102nd CIF-STATE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
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CLOVIS -- It only took two clearances for Cajon (SS) senior Seth Johnson to win the CIF-State Track and Field Championship on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis.
Johnson, a multi-event athlete headed to Cal, cleared the opening height of 6 foot, 5 inches on his first attempt and 6-7 on his second attempt at that height and it held up to win the title.
Johnson took three attempts at 6-10.
A day after 14 qualifiers failed to clear the opening height of 6-4, five of the 11 finalists fell short at the opening height of 6-5.
Steele Canyon (SD) senior Leon Gillis, De La Salle (NC) junior Chukwunonso Udeh, and Davis (SJ) senior Ray Oldham also cleared 6-5 on their first attempt but none of that trio was able to get over 6-7. They ended in a tie for second place.
Johnson, who had a season-best of 6-9 to tie Gillis for the state lead, had qualified for State in four events before settling in on the high jump. He is one of the state's best in the 110m hurdles (13.94, tied for CA No. 3), as well as a league champion in the 300m hurdles (39.01) and long jump (22-9).
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Photos by DeAnna Turner