CA Small Sections Track and Field - Top Athletes To Watch
Skyline's Andy Ixtabalan Argueta (right) is the top returning distance runner in the Oakland Section. (Eric Morford photo)
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This article highlights some of the top returning track and field athletes from CA's three smallest sections: Northern, Oakland, and San Francisco. Because of COVID restrictions in certain parts of the state last spring, the athletes were only able to participate in a limited number of meets. Athletes listed below are based on returning rankings within their respective section as pulled from the MileSplit database. (Please alert us to any missing marks with a link to those results.)
Athletes are listed alphabetically by section
BOYS
Northern Section
Simon Dixon (Paradise/Sr.) - Throws
Returning section leader in the shot put with a best of 48-0 and ranks third in the NS in the discus throw (134-5).
Evan Enserro (Pleasant Valley/Sr.) - Sprints
Northern Section returning leader in both the 100 meters (11.27) and 200m (23.09) events.
Mario Giannini (Chico/Sr.) - Distances
Northern Section returning leader in the 800 meters (2:03.57), 1600m (4:24.38), and 3200m (9:10.38). His 3200 time ranks No. 17 among returners statewide. He was NS cross country runner of the year.
Noah Thomas (Pleasant Valley/Sr.) - Jumps
Northern Section returning leading in both the long jump (21-2.50) and triple jump (42-6.50).
Oakland Section
Aman Bereket (Skyline/Jr.) - Hurdles
The Oakland Section's top returner in both the 110m hurdles (21.08/1.8) and 300mH (48.25). He also ranks No. 4 for 800m (2:14.39) and No. 5 for 400m (59.70).
Brandon Hemphill (Skyline/So.) - Sprints
At the OK Section Finals last June, he won the 100m (11.93/-1.3) and placed second in the 200m (24.48/-0.7).
Andy Ixtabalan Argueta (Skyline/Jr.) - Distances
The Oakland Section's boys cross country runner of the year in 2021 is the top returner in both the 1600m (4:49.30) and 3200m (10:12.91). He also ranks No. 2 for both the 400m (58.30) and 800m (2:11.09). He is the defending OK Section champion for both the 1600m and 3200m.
McClymonds (OK) Sprinters
The returning sprint lists in the MileSplit database for boys in the Oakland Section are dominated with seven of the top nine in the 100 meters and five of the top six for 200m all from Mack! Five of the athletes listed were members of the state championship football team, including 100-meter returning leader senior Michael Dansby (11.25/2.2), sophomore Tajir Golden (11.29/0.5), and senior Jay'Vion Cole (11.32/0.5). Golden has the top returning time for 200m (22.93) with Cole next (22.98). Additionally, sophomore Troy Hill is the top 400m returner (57.94).
San Francisco Section
Zayar Myint (Lincoln/Sr.) - Sprints
Limited to only four meets last spring, Mint put up the SF Section's top times for 100m (11.21/3.6), 200m (22.89/NWI), and 400m (53.37).
Oliver Witt (Lowell/SF/Sr.) - Distances
In limited meets last spring, Witt still put up the section's best times for 800m (2:09.26), 1600m (4:38.07), and 3200m (9:58.82). He was the SF cross country runner of the year.