PREVIEW CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet

CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION MASTERS TRACK AND FIELD MEET

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After a two-year layoff, it's back - the CIF-SS Masters Meet!!  With Moorpark High hosting for the second weekend in a row, we highlight the top athletes and relay squads projected to advance onto the 2022 California State Championships!  

The top six from the 560-school Southern Section automatically qualify for the State Meet in each event. Still, those outside the top six can also advance by achieving the State Championships 'At-Large' Standard.

(These marks are established based on the ninth-place qualifying mark from the past three State Meets from 2017 to 2019). 

The State Meet first went with the 'at-large' entry process in 2000, which the Southern Section has utilized more than any other section. In 2013, the Southern Section was also granted an additional, sixth automatic entry as well.  

If you scroll down, out of curiosity for those of us that love comparing numbers, we included the At-Large standard from 2012 and compared it to this season.  

TIME SCHEDULE

EVENT-BY-EVENT PREVIEW

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The girls of Serra come in hot off their 46.33 Division 4 win last weekend to record the third-fastest time in California.  But, the current state leader, Golden Valley, was unpressed last week and owns a seasonal best of 46.03.  Long Beach Poly comes in with a seasonal best of 46.26 for second in the state while crosstown rival, Wilson, settles in with a 46.49 best for 2022.  Meanwhile, Roosevelt checks in with a best of 46.62, which is currently seventh in the state. Calabasas rolled to a 47.87 title in Division 3 a week ago, to rank eighth in California. Seven squads have eclipsed the at-large standard for the season.  

Racing to the Div. 4 title, Serra came out blazing with a season's best of 40.89.  Now, the second-fastest squad in the state, they line up in lane five. The Div. 3 champs, Cathedral, put down a 41.53 seasonal best for the seventh-fastest time in the state this season while the Div. 1 champs, Cajon, own a seasonal best of 41.55.  Meanwhile, chasing down the at-large standard, Los Alamitos and Jordan have both run 41.77 this season while the men of Upland have crossed in 41.79.  Simi Valley ran to a seasonal best of 41.84 last weekend to finish behind Jordan in the Div. 2 final.

When glancing back at 2022 seasonal best marks, no other event provides a great disparity between our top talents and their counterparts. Whereas Ventura's Sadie Engelhardt (4:33.29) owns the state record for the 1600 meters, Mira Costa's Dalia Frias owns the record for the full (4:35.06) mile.  Throw in that Newbury Park's Samantha McDonnell (4:38.91) also sits in the top ten on the all-time California state performance list, and we have ourselves a nice warm-up for next week!  For the first time, these three actually meet up for the same race. Chino's Mia Chavez checks in with a 4:49.10 from last weekend while Emma Hadley of Canyon, Ana. owns as seasonal best of 4:51.18.  Newbury Park's Ailish Hawkins ran a 4:53.66 back in March and will also compete for one of those six spots at the State Meet.  

Under the heat and wind, only five eclipsed the 4:15-barrier, but conditions will be more accommodating this week as Dana Hills' Jai Dawson held off Agoura's Ethan Godsey last week for the Div. 2 championship.  Both have run under 4:10 this season. The Div. 1 champ, Nico Colchico of Long Beach Wilson (pictured) comes in with a seasonal best of 4:09.84 while Santiago's Tyler Kaan burned a 4:10.98 on the track in March.  Crescenta Valley's Rowan Fitzgerald (4:14.40) placed second behind Colchico last week while Loyola's Richard Moreno crossed with a lifetime best of 4:14.88.  Most of the field has run faster than the At-Large standard - it will be about working as a group here and pushing one another back under 4:15.  

Monrovia's Madeleine Conte (pictured) has been on a roll this past month, clocking in as the top seed based on her 14.12w Division 3 win a week ago. Orange Vista's Kailah McKenzie (14.20w) held off Upland's London Davis (14.22w) last week for the Division 1 title.  Under all conditions, these marks rank #4-#6, respectively, in California.  Our Division 2 champion, Lauren Thai of Thousand Oaks, comes in with her 14.50, moving her up to eighth in the state for wind-legal marks.  Oaks Christian's Niya Clayton (14.78w) was your Div. 4 champion, while Adrienne Usher of Harvard-Westlake earned the Div. 3 title.  

