 5, for second at CA State Champs. The only other throw plus-160 was to win South Bay Championships. Hit shot put PR at AAU Region 23 qualifier. Finished season 52-plus in his last four meets.
Kai Graves-Blanks (Upland/SS) - Hurdles
Season-best 110m hurdles time of 13.73 (2.5) ranks No. 1 in CA overall and No. 9 U.S. overall for all-conditions times. His PR of 13.95 (1.2) ranks No. 1 for wind-legal marks, U.S. No. 1 and tied for U.S. No. 15 overall. Class leader for 300mH at 38.60 (U.S. No. 9). CIF-SS Division 1 Champion for 110mH (14.02/0.2) and placed third in the 300mH (39.21). Also has a best of 21.74 for 200m (CA No. 4 for all-conditions marks). Member of state record-setting shuttle hurdle relay team.
Javon Hampton (Long Beach Poly/SS) - Jumps
Class leader with an all-conditions best long jump of 22-10. Jumped his wind-legal best of 22-0.75 (0.8) for third at the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals. Moore League champion (21-11).
Caleb Jackson (Clovis/CS) - Jumps
The class leader with a best of 6-6, a four-inch PR to win the Clovis West Frosh-Soph and JV Challenge. The mark is equal to U.S. No. 23 in the class.
Adam Laycock (Westlake/SS) - Throws
Class leader in the shot put (55-8) and No. 2 in the discus throw (169-2). Tied for U.S. No. 12 in the shot. Placed third in both throws at the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals with bests of 163-3 and 53-00.
Marcel Francis Mitchell (Long Beach Wilson/SS) - Distance
Ranks second in the class for 800m for his 1:55.11 for third place at the CIF-SS Divison 1 Finals. U.S. No. 17. Big West Frosh-Soph champion and Moore League runner-up.
Sean Morello (Albany/NC) - Distance
Adren Parker (Helix/SD) - Sprints
CIF-San Diego Section Division 1 champion for 400m (48.05) ranks U.S. No. 6. PR for 200m of 21.88 (2.9) ranks fifth in the class in CA for all-conditions times. Won the 400m in six of seven meets, including four times under 49 seconds.
Rodrick Pleasant (Serra/SS) - Sprints
Sophomore state record-holder in the 200m for his 20.59 (-0.3) clocking at CA State Champs, CA No. 7 all-time for wind-legal marks. Also ran 10.32 (1.7) for second in 100m at CA Champs. His 100m time ranks No. 12 in CA history. Both rank U.S. No. 1 in the class (wind-legal). CIF-SS Division 4 champion for 100m (10.46/0.8) and 200m (21.02/1.3).
Noah Ray (Buchanan/CS) - Distances
Ranks third in the class for 800m 1:55.18 and fifth in the class for 1600m at 4:14.00, which he ran for third at CIF-CS Masters. His two-lap best ranks U.S. No. 19 and his four-lap best ranks U.S. No. 13.
Aaron Sahlman (Newbury Park/SS) - Distances
Emerged from the shadow of older brother Colin to establish himself as one of the top distance runners in the state. His 4:08.89 best for 1600m ranks CA No. 7 overall and U.S. No. 2. Also ran 800m PR of 1:54.83 for sixth at MOC Distance Classic ranks U.S. No. 13.
Jeyquan Smith (Cajon/SS) - Sprints/Jumps
Placed third in the 100m (10.57/3.0) at the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Finals. Had the top 200m qualifying time in prelims (21.55/0.1) but did not run in the final. Season bests 10.55 (2.6), 21.39 (1.1), 50.52 for 400m, and a 21-9 long jump.
Leo Young (Newbury Park/SS) - Distances
Third in the class for 3200m with 8:55.82 time for sixth at that historic eight-lap event at Arcadia in early May. That mark ranks U.S. No. 5. Also ran 1600m PR of 4:10.62 that ranks U.S. No. 5.
Lex Young (Newbury Park/SS) - Distances
Sophomore class record-holder for 3200 at 8:43.71 for second to junior teammate Colin Sahlman at Arcadia, a time that ranks CA No. 12 all-time and U.S. No. 1 in the class and U.S. No. 2 overall. His 1600m PR of 4:12.66 ranks U.S. No. 8.
Jonathan Yu (Fountain Valley/SS) - Jumps
Class best all-conditions triple jump of 45-5 and a wind-legal best of 45-2 (0.2) as the top jump at CIF-SS Division 1 Prelims. The latter mark ranks U.S. No. 6 for wl marks.
HONORABLE MENTION
- John Appleton (Frontier/CS) - Long jump - Had 22-2 (1.3) PR to win the CIF-CS South Area Regional.
- Grant Buckey (Liberty/CS) - Throws - Threw 167-8 discus PR for seventh at Arcadia (U.S. No. 15).
- Aaron Cantu (Newbury Park/SS) - Distance - Ran 3200m PR of 9:19.87 at CIF-SS Division 1 Prelims.
- Furious Clay (Crystal Springs Uplands/CC) - Mid-Distance - Hit 1:56.13 PR for fifth at CIF-CCS Finals. 400m/800m combo time of 2:49.59 ranks second in the class.
- Andrew Fu (Harker/CC) - Long jump - Hit PRs of 22-8.50 (nwi), and 21-8.25 (-0.5) to win CIF-CCS title.
- Michael DeTamble (Shadow Hills/SS) - Hurdles - Won CIF-SS D2 200m 39.68; Ran 39.60 PR at Desert Empire League Finals.
- Isaac Lewis (Long Beach Wilson) - Sprints - Ran 400m PR of 49.08 for second at CIF-SS Division 1 Finals.
- Reuben Lopez (Mission Viejo/SS) - Jumps - No. 2 combo jumper in the class (65-9), hit triple jump PR of 44-10.50 to win South Coast League Finals.
- Logan Lyght (Mater Dei/SS) - Hurdles - Ran 110mH PR of 15.08 (1.3) to win at Orange County Championships; 15.35w for third at CIF-SS Division 2 Finals.
- Dijon Stanley (Granada Hills/LA) - Sprints - CIF-LAC champion for 200m (22.13/-0.1) and 400m 48.54 (U.S. No. 16)
- Collin Young (Jesuit/SJ) - Pole Vault - Only other vaulter in the class to clear 14-0.
VIDEOS
Rodrick Pleasant wins CIF-SS Division 4 100m title (start at 1:10)
Adren Parker wins CIF-SDS Division 1 400m title (start at 7:00)
Kai Graves-Blanks wins CIF-SS Division 1 110mH title (start at 1:10)
Chris Caudillo wins CIF-CS Masters 3200m title