PREVIEW Top Central Section Boys Track and Field Returners

Central HS senior Jeremiah Walker is the top returning 400-meter runner in the state (U.S. No. 9) and ranks No. 2 among returning boys in the 200 meters (U.S. No. 14) while also anchoring one of CA's top 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. (DeAnna Turner photo)

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Unlike most of the rest of the state during the COVID-impacted 2021 track and field season, the Central Section managed to provide the most complete spring season in the Golden State. The CS ran regional area championships and brought all the top qualifiers up to Buchanan HS for a collective Masters Meet. Despite brutal late-June temperatures that pushed the meet start time back a few hours, the CS provided a full season and crowned champions across the standard 16 events.

From that meet, six champions from seven of the 14 individual events are back. In addition, five runners-up from seven events, and seven third-place finishers across nine events are also back.

Here's a closer look at 15 of the top returning boys track and field athletes in the Central Section.

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Nathan Avila (Clovis, Sr.) - Distances

Runner-up in the Division 1 race at the CIF-Central Section cross country finals, is among the returning elite distance runners on the track in the CS. His 3200m PR of 9:26.57 ranks third in the section among returners and his 4:19.68 ranks fourth for 1600m. 

Grant Buckey (Liberty, Jr.) - Throws

Buckey ranks No. 2 in the section as a combo thrower (215-3.25). In the discus, his 167-8 ranks second in the section. His shot put PR of 47-7.25 ranks CS No. 7. His DT mark ranks third among CS returners behind SLO senior Rory Devaney (170-10) and Liberty's Andrew Trottier (168-9). Devany hit a massive PR with his runner-up throw at CS Masters.

Malachi Carrasco (Selma, So.) - High Jump

As a freshman, Carrasco pushed himself into the headlines last June by winning the high jump title at the Central Section Masters Meet with a winning clearance of 6-5 to match his PR. It was no fluke; he won the event in eight meets last spring. 

Chris Caudillo (Clovis, Jr.) - Distances

Not only the top distance runners in the CS but among the elites in the state. His 8:51.98 for 3200m at Arcadia last spring ranks fourth among CA returners, No. 9 U.S. among all returners, and No. 2 U.S. in the class of 2023 behind only Lex Young of Newbury Park (SS). Caudillo's 4:09.67 PR for 1600m ranks No. 3 U.S. in the class and No. 5 overall in CA. 

Imari Conley (Central, Jr. ) - Sprints

Another elite sprinter for Central, Conley has PRs of 10.65 for 100m and 21.57 for 200m. His times have CA class rankings of No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, at CS rankings of No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. 

Nick Godbehere (Shafter, Sr.) - Shot Put

Godbehere was undefeated in the shot put in 11 meets in 2021 with wins at West Coast Relays (61-0 PR), Arcadia (59-1.75), CIF-Central Section South Regional (59-0), and CIF-CS Masters (60-11.5). His PR ranks CA No. 2 and U.S. No. 12. He is one of only four returning throwers in the CS with shot put marks beyond 49 feet (Liberty senior Andrew Trottier, Clovis junior Tovie Martin, and Morro Bay senior Jackson Reilly have all gone 49-1.75 or farther). 

Nathan Johnson (Clovis, Sr.) - Sprints/Jumps

Elite football recruit to the University of Utah may not compete outdoors this spring, according to Clovis coach E.J. Jackson. What we would be missing is what could be an amazing spring watching Johnson and Central's Cameron Tarver battle for supremacy as CA's most versatile sprinter-jumper. Johnson has 100m bests of 10.49 (2.5)/10.52 (1.4) and a long jump best of 22-9.25 (1.3). His 100m times rank CA No. 4 and his WL long jump mark ranks CA No. 3. He is the returning CS Masters champion in both the 100m and LJ.

Jake Parnagian (Clovis North, Sr.) - Sprints

In a section where Nathan Johnson of Clovis and the sprinters at Central High dominated the conversation in 2021, Parnagian was right there among those elites. His 100m best of 10.59 (2.0) ranks CS No. 3, and his 200m best of 21.27 (2.4) ranks CS No. 3.

Noah Ray (Buchanan, Jr.) - Distances

Closed out his sophomore season with a 1600m PR of 4:14.00 at Central Section Masters where he placed third in both the 800m and 1600m. The No. 2 returner in the section in the two-lap race with a best of 1:55.18. Ranks as the No. 3 in the section for combined 800-1600 times behind only Chris Caudillo and Emanuel Salas. 

Tristan Risley (Clovis, Sr.) - Hurdles

His PR in the 110-meter hurdles of 15.66 ranks No. 2 in the CS among returners in that event. He competed in nine meets as a frosh but hasn't done much since. 

Emanuel Salas (Sanger, Sr.) - Distances

The No. 2 distance runner in the CS for 800m-1600m combination times, just 0.02 behind Chris Caudillo. His 1:53.35 PR of 800m leads the CS and ranks No. 4 in the state. Salas also has PRs of 4:13.79 for 1600, and 8:57.73 for 3200m. 

Micah Spomer (Kingsburg, Sr.) - Jumps

Top returning combo jumper in the section, with a CS-leading 44-10.25 (1.4) triple jump and a CA No. 1 wind-legal long jump of 23-0 (2.0), which ranks CA No. 2. His triple jump PR ranks CA No. 8.

Cameron Tarver (Central, Sr.) - Springs/Jumps

None of the returning boys in CA can match the top-end sprint-jump combo talent of Tarver. His 100m best of 10.53 (2.0) ranks CA No. 6, and his wind-legal 200m best of 21.34 (1.9) ranks CA No. 3. His all-conditions long jump PR of 23-6 (2.1) to win at Arcadia, ranks CA No. 3 and his wind-legal long jump best of 22-7 (1.3) for second place at CIF-CS Masters ranks CA No. 6.

Andrew Trottier (Liberty, Sr.) - Throws

No. 1 combo thrower in the CS and No. 3 in the class statewide with a total of 224-1.50. Hit PRs in both discus throw (168-9) and shot put (55-4.50) to place third in both at CIF-CS Masters.

Jeremiah Walker (Central, Sr.) - Sprints

Walker is the returning CA leader for 400 meters (47.43, U.S. No. 9) and ranks No. 2 for 200m (21.02, U.S. No. 14). At the Central Section Masters Meet last June, despite sweltering temperatures, Walker won both the 200 and 400 and ran on both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams in arguably the most impressive multi-event individual performance of the 2021 outdoor season. He won his last nine 400-meter races, dipping under 48 seconds three times - all on the track at Arcadia HS.  

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