To move to this round as a prep is quite an accomplishment!  In unprecedented fashion, Upland has qualified three with Upland's Kai Graves-Blanks (13.91w) out-leaning Cajon's Seth Johnson (13.94w) in the Div. 1 championship last week.  Beforehand, Mater Dei's Logan Lyght created his own stir with a 13.94w to win the Div. 2 race.  Upland's DeQuan January (14.09w) and Davis Davis-Lyric (14.11w) are looking to punch their tickets to next weekend's State Meet.  Crean Lutheran's Jack Fairchild captured the Div. 4 title (14.41) while the Div. 3 champ, Dario Rock of St. Francis looks to regain that 14.08 wind-legal form we saw last month.  

Roosevelt's Naomi Johnson looks more confident with every race as she comes in off her 54.44 performance from last weekend.  She owns a best of 53.87 from last month, while Long Beach Wilson qualified three, led by Aujane Luckey (54.83 last weekend) and Samarra Monrroy (54.49 best for 2022).  Leaving the field a week ago for the Div. 3 title, Ava McCumber Gandara of Notre Dame, SO ran to a lifetime best of 54.66.  San Clemente's Caroline Hawkes has run 55.20 while Glendora's Maya Shinnick owns a best of 55.23.  CulverCity's Joelle Trepagnier (55.82) pulled the upset to win Div. 2 last week.  

West Ranch's Christopher Goode (pictured) has wisely limited his racing schedule in 2022, unleashing for the Div. 2 title last week in 46.94.  In the fastest 400-meter final in Division 3 history, Cathedral's William Mullins (47.62) outlasted Marshall's Logan Davis (47.77) and Covina's Kerry Smith (47.80).  Meanwhile, Upland's Christopher Coats brought home the Div. 1 title, as he brings his 47.42 seasonal best.  The Div. 4 champion, Liam Gair of Villanova Prep, has run a 47.54 this season.  The entire field has eclipsed the At-Large standard - now, they need to do it once again! 

With eyes focused on the larger school divisions, the girls from Serra in Division 4 stole the headlines last week.  Serra junior Jordan Washington romped to a state-leading 11.55 while her teammate, Brazil Neal closed in her shadow at 11.71!  On deck, we watched Harvard Westlake's Alyssa Thompson deliver her wind-legal 11.69 to capture the Div. 3 title to rank second in California.  Redondo's Eve Divinity pulled off the victory in the Div. 1 final with an 11.74w, just ahead of Ayala's Kayla McBride (11.78w).  Long Beach Poly's Aniyah Wyche (11.81w), Millikan's Kaliyah Johnson (11.86w), Dakota Minor of Roosevelt (11.87w), and Div. 2 champ, West Torrance's Amor Jones (11.87w) all look to close in under the at-large standard, as they did a week ago.  

With 14 boys altogether eclipsing the At-Large standard, the wind-aided conditions last week assisted what is considered one of the top sprint groups ever in California state history.  Serra's Rodrick Pleasant  (pictured) provided fireworks galore with his 10.16w but the group was not done!  Servite's Max Thomas (10.35w) surged ahead of Chaminade's Patrick Ize-Iyamu (10.38w) to claim the Div. 3 title while Jordan Washington of Jordan came back for a 10.37w title of his own.  In the Division 1 final, Los Alamitos freshman Devin Bragg pulled the upset with his 10.35w win, out-leaning LB Poly's Jaelin Knox (10.39w).  It took a 10.49w to advance while a 10.57 is left sitting at home for this one! 

