RECAP Engelhardt, Cathedral Boys Shine At Outdoor Nationals

NSAF OUTDOOR NATIONALS

Cathedral (SS) senior William Mullins is pictured anchoring the Phantoms' 4x400-meter relay team to victory at the CIF-State Championships on May 28 at Buchanan HS. Mullins and his teammates made quite a medals haul over the weekend at the NSAF Nationals at the University of Oregon. (File photo by DeAnna Tuner)

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Sadie Engelhardt concluded her record-breaking freshman track season with a victory, and the boys from Cathedral (SS) High took home multiple medals, highlighting standout performances from California high school and middle school athletes at the four-day National Scholastic Athletics Foundation Outdoor Nationals that concluded Sunday at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

Engelhardt, from Ventura (SS) High, the CA record-holder and CIF-State champion for 1600 meters, won the 1-mile run on Sunday in 4:38.40. She in a time crossed just over her CA No. 2 all-time clocking of 4:35.16.

Sunday's victory came just eight days after setting a state record for 1500m of 4:11.79 at the Portland Track Festival. Ella Borsheim of Tacoma (WA) Bellarmine Prep placed second in a season-best 4:46.89.

Watch Engelhardt's winning 1600-meter Performance at State

The boys from Cathedral, competing for the Cathedral Phantoms Track Club, were scattered across the results, including relay titles in the 4x400, Sprint Medley Relay (1-1-2-4), and Swedish Relay (1-2-3-4), and a runner-up placing in the SMR (2-2-4-8). 

Cathedral Phantoms taking home relay and/or individual medals included freshmen Adonyss Currie and Antonio Walton, sophomores Ambodai Ligons, Emmanuel Hernandez, and Emmanuel Perez, and seniors Jake Preston, Ekene Onwaeze, William Mullins, and Jai Banks-Chambers

(Athletes competed for club teams but are mostly listed here by the high schools for identification purposes.)

Cathedral, which won the CIF-State title in the 4x400m relay at 3:13.87, won here in 3:15.65 with a team of Preston, Walton, Onwaeze, and Mullins. The winning SMR (1-1-2-4) team of Walton, Currie, Onwaeze, and Mullins ran 1:31.76. The Phantoms' winning Swedish Relay (1-2-3-4) lineup of Currie, Onwaeze, Walton, and Mullins ran 1:58.34.

The team of Onwaeze, Currie, Preston, and Ligons placed second in the 2-2-4-8 SMR in 3:26.90.

Currie and Walton went 1-2 in the Freshman Division 100-meter dash at 11.01 (0.4) and 11.05, respectively. They both ran 11.02 (0.1) as the top time in the prelims. 

Ligons won the 400m in the Emerging Elite Division, running 48.88. 

Preston placed eighth in the 400m championship race in 48.59.

It wasn't just in the sprints where the Phantom boys were among the best.

Banks-Chambers placed third in the "Showcase" long jump with a best of 6.78 and placed 10th in the championship division long jump with a best of 6.74. He also placed seventh in the triple jump at 13.56 (0.9).

Perez placed sixth in the Emerging Elite Division 2-mile run in 9:16.29 and Hernandez placed 11th in 9:24.17

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More standout performances by CA athletes


BOYS

Devin Bragg (Los Alamitos/SS/Fr.) placed fourth in the 100m finals (10.68/0.7) after running 10.72 (0.7) in the prelims. During the CIF season, he set a freshman class state record at 10.45 (1.7) at the CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet.

Jaylen McNeil, an 8th grader competing for the Pacific Coast Shockwaves, placed third in the middle school 100m, running 11.53 (0.8). He ran 11.68 in the prelims. 

Christopher Coats, who just graduated from Upland (SS), placed third in the 200m (21.35/0.2) after running 21.51 (-0.1) in the prelims. Coats was sixth at the State Meet. Jaden Smith, a 2022 graduate of St. John Bosco (SS), placed ninth in the final (22.21) after running 22.04 in the prelims.

Watch Coats' 400m Performance at State

Jayden Rendon, an eighth-grader competing for the Pacific Coast Shockwaves, won the Middle School 200m (22.91/0.9) with Shockwaves classmate Noah Smith third in 23.61. Jason Fontenot, a sixth-grader competing for Mercury San Diego, placed ninth in the final (24.91). 

Rendon also won the Middle School Division 400m (50.97), with teammates McNeil in third (51.81), Smith in fourth (52.50), and seventh-grader Amir Hunter eighth (54.93). 

Liam Gair, a 2022 graduate of Villanova Prep (SS), placed fourth in the 400 meters (48.22),  SJB's Smith was ninth (48.81) and John Dailey, a junior from Whitney (SJ) was 11th 50.63. Gair was eighth at the State Meet.

Adrian Lopez from Pioneer (SS) placed fifth in the 400m Freshman Division in 52.57. 

Jai Dawson, a Dana Hills (SS) graduate, and incoming UCLA freshman placed third in the 800m in 1:50.28. Dawson, who placed second at the State Meet, ran his PR of 1:49.33 for fifth at Brooks on Wednesday.

Watch Dawson's 800m Performance at State

Ryan Fabian, a graduate of Oxnard (SS), placed fourth in the Emerging Elite (EE) Division 800m in 1:55.84.

Tyler Halvorsen, an eighth-grader competing for the Pacific Coast Shockwaves, won the Middle School Division 800m in 2:03.49, and club teammate Adrian Cantu, a seventh-grader, placed eighth in 2:08.76. 

