PREVIEW CIF-Southern Section Division Prelims

The top seeds both generate out of the Baseline League! Upland has their group back and healthy for the postseason, holding off the reconfigured Rancho Cucamonga (our defending champs) for their league title, 41.79-42.02. But Cajon comes in with the top seasonal best with a 41.55 ranking sixth in California and third in the Southern Section. The upstart, Los Alamitos crew rolled to a 41.77 at the Mt. SAC Relays last month, now checking in as the fourth fastest squad in the section. Ranked ninth in the section, Roosevelt (41.98) looks to get a key member back for the postseason while Long Beach Poly, ranked eleventh in the section with a 42.05, easily captured their league title last week and be the top seed in their heat. Also, watch for Vista Murrieta (42.51) while the sleeper could very well be Tesoro. Despite being the fifth seed in their respective heat, their 42.60 is the eighth fastest in Division 1 for 2022. Six of the top 11 squads in the Southern Section highlight this one.

Two of the best in California state history headline here as Mira Costa's Dalia Frias (Daniel Hernandez photo) will kick it off in our first heat, with Newbury Park's Samantha McDonnell taking over the in the second heat. The Duke-bound Frias sent shockwaves when she established a new California state record for the 1600 meters, crossing in 4:33.54 at the APU Meet of Champs. Although that mark has since been improved upon by Ventura's Sadie Engelhardt, Frias still holds the state record for the mile (4:35.06). Heading off to Alabama, McDonnell has deservingly carved out her own headlines as she rolled to 4:40.63 (4:38.91c) for the mile at Arcadia, running the eighth fastest time in state history! Meanwhile, the other seven spots for that final are up for grabs. McDonnell's Newbury Park teammates Ailish Hawkins (4:53.66) and Morgan Nygren (4:56.27) are projected to advance. Peninsula junior Aishling Callanan was an Eastbay Nationals finalist this past cross country and checks in with a 4:54.68 seasonal best. Vista Murrieta's Isabella Smith comes in off her personal best of (5:02.91) while winning the Southwestern league title over Great Oak junior Kelli Gaffney (5:01.58 best). Both finalists in 2021, Claremont sophomore Denise Chen (5:01.42) was fifth a year ago, while also watch for Saugus' senior Isabella Duarte, who has split under 5:00 in a relay this season.  The division record of 4:42.50 will be in full retreat next week in the final.

More than any other event on the track, projecting the nine finalists is more challenging here. In looking to defend their team title, Long Beach Wilson was not necessarily expecting points in the 1600 meters, but Nico Colchico has been on a tear the past two months and steps in with a 4:09.82 seasonal best. Another new face emerged the past two months in Tyler Kaan of Santiago (4:10.98) while Aliso Niguel's Brennan Foody clocks in with his 4:13.47 best from the Orange County Championships. Sophomore sensation, Millikan's Jason Parra was outkicked by Colchico in their Moore League final matchup a week ago while he eclipsed 4:12 at the Mt. SAC Relays. In his shadow, Vista Murrieta's Lance Denhalter crossed under 4:13, right behind Parra at Mt. SAC. Sleepers that are hidden far down on the heat sheets to watch for include Redondo Union's Christoph Waligorski, Foothill's Grant Sweningson, Cypress' Justin Singer, and Downey's James Guerrero. Along with Sweningson, Crescenta Valley's Rowan Fitzgerald (4:16.82) was also a finalist in 2021. Finally, Loyola always peaks their boys just right, as Richard Moreno shined with a 4:17.01 to capture his league title last week. With six of the top nine in the division not competing in this event, the door to the finals is left wide open!  

Six of the top 10 in the Southern Section get into the blocks here. Upland sophomore, London Davis, is our top seed after her 14.42, wind-aided Baseline league title last week. For wind-legal marks, she is third in the Southern Section, which brings us to our top seed in Heat 3 - Kailah McKenzie of Orange Vista. Our only finalist returning, the junior almost stole the show last year as she earned the runner-up medal at the 2021 Division 1 final! Genesis Washington of Long Beach Wilson owns a wind-legal best of 14.92 this year and captured the Moore League title last week. Beckman's Michelle Shao is our top seed in her heat but Redondo Union's Lela Divinity has run a wind-legal best of 15.37.  ML King's Sarah Ajayi is the top seed in her heat but she will have to hold off Chino Hills' Makena Bailey, Carter's Ileen Emerson (14.97 wind-legal best), and Kaitlyn Cimmarusti (15.19 wind-legal best) of Quartz Hill to earn the automatic berth to next week. On paper, we could see four qualify from the same heat!  

