RECAP CIF-Southern Section Division Prelims

CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 4

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From a team standpoint, this division comes down to perennial champion Oaks Christian and narrow favorite Gardena Serra. While Serra appears to have a solid edge on the boys side coming out of prelims, that girls battle could come down to the very last race on the track, the 4x400m relay where Serra comes in with a qualifying time of 3:59.50 and Oaks Christian comes in at 4:01.26. Serra's 4x4 has a season-best time of 3:57.93 while Saturday's prelim effort is the season best for Oaks Christian. 

The triple jump, high jump and both throws are the only events where at least one of these strong programs is not represented. 

Junior Jordan Washington leads Serra as the top qualifier in both short sprints, as well as a key leg of the leading 4x100m relay team. Teammate Brazil Neal is No. 2 in both short sprints, with sophomore Mia Flowers No. 3 in the 100m. Junior Sienna Claiborne is the No. 4 qualifier in the 400m, with sophomore Courtney Sanco in the mix in both the 800m, and 1600m. 

Sophomore Niya Clayton leads Oaks Christian with a No. 4 qualifying time in the 100m, No. 1 qualifying time in the 100m hurdles, and No. 3 qualifying time in the 300m hurdles. Freshman Eleanor Borchard is the top qualifier in the 300m hurdles, sophomore Payton Godsey is the top qualifier in the 2200m (11:08.74), and senior Tenly Kuhn is the defending division champion in the pole vault. 

Other top qualifiers include Cerritos Valley Christian senior Karon Warren (400m, 57.66), Sierra Canyon senior Isis Diaz in both the 800m (2:16.63) and 1600m (5:01.52), Mayfield junior Sade Falese (long jump, 18-00), Muir senior Kelaiyah Johnson (triple jump (37-01.25), and Archer School for Girls junior Treasure Brown in discus (126-11) and shot put (36-11.75). 

Serra is the favorite to end the Oaks Christian streak of five consecutive division team titles led by junior sprinter Rodrick Pleasant, who has top qualifying times in the 100m (10.58/0.5) and 200m (21.16/1.4), and leads the leading 4x1 relay team (41.41). 

Pleasant's teammate Deven Lewis has the No. 2 qualifying times in the 200m and 400m, sophomore Dakoda Fields is the No. 2 qualifier in the long jump and senior Jaylin Franklin is in the mix in both the 200m and long jump. 

Elijah Gipson leads Oaks Christian with the top qualifying mark in the 300m hurdles, No. 2 in the 110m hurdles, and No. 3 in the 100m dash. OC has three boys in the mix in the pole vault, led by defending champion Jake Reed and will be looking for points from the likes of Khari Butler in the 110m hurdles, Aram Sarkissian in the 400m, and Curtis Somerville in the 800m.

The biggest individual mark from this prelim was by Thacher senior Ellis Delvecchio, running a CA No. 4-ranked 800m time of 1:50.13. Among other top event qualifiers, Bishop Alemany junior Collin Joyce is among the qualifiers in the high jump, the top qualifier in the long jump and the top qualifier in the triple jump. 

Ontario Christian senior Christian Burroughs is the top qualifier in the discus (163-8) and shot put (53-3.25). Villanova Prep senior Liam Gair was easily the top qualifier in the 400 (47.69, just over his CA No. 6-ranked PR of 47.54). Crean Luthern senior Jack Fairchild is the top qualifier in the 110m hurdles (14.86/-1.1), No. 2 in the 300m hurdles (40.22), and No. 2 in the triple jump (43-10.50/0.4). 

Big Bear senior Max Sannes has the top qualifying mark in the 1600m (4:18.82) and 3200m (9:27.16). His teammate, freshman Kael Jex has the No. 2 entry mark in the 1600m (4:23.38). 

Photos by Stacy Soriano, Josh Barber, Ryan Blystone, Daniel Hernandez, and Raymond Tran