DIVISION 1 - BOYS
Seth Johnson (Cajon) - The UC-Berkeley bound senior had the difficult decision to make in regard to what event he would tackle this postseason. In the end, he bypassed the Long Jump and 300 Hurdles, opting to help his relay squads with the goal of advancing past this weekend. One of the favorites in the 110 Hurdles, which he ran the top qualifying time last week and placed second a year ago, he owns the top wind-legal time in the Southern Section. Meanwhile, he is the overwhelming favorite in the High Jump, where his 6-9 effort (only one in the section to clear 6-7) is tied for the California lead.
Hunter O'Brien (Roosevelt) - Matriculating off to UCLA this Fall, the top-ranked Pole Vaulter (16-9) in California is the heavy favorite for the title with the obvious end game being the state title in two weeks. Ranked seventh in the nation, the much-improved senior (15-4 coming into the season) eyes clearing that 17-foot bar!
Jaelen Knox (Long Beach Poly) - The senior has seemingly been in the shadows of this new generation of sprint talent overtaking California in 2022, but he looks to run away with the headlines here. As comfortable as he looked in his 10.65 wind-legal qualifying effort, he looked ever more relaxed and confident in his 21.13 for the 200 meters. For the 200, he owns the second-fastest wind-legal best in California while his 20.85w victory at Mt. SAC reminded us that he is a strong candidate for the state title in two weeks.
Delaney Crawford (Upland) - Headed off to Virginia this Fall to focus on Football, the senior is back from early-season injuries and ready to roll. He captured the Baseline league title (13.98w) against his other teammates, which ranks him third in California under all conditions. He later motored to a 38.18 in the 300 Hurdles, which moved him up to fifth in the state. 'The General' looks to pull off the victories in both hurdles, which should solidify the team title.
JC Stevenson (Great Oak) - The defending Division 1 champion in the Triple Jump, the senior seeks to add the Long Jump onto his resume as well. Favored in both, he has proven to step up when the moment shines brightest as he is ranked on top of both California state-leader lists in both events (wind-legal and under all conditions) with a 24-9.5 at Arcadia and 45-5.5 at Mt. SAC.
Daniel Appleford (Newbury Park) - As battle-tested in big races as anybody else in the distances, the Colorado School of Mines-bound senior will battle for the win in the 3200. His 8:52.19 performance from last month is the fastest time in the section and second in California (of those still competing).
Aaron Sahlman (Newbury Park) - The junior comes in as the heavy favorite for the title in the 800 meters, while his 1:48.91. With his brother, Colin, focused on setting the national record for the Mile in the upcoming weeks, he now owns the top time in California and third in the United States. He is, by far, the top underclassman in the nation for the event. How many other sub-1:49 boys in California history have also gone sub-8:50 for the 3200 meters?!?!
Kai-Graves Blanks (Upland) - The junior is the defending champion in the 110 Hurdles while last weekend, we saw him return to the form that we saw from his 13.64 wind-aided effort from the Texas Relays. He won his heat in a wind-legal 14.34 but was equally as impressive in his 38.96 effort in the 300 Hurdles - he plays a crucial role in Upland's team title hopes. (pictured below)
Marcell Francis-Mitchell (Long Beach Wilson) - As a sophomore in 2021, he played a pivotal component in his squad capturing the Division 1 team title with his third-place finish in the 800 meters. While pushing Sahlman all throughout last week's prelim, the junior's 1:52.71 seasonal best ranks fifth in the section and seventh in California.
Christopher Coats (Upland) - Attending San Jose State in the Fall, Coats comes in as the favorite for the 400 meters as his 47.42 seasonal best ranks fifth in California and third in the Southern Section. He returns back for the 200 meters and will close out the scoring for his Highlanders. Will it be enough?
Austin Overn (Foothill) - The USC-bound senior is coming in playing the hero in his baseball squad's second-round victory this past Tuesday along with a game Friday afternoon. But, this Saturday, he looks for the individual win in the 100 meters. Joining the sport in March, his wind-legal 10.49 is seventh in the state and sixth in the Southern Section.
JeyQuan Smith (Cajon) - The junior already possesses a veteran resume as he qualified back to the finals in the 100 and 200 meters. He will anchor his 4x100 relay squad, which comes in with the top time this season, while he also anchors their 4x400 group that looks to advance onto the Masters Meet. Projected to advance in both sprints to the Masters Meet, and placing third in the 100 in 2021, Smith looks to pull upsets in both events with lifetime wind-legal bests of 10.63 and 21.42.
Nico Colchico (Long Beach Wilson) - Coming into the season, the plan was to shine in the 800 meters. Early season training saw the senior focusing on the longer distance to strengthen up for the shorter. But, he has continued to excel in the 1600 meters and steps in as the favorite after a well-managed and confident 4:11.50 effort last weekend.
Davis Davis-Lyric (Upland) - As a sophomore, he placed fifth and sixth in the two hurdles from the 2021 final. In 2022, he looks stronger and an additional weapon in regard to Upland seeking the team title. His wind-legal bests of 14.19 and 38.75 project him moving forward to the Masters Meet but first, earning pivotal points for his squad.
Kai Deines (Redondo Union) - The junior is one of the top underclass throwers in the nation, his 190-0 lifetime best is ranked third in the state. For underclassmen, although he is ranked third nationally, he is ranked atop of the national non-senior list for the Shot Put as his 63-5.25 is second, overall, in California.
Jason Parra (Millikan) - It's rare that we highlight a sophomore boy, but Parra has displayed the grit and confidence far beyond his years. His seasonal best of 8:54.17 ranks him as the top sophomore in the nation for the event as he is fourth in the state amongst those still competing.
Elijah Ignacio (Elsinore) - Projected to advance in both throws last weekend, the senior uncorked an 18-foot lifetime best of 184-4, moving him up seven spots up to seventh in the Southern Section. Meanwhile, his 56-3 best in the Shot Put places him fifth in the section.
In 2022, Upland has patiently worked its way to the CIF-SS Finals fully intact and ready to roll, coming into the weekend ready to claim its first team title in school history. The same quartet that just missed setting the national record for the shuttle hurdles all advanced forward in the 110 Hurdles and projects to score 40 points between that event and the longer hurdles. While the Highlanders are pushing for the win in the 400 relay, Coats is the heavy favorite in the 400 meters while he should return for a top-three finish in the 200 meters.
Long Beach Wilson's boys will need a mishap on Upland's part but will be playing catch-up all throughout after the 400 meters. Isaac Lewis will play a HUGE role as he will face Upland in the 110 and 300 Hurdles and Coats in the 400. Colchico is favored in the 1600 meters with Francis-Mitchell looking to garner big points in the 800 meters.
But, coming into the action - it is Upland's to lose. Wilson projects to score around 50 points to Upland's 65, while Cajon and Long Beach Poly (projected between 40-45) look to play spoiler and snag that runner-up plaque in 2022.