Ventura's Sadie Engelhardt (pictured) returns from the 1600 meters, leading the state with her 2:05.66 seasonal best.  No girl has ever captured both events in the same Masters Meet since starting in 1977.  Chino's Mia Chavez is third in the state with her 2:08.08 from a month ago and one of the top middle-distance talents in the nation.  Meanwhile, La Canada's Arielle McKenzie defended her Div. 3 title last weekend as her 2:08.89 seasonal best is fifth in the state.  JW North's Mackenzie Browne rolled to a 2:09.60 earlier this season and has dropped the 1600 meters to focus solely on this one.  One of California's best, J Serra's Ashlee Gallegos steps in with a 2:10.18 seasonal best. Katella's Ashlynn Viramontes (2:11.73) captured the Div. 1 title last week over Fountain Valley's Kaho Cichon (2:12.78) while Canyon's Emma Hadley (2:11.45) and J Serra's Georgia Jeanneret (2:12.66) have gone under the at-large standard in 2022. 

Newbury Park junior Aaron Sahlman rolled to an outstanding 1:48.91 earlier this season and ran away from the pack last week to the 1:52.54 title in Div. 1.  After two weeks of stellar solo efforts, Thacher's Ellis Delvecchio surged to a 1:50.13 two weeks ago, while Dana Hills' Jai Dawson returns from the 1600 meters with his 1:50.63 seasonal best.  Jumping into the top tier in California, Jacob Snodgress of San Marcos steps in with a 1:52.66 effort from two weeks ago while Long Beach Wilson's Marcel Francis Mitchell looks to improve upon his 1:52.71.  Foothill's Jacob Robison closed well for second in the Div. 1 race last week at 1:53.44.

Madeleine Conte of Monrovia is back!  Defending her Div. 3 title from 2021, she rolled to a 44.09, just off her 43.60 seasonal best, which ranks fifth in the state.  In an event where the at-large standard will be tough to match, Redondo's Lela Divinity comes in off winning the Div. 1 race a week ago in a lifetime best of 44.49.  Wilson's Kaylin Edwards (44.50), Arcadia's Shriya Velichala (44.78), JW North's Breija Stredic (44.78), Wilson's Genesis Washington (44.83) and Lauren Thai (44.90) have all eclipsed the 45-second barrier in 2022.  

Seven of California's top 10 get into the blocks.  After falling in the Div. 1 final for the 110 Hudles, Upland's Delaney Crawford (pictured) regathered to ride home with the title in the 300 Hurdles in a season's best of 37.44. Teammate, Kai Graves-Blanks closed well in 37.98 to move just ahead of Wilson's Isaac Lewis, who owns a 2022 best of 37.82.  The Div. 4 final was also a fast one, yielding two qualifiers in Maranatha's Finn Andrews (38.44) and Oaks Christian's Elijah Gipson (who also qualified in the 100 meters).  We will need to see some step-up efforts for the At-Large standard as Div. 2 champ, Darryl Stevens of Jordan and Div. 3 champ, Roman Mendoza of Santa Margarita have both crossed in 38.43 this season, both tied for seventh-best in California.    

Serra's Jordan Washington (pictured) returns from the 100, earning the top seed here as well and the fastest time in the state (23.68).  But, do not overlook one of California's best in Adonijah Curry of Golden Valley (23.65w seasonal best), who dropped the 400 meters in the postseason to focus solely on this event. Roosevelt's Naomi Johnson rolled to the Div. 1 title (23.69w) while Wilson's Aujane Luckey was not too far behind at 23.82w.  Serra's Brazil Neal's 24.00 wind-legal finish to her teammate moved her up to fifth in California.  Also ranked in the top ten for California, Glendora's Maya Shinnick gets in the blocks with a 24.29 seasonal best while Roosevelt's Dakota Minor ran a 24.25w last week, just ahead of Redondo's Eve Divinity (24.30w).  