"The Upland hurdling juggernaut established one of the true highlights these past several months in shattering the old California state record in the Shuttle Hurdles..." That is EXACTLY what we wrote in our 2021 preview and fast forward less than a year later - it still stands. Seniors Delaney Crawford and DeQuan January, along with juniors Kai Graves-Blanks and Davis Davis-Lyric will look to do something never achieved in Division 1 and that is to qualify all four boys from the same school in this event! They put on a clinic at the Baseline League finals last week, with Crawford crossing for the victory in a wind-aided 13.98, just ahead of DDL's 14.06. Our defending champion from 2021, Graves-Blanks settled for fourth at his league finals but shined at the Texas Relays with his wind-aided 13.64 clocking. As much as Upland has garnered the headlines, UC-Berkley bound decathlete, Seth Johnson of Cajon, looks to play spoiler here. The top seed in his heat, with Upland in the other four heats, has looked sharper with every race, continually flirting with the 14-second benchmark. He was runner-up in 2021 and comes in with a 14.02 from the Mt. SAC Relays. Coming in off a 14.69 Ivy League title, Elsinore's Elijah Yoshinaga shined in 2021 and placed sixth in the final. Also watch for Rancho Cucamonga junior Julian Lofton-Lundy (14.64w), who may very well be our fifth entrant from the Baseline league to qualify for next week. This event boasts the most experience of any while under all conditions, seven of the top ten in the Southern Section check in here.

Just as was the case in 2021, four of the top seven in California lineup for this one! Matriculating to UCLA this Fall, Roosevelt senior Naomi Johnson has been on a roll this past month, stepping in with a 53.87 from the Mt. SAC Relays. Along with Wilson senior Samarra Monrroy (54.49), these two are part of an elite group of girls in the stadium with actual State Meet experience! Both qualified as freshmen in 2019 (with no State Meets being held since), with Monrroy placing second when she then, competed for Millikan. With that, do not overlook our defending champion from a year in Aujane Luckey of Wilson who crossed with a 53.94 victory. She is coming off a 54.91 performance and earned the league title last week. San Clemente's Caroline Hawkes has been as consistent as they come, crossing with a 55.20 lifetime best at Mt. SAC and will be the top seed in her heat. On paper, it looks to be a tight battle for those remaining spots with Orange Vista's Mercy Ehiemere (56.55) capturing her league title and Roosevelt freshman Kaia Burns stepping up for a 56.67 runner-up placing at the Big VIII finals. Seeking big team points, Wilson also looks for Kaylin Edwards (56.74) to advance. Bringing her talents over from soccer and in her first season, Aliso Niguel's Kaylin Raibon has witnessed dramatic improvement in this event, bringing in a 57.10 despite only adopting this event in recent weeks.

Ranked fifth in California and third in the Southern Section, Upland's Christopher Coats has been impressive. Improving down to a 47.42 at Mt. SAC, the finalist from the 2021 final, looks to secure huge points for his team next week. In a thriller last week, Wilson junior Isaac Lewis, despite doing the 110 hurdles beforehand, held off LB Poly sophomore Xai Ricks for a new lifetime best of 48.34. Ricks crossed with a 48.16 back in March while fellow Moore League foe, Leroy Crook of LB Wilson improved to a 49.02 in that final. Crook was a finalist in 2021, as was Burbank's Jack Sapyta, who checks in with a 49.51 seasonal best. It will be a tight battle for those remaining spots while some new faces perked up in recent weeks in the likes of Loyola's Jalen Cox (49.44), Lancaster's Nabil Stewart (49.51), and Mira Costa's Levi Laden (49.52). Keep your eyes on those second-place efforts as that will determine which four advance beyond the five heat winners.

