CIF-SS D-2 PRELIMS PREVIEW
(at Ventura HS)
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The girls from Golden Valley are looking to make some noise at the end of the month and this is the next step to getting there. They have the defending D-2 champion 4x100-meter relay team and the 2021 runner-up 4x400m relay squad (and top qualifing quartet here). In addition, senior Kylee Davis is the defending champion in the high jump and long jump, junior Adonijah Currie is the defending champion in the 400m and has the top qualifying mark in the 200m, junior sprinter Ta'ahja Fann is the top qualifier in the 100m (with junior Nevaeh Williams and Davis also in the field), senior Olivia Dowd has the No. 2 qualifying mark in the triple jump, sophomore Meagan Humphries has the No. 2 qualifying mark in both the 200m and high jump, and is also qualified in the long jump, and, finally, junior Baylee Walker has the No. 4 qualifying mark in the 300m hurdles.
Elsewhere in D-2 on the girls side, Chino senior Mia Chavez is the defending division champion in both the 800m and 1600m but figures to face a huge challenge to that title defense at the finals from Ventura freshman Sadie Engelhardt, who ranks second nationally in the 1600m (4:34.79) and third nationally for 800m (2:05.66).
Recent UC Irvine-signee Lauren Thai of Thousand Oaks, has the top qualifying mark in the 100m hurdles, the No. 2 mark in the 300m hurdles, and is among the top long jump athletes in the state. Keep an eye on defending D-2 champion J.W. North junior Breija Stredic, the top qualifier in the 300m hurdles. Mission Viejo junior Jada Gatlin is the defending champion and top qualifier in the triple jump, Murrieta Valley junior Madisyn Negro is among an elite few 13-foot-plus pole vaulters in the state, Anaheim Canyon senior Emma Hadley is among the elite girls in the 1600m and 800m, and her classmate Isabella Frisone has the No. 2 qualifying mark behind Agoura senior Georgia McCorkle in the 3200m with Dana Hills junior and defending champion Allura Markow also in the mix.
On the boys side, Dana Hills senior Jai Dawson will be one to watch in both the 1600m and 800m, with West Ranch senior Chris Goode the top qualifier in the 200m and 400m. Long Beach Jordan sophomore Jordan Washington and Simi Valley junior Jaelon Barbarin are among the state's elites in the short sprints, as is Culver City senior Zaire Waring.
Mater Dei junior Logan Lyght has the top qualifying marks in both hurdles, and defending 300m hurdles champion Michael DeTamble, a junior at Shadow Hills, has the No. 2 qualifying times in both events.
Others to watch include Golden Valley senior Elijha Ellis in the long jump, Murrieta Valley junior Tiger Bachmeier in the pole vault, Golden Valley senior Terraine Wiggins in both throws, and the high jump competition to include Portola senior Aryan Shrivastava and Mater Dei freshman Brandon Gorski.