CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 3
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COSTA MESA -- Among the storylines coming out of the D-3 Prelims at Estancia HS is the girls team battle between sprint-heavy Calabasas, distance-heavy JSerra, and throws-heavy Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Later this week, we reveal just how close this team battle is!
Calabasas is the top qualifier in both relays, senior Zanae Woods is the top qualifier in the 200 and is No. 2 in the 200m, and sophomores Zoe Ray and Lahela Ray are both in the mix in the 400m. Senior Rachel Bir is the No. 2 qualifier in the triple jump.
JSerra dominated the distances with five qualifiers in the 800m, led by senior Ashlee Gallegos, two girls in the 1600m, and the top qualifier in the 3200m in frosh Brynn Garcia. They also put down the second-fastest qualifying time in the 4x400m relay.
Even more dominant was Notre Dame in the throws with senior Hope Gordon, junior April Fontenette, and freshman Aja Johnson moving on in both the discus throw (led by Fontenette's 146-9) and the shot put (led by Gordon's 45-4.50). University of Washington-bound Ava McCumber Gandara could be the difference-maker for Notre Dame where she is the top qualifier in the 400m, No. 2 in the 200m, and runs on the 4x100m relay team that qualified second.
Elsewhere, national U20 soccer standout Alyssa Thompson ran the meet's fastest time in the 100m, No. 2 time in the 200m, and ran a leg on both qualifying relays for defending team champ Harvard Westlake, which also has Adrienne Usher in the 100m hurdles, high jump and long jump, and Daniela Quintero in the 800m.
Monrovia senior Madeleine Conte is the top qualifier in both hurdles. La Canada sophomore Arielle McKenzie moved on in both the 800m and 1600m, looking to defend titles in both. South Pasadena sophomore Mia Holden moved on in both hurdles and the triple jump.
Marshall Fundamental senior Logan Davis emerged as a player in a sprints-heavy division, dropping PRs and top qualifying times in both the 200m and 400m. That's saying a ton in a division where a handful of the state's fastest short sprinters all moved on to what should be one of the marquee events at the division finals.
Davis led the way in a boys 200m dash field that will include Chaminade's Patrick Ize-Iyamu, Servite senior Max Thomas, St. John Bosco senior Jaden Smith. The 400m field will include Cathedral senior William Mullins, Covina senior Kerry Smith, SJB's Camryn O'Bannon, and Jaden Smith.
That boys D-3 final in the 100m is one not to miss with Ize-Iyamu Jr., Thomas, St. John Bosco senior Rayshon Luke (three of the state's top four!) leading the way.
Elsewhere, Cathedral had the top qualifying time in both relays, O'Bannon also qualified in the long jump, triple jump and as part of the 4x400m relay team that had the No. 2 qualifying time.
Pasadena senior Isaiah Givens and Harvard Westlake senior Will Sheehy swapped top qualifying times in the 1600m and 3200m, respectively, with the other qualifying second. St. Francis senior Dario Rock is easily the top qualifier in the 110m hurdles, and JSerra junior Brendon See (discus throw) and South Pasadena senior Nikolas Iwankiw (shot put) were the top qualifiers in the throws.
With St. John Bosco losing their 400 relay squad along with one of the top distance stars in the division, the team battle on the boys' side now sees Cathedral pulling right up alongside the Braves with Servite also gathering steam in recent weeks to make for an intense team battle - just like what we will see on the girls' side!