CIF-SS DIVISION-BY-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
DIVISION 1 - GIRLS
TOP GIRLS TO WATCH
Dalia Frias (Mira Costa) - Despite the snafu of missing her heat for the 3200 meters, the Duke-bound senior still stands as the California State record holder for the Mile at 4:35.06! She and McDonnell will lock up in the 1600 meters while both may very push one another below the divisional meet record of 4:42.50 (Shannon Murakami, Saugus, 2006). (Frias pictured above)
Naomi Johnson (Roosevelt) - The UCLA-bound senior has been on fire this past month, elevating her up the state rankings in the 200 and 400 meters. She is favored in both events while possessing the top wind-legal effort in the section (23.99) while her 53.87 effort in the 400 meters is the top time in the section of those remaining. Johnson has looked comfortable in her recent sub-55 second efforts for the 400.
Aujane Luckey (Long Beach Wilson) - The junior looks to play spoiler when she matches up against Johnson. She is the defending 400-meter divisional champ and has run a 54.91 (sixth-best in California) while coming in with a 24.67 that was run into a -1.2 wind at the Moore League Finals.
Samarra Monrroy (Long Beach Wilson) - The senior will look for major points in the 400 meters, as the senior's 54.49 best from several weeks ago ranks fourth in California and second, behind Johnson, in Southern Section. The veteran, that placed second at the 2019 State Meet for the 400 meters, will also play crucial roles in both relays.
Karyssa Owens (Roosevelt) - The continually improved senior plays a huge role in regard to the team scoring, as she is favored to capture both throws. Her 140-7 performance in the Discus ranks second in the Southern Section (fifth in California) while she is coming off a new lifetime best in the Shot Put (41-1.5) last weekend, moving her up fifth in the section.
Aspen Fears (Vista Murrieta) - The sophomore is one of the more improved Pole Vaulters in California, elevating up over the 13-2 bar last month. Favored to win, this places her tied atop the Southern Section list and sixth in California as she looks for two more weeks of postseason competition.
Kailah McKenzie (Orange Vista) - The junior was sharp last week with her 14.57 wind-legal best ranking seventh in the state and second in the Southern Section. With her best showing, she will be one to watch in regard to also qualifying for the CIF-SS Masters Meet in the Long Jump and High Jump. On the latter, she is one of only seven girls in the section to clear the 5-6 bar.
London Davis (Upland) - The sophomore will push McKenzie as it's basically a 'you pick 'em' on which is favored in the 100 Hurdles. While also playing a huge role on Upland's 4x100 relay squad, Davis' wind-legal best of 14.63 is ninth in California and fourth in the section.
Caroline Hawkes (San Clemente) - Headed off to Montana State in the Fall, she placed sixth in both the 200 and 400 in 2021 but continues to improve here in the 2022 postseason. Her 24.41 wind-legal best places her seventh in California while her 55.20 from Mt. SAC has her ranked fourth of those still competing in the event for the Southern Section.
Zharia Taylor (Long Beach Poly) - The senior had her plate full last week in trying to qualify in three events. This week, she can solely focus on the High Jump, where her 5-9 performance from earlier in the season ranks her second in California and still the only girl in the section to clear the 5-7 bar!
Caelyn Harris (Upland) - The Alabama-bound senior will now only focus on the same event in which she captured the State Championship while a freshman in 2019 - the Long Jump. With her teammate Davis, she will also play a role in her squad's 4x100 relay team. Her wind-legal best of 19-9 at Arcadia makes her one of the favorites and a state title as she should easily advance back to the Masters Meet.
Eve Divinity (Redondo Union) - The senior was outstanding a week ago at prelims, advancing in both the 100 (12.04) and a lifetime best in the 200 meters (24.36). Her effort there moved up to sixth in California for wind-legal marks. Meanwhile, she qualified once again in the Long Jump (wind-legal 19-4 is fourth in the state) while anchoring her 4x100 squad home to a new seasonal best.
Alyssa Hope (ML King) - The junior is one of the top horizontal jumpers in California, laying claim to the top Triple Jump performance (41-3) in the state this season and the fifth-best wind-legal effort in the Long Jump. Projected to easily move on to the Masters Meet, she was third in the Triple Jump in 2021.
Aniyah Wyche (Long Beach Poly) - The San Jose State-bound senior was second a year ago in the 100 meters and after victories at the Moore League final and looking sharp at prelims to advance with the fastest time (wind-legal 11.92), she is the favorite for the 100 meters.
Kayla Mc Bride (Ayala) - The sophomore advanced back to the finals in the 100 and 200 meters. With her most recent efforts, she will be looking to use the brisk pace to advance onto the CIF-SS Masters Meet as she brings onto the track 11.99 and 24.58 wind-legal seasonal bests. She also anchors her 400 relay squad.
Lauren Reed (Long Beach Poly) - Her squad is leaning on the veteran sprinter for major points in the Long and Triple Jumps while also playing a role in their top-ranked 400 relay squad. The senior's top wind-legal effort of 19-4.75 places her third in California while her earning a medal in the Triple may be the difference in the team title race. (Photo below)
Kaho Cichon (Fountain Valley) - Focusing solely on the 800 meters, the UCLA-bound senior is the defending champion. Gearing up to improve upon her 2:12.92 seasonal best, she will challenge McDonnell to defend her title.
Kaylin Edwards (Long Beach Wilson) - The freshman is being leaned on pretty heavy, especially if the Bruins look to leapfrog Roosevelt and Poly for the team title. Her 44.50 seasonal best in the 300 Hurdles is currently third in the Southern Section and 12th in California while they will also look for her to garner points in the 400 meters earlier.
Poly earned consecutive titles from 2008 to 2015 while in 2021, they earned their tenth title in the past 13 seasons and their 20th overall! Our favorites all season, LB Poly lost a major scoring threat in the hurdles weeks ago which opened the door for Roosevelt and Wilson while now, on paper, we have the three squads separated by only three points!
Long Beach Poly opens with the most scoring opportunities at 12, spread out over nine events whereas Roosevelt's scoring options come in seven events, spread out over 11. Meanwhile, Wilson counters with 10, with all options coming on the track over six events.
The battleground events come in the 200 and 400 meters while all three squads will line up in the middle lanes of both relays as they claimed the top qualifying times!
In the 400, Roosevelt and Wilson each qualified three athletes to comprise 2/3 of the field. Meanwhile, in the 200 meters, all three teams are represented while Roosevelt's Johnson is favored to capture both sprints. Wilson's Luckey and Monrroy will look to offset Roosevelt's points in the 400 meters with Poly watching this event from the sidelines.
If Wilson is to catapult Poly and Roosevelt, look no further than the hurdles where Genesis Washington qualified in both with Ma'Nia Tidwell joining her in the 100 Hurdles and freshman Edwards coming back from the 400 to accompany her for the longer hurdles.
Poly's Wyche and Taylor Johnson eye valuable points in the 100 meters where Roosevelt's Dakota Minor and Krystal Harrell look to match them, pointwise. Minor returns to join Naomi Johnson in the 200 meters to battle Wilson's Luckey and Poly's Johnson.
Roosevelt's Owens is projected to win both throws and bring home 20 points. On the cusp going into prelims, Poly's Mai Ricks was able to qualify in both throws as well and may well be the difference in overcoming the Mustangs this weekend. Meanwhile, Poly's Reed will play a pivotal role in both the Long and Triple Jump, as she looks to score over ten points between the two events.
You got all that? Keep your seatbelts on and wait until we break down some of the other team title battles!