In unprecedented fashion, 26 boys crossed the line under 22.00.  Yes, some were wind-aided but we've never witnessed the depth as what we saw last weekend with a 21.33 (wind-legal) being the last qualifier for this group!  Rodrick Pleasant's 20.40 was the second-fastest time ever run by a Californian prep. Servite's Max Thomas came back with a wind-legal 20.68, tenth on the all-time list.  LB Poly's Jaelen Knox captured the Div. 1 final (20.77w) with Jordan Washington of Jordan (20.93w) claiming the Div. 2 title.  West Ranch's Chris Goode (21.01w), Patrick Ize-Iyamu (21.05) of Chaminade, along with Jaden Smith (21.18) of St. John Bosco make this one of the fastest groups configured into one race in state history.  Christopher Coats (Upland) and Marshall's Logan Davis come back from the 400 meters and are also very capable of meeting the at-large standard.

Samantha McDonnell of Newbury Park has ascended as a favorite here, throwing a lifetime best of 10:28.92 to easily win the Div. 1 title last week. Oaks Christian's Payton Godsey motored to a 10:19.05 last month and captured the Div. 4 title last week.  With the at-large standard challenging, it may come down to a race for those six automatic spots. Anna Chittenden (10:37.50) of Mira Costa, Viewpoint's JiaLian Mackey (10:38.76), and Newbury Park's Ailish Hawkins have crossed under 10:45 this season. Meanwhile, coming on strong this past month, Laguna Hills' Holly Barker captured the Div. 3 title last week with a lifetime best of 10:47.60. Division 2 champion, Alexis Fernandez of West Ranch, Isabella Duarte of Saugus, and Huntington Beach's Makenzie McRae all closed well to finish under 10:50 last week.   

Not much separates the talent in the field, with several having gone under the nine-minute threshold going into the postseason.  One of those, Big Bear's Max Sannes (pictured) ran away to the Div. 4 title (9:07.17), just ahead of West Ranch's Bille Issa (9:07.65) who captured the Div. 2 title.  Millikan sophomore Jason Parra has been consistent all season long, winning the Div. 1 title while Jaden Wiley of Hart ran to a lifetime best of 9:09.52.  Highland's Matthew Donis (9:10.60), Brennan Foody of Aliso Niguel (9:11.30), and Div. 3 champ, Will Sheehy of Harvard Westlake along with the rest of the field are shooting for that At-Large standard.  Newbury Park's Daniel Appleford checks in with the fastest time of the season at 8:52.19.  

Five of the top six teams in the state get into the blocks here. With the fastest time in the state, Long Beach Wilson's 3:43.87 headlines this one but Roosevelt (anchored by Naomi Johnson, pictured) finally ran their 'A' team a week ago and closed well with a seasonal best of 3:46.17 to move up to second in California. The Div. 3 champs, Calabasas, brings a seasonal best of 3:49.82.  Culver City saved their best until last week as they rolled to the Div. 2 win in 3:50.88.  Long Beach Poly placed third in the Div. 1 final last week in a seasonal best of 3:50.96 while Chino Hills also looks for a strong finish, coming off a 3:52.99 last weekend.  

Seven of the top eight squads in California get into the blocks.  Long Beach Wilson (pictured) comes in hot off their 3:14.20, state-leading to capture the Div. 1 title while Cathedral, the Div. 3 champs, has clocked in at 3:15.80.  Long Beach Poly has a seasonal best of 3:17.93 as the third fastest in the state, while Cajon continues to improve, as they placed second in Div. 1 last week with a 3:18.88.  With a five-second improvement, Monrovia closed strong at 3:18.95 last week while San Marcos captured the Div. 2 title at 3:19.68.  With all looking to meet that standard, Westlake impressed last week in their 3:20.07 seasonal best.     

With the goal being to simply 'hit that standard', the entire field did just that last week. Golden Valley's Kylee Davis (19-11.5) is the top seed as she earned the Div. 2 title.  The Div. 1 champion, Alyssa Hope of ML King, measured out to 19-8.25. With only two inches separating the top five in one of the most competitive competitions in CIF-SS history, Kailah McKenzie (19-7) of Orange Vista, Vista Murrieta's Alyssa Alumbres (19-6.5), Upland's Caelyn Harris (19-6.25, pictured) -- the defending State Meet champion from 2019 -- and Long Beach Poly's Lauren Reed (19-6.25) all reunite.  The Div. 3 champ, Adrienne Usher of Harvard Westlake, came up with a seasonal best of 18-11.5 last week.   

