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Xai Ricks, Long Beach Poly (SS)
Class of 2024
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Xai (wearing bib 1575 in the Raymond Tran photo above) was a narrow runner-up in the 600-meter run at the CA Winter Championships. His time of 1:19.92, was just 0.39 behind winner Yutaka Roberts, a senior and the defending 400- and 800-meter champion in the Central Coast Section. Ricks' time was 0.15 faster than that of Jai Dawson, also a senior, who is coming off CIF-Southern Section and CIF-State Division II cross country titles. That's some hearty company for the youngster.
Ricks also participated in the 300-meter dash at the CA Winter Championships, placing fourth in his section (35.29) and 10th overall out 43 runners across six sections.
Outdoors last spring, Ricks ran PRs of 51.45 for 400 meters and 1:59.22 for 800 meters.
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Photos by Daniel Hernandez, Jeffrey Parenti, and Raymond Tran