2022 San Diego Section Track and Field - Top Boys To Watch
San Diego's two Bryces - Gilmore of Sage Creek in Raymond Tran photo on the banner, and Brock of Cathedral Catholic in Clark Kranz photo above - are the top returning track and field athletes in the SDS in the distances and sprints, respectively.
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Unlike 2021 when it seemed there were San Diego athletes in virtually every unofficial state meet event, there are fewer headliners heading into the season.
Still, the SDS is far from devoid of potential boys state champions.
The Bryces -- Sage Creek's Gilmore in the distance runs and Cathedral Catholic's Brock in the sprints -- Helix's Adren Parker in 400, national runner-up Kenan Pala of Francis Parker in the distance races, and 6-8 high jumper Justin Cardoza of Eastlake should make things very interesting this spring.
Here's a sampling of some of the top return boys track and field athletes in the San Diego Section. (Athletes are listed alphabetically.)
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Bryce Brock (Cathedral Catholic, Sr.) - Sprints
Two-sport standout posted the top time of the season in the 100 at 10.56 in the Arcadia Invitational but suffered a season-ending injury keeping him from the section and unofficial state meet. His 10.56 is the No. 5 wind-legal returning time. A 21.49 for 200 meters is equal to the fifth-best returning wind-legal time.
Haydn Brotschi (Otay Ranch, Sr.) - Sprints
Very versatile runner (100 through 400) but best in the metric quarter-mile where he clocked a 49.64 to place third in the Division 1 championships before placing fifth in the SD Open at 50.55.
Brandon Buu (Eastlake, Sr.) - Jumps
Somewhat inconsistent, Buu hit 45-4 in the D1 triple jump championships after landing at 22-1 in the long jump prelims.
Justin Cardoza (Eastlake, Sr.) - Jumps
The senior saved his best for last when he scaled 6-feet, 8-inches in the San Diego Open. That mark trails only St. Francis' Leland Lieberg, by just one inch among the state's top returnees.
Jahlil Florence (Lincoln, Sr.) - Sprints
Another football-track standout, Florence posted best wind-legal times of 10.77 in the 100 and 21.93 in the 200 in the section Division 3 championships, where he placed second in both.
Bryce Gilmore (Sage Creek, Sr.) - Distances
Started the 2021 season with a 4:13.39 1600 at the Sundown Invitational in Arizona, roared to a 1:54.55 in the 800 at Laguna Beach, and broke 9-minutes in the 3200 with an 8:58.82 in the loaded Arcadia Invitational. Quality cross country season sets him up for a big outdoor season.
Quinn Harder (San Marcos, Sr.) - Distances
Caught in between events as he posted a 50.31 in the 400, winning the West Coast JOs in addition to clocking a 1:55.17 at the Distance Mania all-comers meet in late June.
Guillermo Lopez (El Centro Southwest, Sr.) - Throws
There is usually at least one Imperial Valley athlete in the mix and Lopez, with section-best returning marks of 54-feet in the shot and 166-4 in the discus, claims that title this year.
Jun Melchior (Scripps Ranch, Sr.) - Pole Vault
After watching La Costa Canyon's Garrett Brown soar over 17 feet three times, including the section record 17-2 at the Division 2 championships, it will be interesting to see how high Melchoir (14-3 last year) can soar.
Kenan Pala (Francis Parker, Sr.) - Distances
Headed to Yale, Pala lost just two cross country races, placing second in the EastBay National Championships and second in the qualifying. Before that he won state and section titles and scorched the Mt. SAC course for the second fastest time ever. His 9:02.92 3200 and 4:20.77 1600 figure to drop bigtime.
Adren Parker (Helix, Jr.) - Sprints
Just a junior, Parker clocked a 48.05 at the Division 1 prelims before easily winning the championship in 48.75. He ran 49.11 to win the San Diego Open meet, his 10th sub-50 second victory against one loss (at Arcadia). Placed third in the D1 200 at 22.43.
Nathan Richards (Poway, Sr.) - Pole Vault
Like Melchoir, Richards learned a lot watching Garrett Brown and eventually topped out at 14-3. He and Melchoir should have some interesting battles.
Lamar Smith (Mission Hills, Sr.) - Sprints
A member of the unofficial state championship 4x100 relay team than ran 41.56, holding off Santa Ana Mater Dei (41.57). With bests of 10.87 and 22.06, he was second in Division 1 to graduated teammate Kyle Smith (no relation).
Levi Taylor (San Marcos, Sr.) - Distances
Solid runner with a wide range that included a best of 1:55.24 in the 800, 4:14.91 placing third in the 1600 at the Division 1 championships, and 9:13.80 in the 3200 at Arcadia. Placed 8th in the section D1 cross country championships.
Mark Trammell (Santa Fe Christian, Sr.) - Distances
Coming off a stellar cross country season where he placed third in the state in D5, Trammell will be looking to crack 9-minutes in the 3200 after running 9:09.19 in the SD Open in 2021.
Steve Brand is a freelance writer and a regular contributor to MileSplitCA with a focus on the San Diego Section.