Golden Valley's Elijha Ellis checks in as the top seed, with his wind-legal 24-2.5 effort to capture the Div. 2 title last week.  Owning the top performance (24-9.5) in California for 2022, Great Oak's JC Stevenson captured the Div. 1 title while the Div. 3 champion, Camryn O'Bannon of St. John Bosco has measured out to 24-4 this season. Mater Dei freshman Brandon Gorski and Corona del Mar's Jason Plumb went out beyond the at-large standard in this same pit a week ago while of those looking to do the same, Elsinore's Elijah Yoshinaga comes in with a 23-10.5 wind-legal best.

On paper, it will come down to the six top placers in this one.  Ranked second in California with a 45-4.5 effort from two weeks ago, Hope Gordon of Notre Dame SO is favored.  Her teammates, April Fontenette (42-2.5 best) and Asa Johnson (41-8 best) look to achieve a rare feat in sending three to the State Meet in one event.  The Orange Lutheran duo of Pesi Tauaika and Rebel Tuinuknafe have also measured out over 41 feet while Hart's Laura Brennan, the Division 2 champion, owns a seasonal best of 40-8.5. Chino Hills' Erica Collins claimed the Div. 1 title a week ago with a lifetime best of 40-6.

With almost the entire field measuring out over the At-Large standard, one of the nation's best in Murrieta Mesa's Cade Moran, settles into the ring with a 207-4 best from two weeks ago. Behind him last week, Redondo Union's Kai Deines (188-4) and Elsinore Elijah Ignacio (182-4) also shined. Taking home the title in Div. 3, J Serra junior Brendon See comes in with a seasonal best of 197-4 while we witnessed a solid lifetime best of 196-1, third-best in the state, by Golden Valley's Terraine Wiggins. Westlake junior Adam Laycock (183-4) has been consistent while Hesperia's Jordan Franco (180-6) and El Modena's Dylan Conner (180-3) come in off the lifetime bests. Nine of the top 11 in California come together, all projected to advance to the State Meet.    

Golden Valley's Kylee Davis and Long Beach Poly freshman Jillene Wetteland proved what they could last week in winning their respective championships by both clearing 5-8!  With Orange Vista's Kailah McKenzie (who will join Davis in also doing Long Jump at the same time), Poly's Zharia Taylor, and Golden Valley's Meagan Humphries clearing 5-06, those five have proven that they can meet the At Large Standard on this apron.  Winning the Div. 3 title by clearing 5-5 a week ago, Katherine Porter joined that group with a slew of others seeking the same goal.  Of those, watch for Calabasas' Amia Witt and Valley View's Amara Thomas, who both cleared 5-6 earlier in the season.  

GIRLS POLE VAULT (12-03)

Jessica Thompson of Harvard-Westlake delivered a huge lifetime best effort of 12-8 last week.  As impressive was the performance from South Torrance's Kayla Tassara, who improved by over 9-inches for a 12-7 best.  But, the top mark in the section (13-2) is shared by Vista Murrieta's Aspen Fears (13-2, pictured) and Murrieta Valley's Madisyn Negro.  Meanwhile, Div. 4 champ, Tenly Kuhn went up over the 12-9 bar last month.  With the rest of the field looking to clear 12-0, Madeline Seifert is favored to emerge as she owns a seasonal best of 12-2. 

Great Oak's Aiden Pastorian (pictured) pulled off the upset with a lifetime best of 66-07 last weekend over Murrieta Mesa's Cade Moran, who owns a best mark in the state for 2022 at 66-10.  Two of the best in the nation should easily advance after one throw.  Redondo Union's Kai Deines (63-5.25) and Div. 3 champ, Nikolas Iwankiw (62-7.5) of South Pasadena have seasonal bests that project them to easily move on while Travis Zavala of Canyon, Ana. captured the Div. 2 title with a lifetime best of 56-9.5.  St. Paul's Israel Gallardo captured the Div. 4 championship with his best of 56-0.  