Reflecting on wind-legal times, five of the top ten in the Southern Section look to advance onward to next week with LB Poly's Aniyah Wyche coming in as our top seed after her narrow 11.90 victory over teammate, River Sampson (11.92) last week. Wyche was our Division 1 runner-up a year ago and is no stranger to postseason experience. The two also locked up at Mt. SAC with almost identical results. Meanwhile, Ayala's Kayla Mc Bride placed a third a year ago as a freshman and checks in with an 11.89 seasonal wind-legal best. Millikan's Kaliyah Johnson placed third (11.94) in that eye-blink of a finish against her Poly counterparts at the Moore league final. Redondo Union's Eve Divinity placed seventh in the 2021 final, while coming in off defending her Bay League title. LB Poly sophomore Taylor Johnson earned the at-large and will settle in next to Wyche in her heat.  Watch Heat 2 because Roosevelt's Dakota Minor checks in the fourth seed in that race, but her 12.33 at the Big VIII League final was into a strong wind as she has run 12.03 under wind-legal conditions. With only four heats, keep your eyes on those third-place times and for one of them to advance.

With a full slate of six heats on the docket, it is paramount that you win your heat to secure a spot in next week's final. LB Poly's Jaelen Knox secured that top seed in heat one with his 10.53 victory at the Moore League finals. Aware of his talent since his 2019 freshman season, he has shined on the largest stages this season and is one of California's best. Projecting mostly all new faces in this year's final, Cajon's JeyQuan Smith placed third last year as a sophomore and is the top seed in his heat. Meanwhile, Aliso Niguel's Charlie Jarvis is back from an early-season setback to erupt on this same track last week for a wind-legal 10.63. One of the great storylines this season is the emergence of newcomer, Austin Overn of Foothill. A talented football and baseball standout, he is fitting track into his busy spring schedule. With that, he blasted a 10.49 on this same track five weeks ago and is the top seed in his heat. The top freshman in the nation, Devin Bragg of Los Alamitos, has proven the grit against his elders all season long with a 10.63 wind-legal best. Meanwhile, Tesoro's Dominic Gates comes in hot off of his school-record setting 10.64 wind-legal romp in his Sea View league victory. Chino Hills' sophomore Donnie Parish and Rancho Cucamonga's Jake Jensen both crossed with identical 10.70 wind-legal efforts at the Baseline League finals with Parish getting the nod. We have eight boys all with sub-10.75 wind-legal resumes!

Girls 800 Meters

Newbury Park's Samantha McDonnell returns back from the 1600 meters to the event where she ranks third in California with her 2:08.33 performance at the APU Meet of Champs back in March. In 2021, we saw most of the field comprised of underclassmen as our top two return. Fountain Valley's Kaho Cichon (2:12.92 seasonal best) is our defending champ and looks to qualify once again as the top seed in her heat. Katella's Ashlynn Viramontes (2:12.93 season-best) was runner-up in 2021 as she cruised, unmatched at her league finals and why she is hidden down in those heat sheets. Peninsula junior Aishling Callanan is coming off a 2:15.96 Bay League title effort last week while also watch for Diamond Bar L'Mio Edwards, who placed fourth in the 2021 final as a freshman. She has run 2:15.37 this season. Claremont senior Maddie Coles checks in with a 2:17.56 best while Marina's Maddie Fracassa placed third at the Sunset Wave League finals but with a new lifetime best of 2:18.18. Beckman's Estella Knobbe was a finalist in 2021 and placed third at the Pacific Coast League finals with a solid 2:18.99 effort.  

Newbury Park junior Aaron Sahlman comes in as the heavy favorite to capture the title (divisional and state) as his 1:48.91 clocking at the APU Meet of Champs in March checks in as one of the fastest times of any junior in state history! This is a much deeper field than what the heat sheets indicate as Wilson's Marcell Francis-Mitchell checks in with his 1:52.71 and lines up next to Sahlman in that first heat. Keep in mind that only the heat winner earns that automatic spot while the Wilson junior stepped up in huge fashion in 2021 with his third-place finish. Santiago junior Dylan Deloyola emerged as a top star in March with his 1:53.90 while Foothill senior Jacob Robison (1:54.09 best) placed sixth in the 2021 final and has earned the top seed in his heat. Oxnard's Ryan Fabian was a finalist in 2021 and crossed with a lifetime best of 1:54.53 at the Mt. SAC Relays. Another top seed in his heat, watch for Adam Olson of Newbury Park. Moving up from the 400 meters in March, he burst out with a 1:54.83 in only his second race in the event! Watch for the Loyola duo of Harrison Lavery (1:56.33) and Colin Jacobs (1:56.63), with both delivering at the Mission League finals last week. Also, do not sleep on Wilson's Nico Colchico, who may be hidden down on those heat sheets, but boasts a 1:54.26 from just three weeks ago. We may very well have five sub-1:57.50 boys in that second heat!

