Lincoln (SD) senior Jalil Tucker (third from right) wins the fast heat of the boys 100-meter dash at the Mt. Carmel Invitational (Jeffrey Parenti photo)
SAN DIEGO -- Just when the rest of the state was starting to close in on the lock San Diego's girls had on the 100-meter hurdles, they moved the bar considerably higher.
Rocklin (SJ) sophomore Giselle Kirchner sped to a 14.49 in a dual meet on Thursday to close on the San Diego contingent which holds the top three spots.
Not to worry, the San Diego Section trio responded Saturday at the 41st Mt. Carmel Invitational.
Scripps Ranch (SD) senior Aaliyah McCormick came within .01 of her own SDS record when she clocked a 13.86 to beat San Diego High senior Charlize James (14.00) and Cathedral Catholic (SD) junior Kapiolani Coleman (14.07) with the help of a legal 1.8 mps breeze.
It was one of five state-leading marks in the meet that attracted several of the state's powerhouses, including Santa Clarita Golden Valley (SS), Riverside JW North (SS), Los Angeles Carson (LA) and, of course, virtually all of the SDS teams.
But the short hurdles were clearly in the spotlight.
It wasn't until late May a year ago that McCormick dipped under 14.00 with her 13.85 section mark, meaning she is now two months ahead of schedule.
James, who was the California "state" 100-meter hurdle champion at 14.10 a year ago, missed dipping under 14 by the same .01, clocking a personal record 14.00.
Coleman, who was not terribly pleased with the PR 14.07, came back to move to the top spot in the state in the 300-meter hurdles, where her 5-foot-9 height makes it look like she's stepping over the lower hurdles, clocking a 42.88 seconds -- the only time under 44 seconds in CA so far this year.
"I block out everything and focus on the hurdles and the finish line," said McCormick, who earlier in the week showed her speed with an 11.99 in the 100-meters in a dual meet.
"I'm ahead of schedule -- I'm really excited with that time."
Mind you before the season she set her ultimate goal before heading off to the University of Oregon of dipping under 13-seconds.
All three runners got out of the blocks well and by the second hurdle, it was a three-girl race. McCormick took control with two hurdles remaining and charged across the finish line.
There was certainly more drama than in the boys' 400 where Helix (SD) junior Adren Parker powered his way down the final straightaway to lower his state-leading mark to 47.50, well ahead of Los Angeles Cathedral (SS) senior Jake Preston, who was second in 47.97.
Parker said it's just another step in what he hopes in a big junior year.
"I want the section record (46.85 by Morse's Lydell Burston in 1996)," said Parker. "Maybe I'll get under 47 seconds at Arcadia (in two weeks). I just need to work on my start -- I came up too soon and would like to keep low for 3-4 more steps."
Actually, Preston got back in the 4x400 relay where Cathedral went 3:15.80, well under the California previous leader's 3:18.18 by Fresno Central (CS).
The final top mark carries a bit of an asterisk as Carson junior Reign Redmond made her season invitational debut a good one when she swept the sprints, winning the 100 in 11.77 and the 200 in 24.68. Redmond had been injured during the winter and her only competition since last season was an all-comers.
The 100 is the top non-wind aided performance and just to solidify her standing, among her victims was Golden Valley junior Adonijah Currie, whose wind-aided 11.73 is the fastest under all conditions.
Currie said she was pleased that Golden Valley won the 4x100 relay in a meet record 46.53, topping the 46.65 by Long Beach Wilson in 2006.
"We work on our exchanges," said Currie of the speedy foursome that includes 20-foot long jumper Kylee Davis who won her favorite event in 19-50.25 and also had a 19-4 backup.
"That wasn't our best day -- we're looking for a low 45 at Arcadia."
As for Davis, she was satisfied with the win but recalled scratching -- barely -- at 20-7 in practice.
"I think we can challenge for the state team title if we keep improving," said Davis, who will head off to UC Davis next fall.
A third meet record to tumble came in the girls' 800 where J.W. North junior Mackenzie Browne North clocked a 2:09.60, breaking the previous best of 2:10.54 by Anaheim Esperanza's Emily Dunn in 2007.
Some of the other top performances included:
--Cathedral Catholic's Kennedy Clarke put the shot 43-4, just off the 43-04.50 by state leader Rebel Tuinuknate of Orange Lutheran.
--Lincoln (SD) senior Jalil Tucker collected a quality double, running the fifth-best time in the 100 (wind-legal) of 10.66 and the No. 4 200 legal mark of 21.47.
--Poway's girls, anchored by Allysa Bean's 56.2 leg, collected the No.4 time in the state at 3:57.32. Bean also won the 400 at 55.82, sixth-best overall.
--Del Norte (SD) junior Hannah Riggins sped to victory in the girls' 1600 in 4:54.26, the No. 8 time in the state. Riggins discovered recently she had an iron deficiency and since December has regained her strength and speed.
Steve Brand is a regular contributor to MileSplit with a focus on the San Diego Section.
Lincoln (SD) senior Jalil Tucker (third from right) wins the fast heat of the boys 100-meter dash at the Mt. Carmel Invitational (Jeffrey Parenti photo)