With At-Large posing a stiff challenge to the field, current California state leader at 6-9, Seth Johnson of Cajon will look to automatically move on.  San Clemente's Griffin Schwab came up big with a 6-6 clearance a week ago, as did Div. 4 champion, Cole Hoegl of Crossroads.  Mater Dei's Brandon Gorski captured the Div. 2 title with a 6-6 effort, while Moorpark's Victor Ezike and Jordan Navarro are familiar with this apron, clearing the same height in their battle for the Div. 3 title with the former taking the win.  Clear 6-5 and you move onto next weekend's state meet!  

As with the Shot Put, achieving the At-Large standard will be a tall order.  April Fontenette of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (pictured), came up huge last week, moving up to third in California with her 150-5 performance.  The Div. 1 champion and fifth in the state, Karyssa Owens of Roosevelt, owns a best of 140-7.  J Serra's Siena Lambert moved up to seventh in the state last weekend with her 134-7 effort while despite being the last qualifier, Asa Johnson, the top state-ranked freshman from Notre Dame, SO owns a best of 131-10.  Her teammate, Hope Gordon, and Esperanza's Bailey Speakman have also measured out over 130-feet.

Great Oak's JC Stevenson defended his Div. 1 title last week, while he leads the state with a 48-5.5 wind-legal best.  But, it was Golden Valley's Elijha Ellis that bounded to the top mark of the day at 48-3.5.  Elijah Yoshinaga of Elsinore placed second in the Div. 1 competition at 47-4.5 while Crean Lutheran's Jack Fairchild claimed the Div. 4 title with his 46-2 while Valley View's Kyan Thomas (46-2) and Fountain Valley's Jonathan Yu (46-0.75) measured out beyond 46-feet.  On paper, the sleeper could very well be St. John Bosco senior Camryn O'Bannon as he owns a wind-legal seasonal best of 48-0.   

Owning the top two marks in California, ML King's Alyssa Hope (40-3) and Mission Viejo's Jada Gatlin (40-2.25) have been as solid as can be, both coming through with 40+ foot measurements a week in claiming their respective divisional titles!  Six others eclipsed the standard last week in this same pit.  Glendora's Kennedy Johnson (39-10.25w), Lauren Reed (39-7.5) of Long Beach Poly, Mayfair's Chelsea Aninyei (39-6.5), Alyssa Alumbres of Vista Murrieta (39-6), and Simone Smith (39-4.25) of Upland will fight for those automatic spots. Los Alamitos' Mackenzie Kirk will also be up there with her seasonal best of 39-9.5.

Roosevelt's Hunter O'Brien has been on top of the California charts all season long with his 16-9 performance.  The Div. 1 champion cleared 15-9 last week.  Meanwhile, Ramona's Gavin Hanes continues to improve as he elevated up over 16-3 to win the Div. 2 title last week. Staying in Riverside County, Murrieta Valley's Tiger Bachmeier (pictured) moved up to 15-9 last week while Jake Reed of Oaks Christian has also matched that same mark.  The Div. 4 champion from last week, Aidan Haggerty of Foothill Tech owns a seasonal best of 15-6 while this will all be about clearing that 14-9 'At-Large standard' for the majority of the field.  

GIRLS AT-LARGE STANDARDS  (2012 vs. 2022)
100m = 11.88 - 11.90
200m = 24.54 - 24.28
400m = 55.99 - 55.67
800m = 2:13.62 - 2:12.72
1600m = 4:58.86 - 4:52.84
3200m = 10:42.57 - 10:29.11
100H = 14.31 - 14.28
300H = 43.75 - 43.96
400R = 47.48 - 47.74
1600R = 3:51.77 - 3:51.56
HJ = 5-05 - 5-05
PV = 11-08 - 12-03
LJ = 18-02 - 18-06
TJ = 38-07 -  39-02
SP = 41-05 - 42-00
DIS = 135-11 - 144-05