REVIEW 10 Things from the 2021 SJS Track and Field Season

The McNatt twins, Anna (right) and Louisa, got the McClatchey girls DMR team off to a fast start on the way to one of the fastest times in the U.S. (Raymond Tran photo)

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Wrapping up the 2021 track and field season with a closer look at each of the CIF sections, highlighting 10 things that impacted the season. 

Here we focus on 10 things to note from the Sac-Joaquin Section (listed alphabetically):

1. CIF-Sac Joaquin Section

As a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the uncertainty of the impact of the virus into the spring, and California Department of Public Health guidelines limiting travel, CIF-SJC leadership made the decision in late January to cancel all Season 2 playoffs. This was one of four sections that opted out of spring playoffs, which ultimately impacted the State CIF's decision to cancel the track and field state championships.

2. Riley Chamberlain (Del Oro)

Chamberlain, a junior who has already committed to BYU, ran the fastest times in the section for 1600m, 3200m, and the mile. The two-time CIF-State cross country champion dropped her PRs in the 800m (2:15.08) and the mile (4:47.13) while leading the SJS in the 1600m (4:50.75) and 3200m (10:27.22). Despite limited racing, she won all three of her 800m races, all four of her 1600m races, and two of her three 3200m races. 

Videos: Mile at Sundown Track #2 | Interview Sundown Track #2

3. Isabella Chilcutt (Bella Vista)

Chilcutt, a junior, is one of the top high jumpers in the state, winning the invitational section at Arcadia (5-4), placing third at CA State Champs (5-3), and hitting a season-best jump of 5-6, equal to the No. 4 highest clearance in the state.

4. Distance Medley Relays

This coupled entry recognizes two 12-4-8-16 distance medley relay championship teams from this past spring, the Jesuit boys and McClatchey girls. Jesuit, at the DAL Distance Classic at Campolindo, battled a stacked Bellarmine College Prep team and a John Lester-led Amador Valley team to a 10:07.25 victory that finished No. 2 in CA and No. 6 in the U.S. and No. 8 in CA all-time. Bellarmine's 10:12.66 ranked U.S. No. 9. The Jesuit team was Michael Chambers, Spencer Pickren, Braden King and Ajani Salcido. McClatchey, running during the open section at Arcadia, put together a team of Anna McNatt, Louisa McNatt, Olivia Johnson and Julia Heckey that had never run a DMR before. It all worked out with a time of 12:05.79, a time that would rank CA No. 3 and U.S. No. 10. 

Videos: Jesuit Race Highlights | Jesuit DMR Interview | McClatchey DMR Interview

5. Sydney Johnson (Whitney)

Johnson, a senior bound for UCLA, seemingly never stops moving at a track meet. From the 100m hurdles, to the high jump, to the long jump, the triple jump, and even a sampling of sprints and throws, Johnson is as versatile an athlete as there was in CA this outdoor season. Her long jump best of 19-10 and triple jump best of 39-02.25 leads the SJS. Her 100mH best of 14.43 (3.1) ranks second. She closed out the year at the CA State Champs, placing third in the triple jump (37-08.75), third in the long jump (18-11.50), and fourth in the 100mH (14.61/0.2). Her all-conditions long jump best led the state and she ranked seventh in the triple jump. She had 13 meets with the best long jump, eight with the fastest 100mH, seven with the best triple jump, five with the winning high jump, and she won three of four sprint races. 

6. Nathan Kent (Rocklin)

Kent, a junior, only competed in just a handful of March duals but certainly left his mark, running personal record times across the sprints -- 100-200-400: 10.73 (nwi), 21.68 (0.6), and 47.47. His 100m and 400m times led the section and his 400m time stood as the fastest in the state until the last weekend of June.

7. Jadyn Marshall (Stockton St. Mary's)

Marshall, a junior three-sport star, proved to be the state's best combination hurdler by sweeping the 110m and 300m races at the Arcadia Invitational in early May. His times on that stage of 13.76 (1.2) and 36.77 ranked No. 2 in the state for all-conditions marks. His 110mH time is CA No. 1 and U.S. No. 5 overall among wind-legal marks and his 300mH best is U.S. No. 10 overall and No. 5 in the class of 2022. He was undefeated in nine 110mH races and undefeated in five 300mH races. 

Videos: 110mH at NorCal Championships | Interview at Arcadia

8. Galadriel Mellion (Weston Ranch)

Mellion, a sophomore, had her season cut short because of surgery but nonetheless made an impact. She led the SJS in both throws, hitting her discus throw PR of 160-11.50 at a late-April dual and her shot put PR of 44-02.50 to win at the West Coast Relays. Both of those marks rank No. 4 in the state and U.S. No. 3 in the sophomore class for the discus and No. 5 U.S. in the class for the shot put.

9. Aspin Oliver (Vacaville)

Oliver, a senior headed to Cal Poly SLO, capped off her brilliant season over the 300m hurdles by winning the title at the CA State Championships with a 42.83 PR that ranks CA No. 2 and U.S. No. 25 overall. She won the event six times during the outdoor season, including at Eddie Hart, NorCal Champs and Golden West. She also teamed with her twin sister Makayla as part of the section-best 4x100m team that ran 47.18 for third at CA State Champs Prelims. (Makayla Oliver is the section leader in the 100m and 200m.)

Videos: 300mH at NorCal Champs | Interview at NorCal Champs

Videos: 1600m at DSDF #3 | Interview after DSDF #2 Sweep