With two of the top four girls not competing, and another talent nursing injuries, projecting the finalists for this event took a spin these past two weeks. Wilson freshman Kaylin Edwards steps in, seeking valuable team points for the Bruins next week, as the top seed and with a 44.50 seasonal best from the Mt. SAC Relays. Arcadia senior Shriya Velichala erupted with a two-second improvement in capturing the Pacific League title in 44.84. Pushing her all the way to the line, Crescenta Valley senior Rachel Arias raced home in a lifetime best of 45.33 in that same race. In that third heat, Arias will see Edison's Lindy Harvin check in with her 45.61 seasonal best. Valley View's Leylah Diaz is the top seed in her heat as she rolled to a 45.67 in capturing the Ivy League title. Redondo sophomore Lela Divinity brought home the Bay League title in a lifetime best of 46.25 and will match up with Millikan senior Amari Hunt (46.44). Santiago sophomore Samantha Walsten continues to improve in taking home the Big VIII League title in 46.55. Wilson senior Genesis Washington (45.67) is slated to line up next to her teammate, Edwards, and on paper, her seasonal best projects her to advance. Not much separates the talent in the field.

Boys 300 Hurdles

They're back! With crucial team points on the line for next weekend, the Highlanders of Upland are looking to advance three altogether. WE feature four of the top seven in the Southern Section with our top seed being Upland's Delaney Crawford. Losing his postseason to injury in 2021 and fighting through early-season setbacks, he brought home the 38.18 Baseline league title in only his second race of the season. But, section leader, Isaac Lewis of Wilson is our top seed in the second heat with a 37.82 seasonal best. Upland's Davis Davis-Lyric placed sixth in the 2021 final and owns a best of 38.75. Behind him in the blocks, Upland junior Kai Graves-Blanks (39.75) will look to match his teammate up front to secure a spot for next week. In that fourth heat, Roosevelt's Julius Cheek crossed with a 38.69 a month ago, ranking him sixth in the section. Others that boast sub-40 second efforts this season include Loyola's John Mueller (39.69), Edison's Conor Zeutzius (39.86), and Lincoln Marschall (39.90) of Los Alamitos.

In regard to wind-legal efforts, we have five of the top ten in the Southern Section assembled here. Placing fourth in the 2021 final, Roosevelt's Naomi Johnson has looked sharper than ever, boasting the fastest wind-legal effort (23.99) in California this season! San Clemente's Caroline Hawkes returns as the top seed in her heat as she placed sixth here a year ago. The Montana State-bound senior is coming off a solid 24.41 Sea View League title. In that uber-competitive Moore League finals, LB Wilson's Aujane Luckey emerged with the 24.46 wind-aided victory, running away from Poly's Taylor Johnson (24.70) and Millikan's Kaliyah Johnson (24.75). Wilson senior Samarra Monrroy placed second a year ago and had to settle for an at-large 24.88 bid to this weekend's prelims. Redondo's Eve Divinity was a finalist in 2021 and enters as our sixth-seed wind-legal 24.76 lifetime best. Also watch for Roosevelt's Dakota Minor, who checks in with a 24.80 wind-legal best in 2022 while Kaila Robinson of Vista Murrieta captured the Southwestern League title with a 24.91 lifetime best.  

With only two returners from the 2021 final, we expect to see some new faces here! LB Poly's Jaelen Knox has been as consistent as they come, coming in with his 21.21 victory to capture the Moore League title last week. He has clocked a wind-aided 20.85 effort to go along with his 21.15 wind-legal best. Playing a valuable role in the team title chase, Upland's Christopher Coats was fourth in 2021, and checks in as the top seed in his heat after his 21.58 Baseline league title effort. He motored to a 21.39 on this same track last month. Meanwhile, Cajon junior JeyQuan Smith was a finalist in 2021 and is coming in off a wind-legal 21.58 Citrus Belt title. Earning lane five, Trabuco Hills' Cooper DeCillo (21.59) looks to defend his home turf while Aliso Niguel's Charlie Jarvis (21.73) will be the top seed in his heat. Jarvis was third in 2021 but he will have to hold upstart freshman, Devin Bragg of Los Alamitos (21.80).  Tesoro's Dominic Gates (21.83) is fresh off his Sea View league title is also projected to advance.

Ranked second in California (and in the USA), Mira Costa's Dalia Frias will check in to do what it takes to simply move forward to next week. She purred to an Arcadia Invitational meet record last month with her 9:55.50, placing her #8 on the all-time California state list. Without a doubt, Frias is one of the state's best distance girls ever. With that, she's back! Newbury Park's Samantha McDonnell (10:36.99) plans on tripling here and she would become the first ever to qualify in all three distance races for Division 1! She will have her teammates, Morgan Nygren (10:53.82) and Tiffany Sax (10:29.15 seasonal best) right beside her so expect to see the gold and black up front all throughout. In that same heat, also projected to advance is Mira Costa's Anna Chittenden. She placed fourth in the 2021 final and checks in with a 10:37.50 seasonal best. Fellow Panther, Ailish Hawkins (10:44.70) will lead in the second heat along with Frias, while Claremont's Denise Chen (10:45.18) is our top returner as she placed third in 2021.  Saugus senior Isabella Duarte (10:46.83) was sharp in capturing the Foothill League title. To provide further evidence of the talent and unmatched depth assembled here, five others have eclipsed the 11:00-minute threshold this season bringing that number up to 13!

The Newbury Park program is looking to advance three here, including returning finalist in junior Aaron Cantu. Newbury senior Daniel Appleford comes in as the favorite for next week's title, having run an 8:52.19 at the Arcadia Invite last month. Of those still competing in the event, he ranks atop the Southern Section list and second in California. Also in that first heat will be Cantu along with Newbury Park sophomore, Dev Doshi who comes in with 9:02.27. Our top seed in the second heat, Millikan sophomore Jason Parra has continually answered the challenge and steps in with an 8:54.17 seasonal best. Lining up next to Parra is Aliso Niguel's Brennan Foody, who rolled to a 9:02.67 at the Mt. SAC Relays.  The field is completely loaded! Vista Murrieta's Lance Denhalter (9:02.77) and Ramses Cortes (9:04.82) of Great Oak have both clocked in under 9:05 this season but it was Brandon Calderon of Vista Murrieta that pulled off the upset at the Southwestern League Finals. A sleeper hidden way down on the heat sheets is Highland's Matthew Donis, who established a new school record with his 9:05.58 effort at Mt. SAC while Jimmy Dominguez of Santa Ana steps in with a 9:10.94 seasonal best. Do not, for a second think that the cupboard is bare, with some of the nation's best in this event not competing as 14 boys clock in with sub-9:15 resumes!

Three of the top six squads in the Southern Section headline here with state leader, LB Wilson, atop of the California state leader list with their 3:43.87 at the Mt. SAC Relays. As our defending champion and another gear still in them, we suspect they will save their best in the upcoming weeks ahead. With that, it was LB Poly that captured the Moore League title last week and enrolls as our top seed overall. Their 3:52.05 seasonal best ranks fourth in the Southern Section. Third, in the 2021 finals, Vista Murrieta's (3:55.60) best came at Arcadia as they rank sixth in the section. They will look to hold off Chino Hills (3:58.32) to earn the automatic bid for next week while the Huskies are coming off the Baseline title last week. Orange Vista checks in as our third seed with their 3:58.95 seasonal best coming at the Ivy League finals. Meanwhile, watch for Roosevelt (3:59.58), who has yet to produce their best as they possess a squad that can break 3:50 in the upcoming weeks. That battle for those remaining spots, as Arcadia checks in with a seasonal best of 4:00.61 while the Surf League champs, Fountain Valley has a seasonal best of 4:02.10.

Four of the top eight squads in the Southern Section represent here. Our top seed is also our defending champion as the Bruins of LB Wilson secured the team title in running away from LB Poly in the 4x400 final in 2021. This year, they are ranked second in California with a best of 3:16.30. Meanwhile, the Jackrabbits of LB Poly (3:17.93) are third in the state! Fifth in the Southern Section, Roosevelt has rolled to a 3:22.48 as they captured the Big VIII League title.  Loyola brought this best effort of the season (3:23.07) to capture the Mission League title while Trabuco Hills, sixth here in 2021, has run a 3:24.92 this season. Santiago of Corona brings their 3:25.44 seasonal best to the track while Cajon looks to advance and improve upon their 3:25.84 seasonal best. Edison is fresh off their 3:27.37 best as is Oxnard, checking in at 3:28.01.