Jeremy Kain, a recent graduate of Scotts Valley (CC) headed to Duke, placed fourth in the 1-mile run in 4:10.79. Kain was the 1600m runner-up at the State Meet. Jesuit (SJ) junior Brandon Moreno was 12th in 4:12.2 with Royal (SS) junior Jonah Bazerkanian 13th in 4:12.18, both running PRs. At State, Bazerkanian placed third and Moreno was sixth.

Grant Morgenfeld, a sophomore at Palo Alto (CC), placed 11th in the EE 1-mile run in 4:19.40. 

William Hauser of Menlo (CC) placed third in the Freshman Division 1 mile in 4:23.55.

Aiden Bodell, competing for the Pacific Coast Shockwaves, placed third in the Middle School Division 1-mile run in 4:38.62 with teammate Cantu in eighth place running 4:43.42. Alden Morales, an eighth-grader from Newport Beach, was 10th in 4:45.72. 

Zachary Ayers, a graduate of Davis (SJ) and an incoming freshman at the Air Force Academy, who won the CIF-State 3200m title, placed sixth in the 2-mile race in an 8:58.75 PR. Carter Spradling, a sophomore at Clovis East (CS), was 14th in a 9:04.23 PR.

Watch Ayers' 3200m Performance at State

Landon Pretre from the Menlo School (CC) won the Freshman Division 2-mile race in 9:24.66. Andrew Burr of Sacramento Country Day (SJ) was fourth in 9:43.26, and Camden Luecht of Rancho Bernardo (SD) was fifth in 9:45.73.

Max Sannes, a graduate of Big Bear (SS) heading to the Air Force Academy, placed 10th in the 5K in 14:53.77, and Nathan Mars, a Loyola (SS) grad, was 14th in 15:04.12.

Jack Fairchild, a recent graduate of Crean Lutheran competing for LEAP Squad, won the EE Division 110m hurdles in 14.55 (1.5) after also running the top prelims time of 14.68. Breland Reed, a senior from Stagg (SJ), was sixth in 14.86 and Isaiah Earls, a senior from Woodcreek (SJ), was seventh in 15.01. 

Del Campo (SJ), competing in the EE Division 4x200 relay, won the race in 1:29.71 with a team of Nasir Jones, Leo Krug, Dante Schutz, and Elias Baeder.

The Los Angeles Cubs TC team comprised of boys from Loyola (SS), placed second in the 4xMile in 17:48.36 with a team of senior Colin Jacobs, junior Jake Ratkovich, seniors Nathan Mars and Richard Moreno. The Cubs placed fifth in the DMR (12-4-8-16) in 10:07.09 with Jacobs, senior Jalen Cox, junior Harrison Lavery, and Moreno.

Heritage (NC) won the EE Division SMR in 1:36.58 with seniors Zachary Carroll and Morel Ombougno, freshman Jordan Green, and junior Jordan Maldonado

Shafter graduate Nick Godbehere placed third in the shot put at 19.41m with Murrieta Mesa (SS) grad Cade Moran fourth at 18.99.

CIF-State champion Brendon See, a junior at JSerra (SS) placed second in the discus there at 59.27 meters with Godbehere third at 58.48 and Moran seventh at 56.55. Redondo Union (SS0 junior Kai Deines was 11th at 52.77. Moran, headed to Michigan, won the CIF-State title in the shot and placed second in the discus. Deines was third at State in the discus.

Davis (SJ) senior Andrew Baum was seventh in the EE Division discus at 46.32.

Fellow Davis senior Ray Oldham was fifth in the high jump at 1.96 with San Clemente junior Griffin Schwab tied for eighth at 1.91. Oldham placed third at State.

Legend Moore, a sophomore Venture Academy (SJ), was second in the EE high jump at 1.86.

Kyle Burns, a recent graduate of Oak Ridge (SJ) placed eighth in the pole vault at 4.58. Davis (SJ) grad Will Siemens was second in the EE at 4.58, with Oaks Christian (SS) grad Jake Reed tied for third at 4.43.

Harvard Westlake (SS) junior Benson Fleischer was third in the EE long jump 6.71. Jerald Martin Evangelista of West Coast Speed was second in the Freshman Division long jump at 6.65 and Jermaine Nance of Kimball (SJ) was sixth at 5.72. Blaise Buswell, a seventh-grader from LEAP Squad, was second in the Middle School Division long jump at 5.87. and sixth-grader Jasir Fontenot of Mercury San Diego was eighth in 5.28.

Dominic Cotton, a junior from Northwood (SS) placed fourth in the EE Division triple jump at 13.79 (1.4), junior Ethan Fong of LEAP Squad was sixth at 13.59 (0.3), and Jack Fairchild, also of LEAP Squad, 10th at 13.11 (0.6). 

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GIRLS

Reign Redmond, the CIF-State Champion in the 100m, a junior at Carson (LA) placed fifth in the short sprint running 11.69 (1.1) competing for West Coast Speed. Redmond was ninth in 200m qualifying with a 24.56 PR but did not run in the final.

Watch Redmond win the 100m title at State

Niya Clayton, a sophomore from Oaks Christian (SS), placed fifth in the EE 100m in 11.95 (1.8). Mari Testa, a junior at Campolindo (NC), just missed the final nine, placing 10th in the prelims with a 12.34 (0.8) PR. 

Taylor Snaer, a junior from East Union (SJ), placed eighth in the EE 200m in 25.11 (-1.3). 

Maya Woolforde, an eighth-grader competing for Black Lightening, placed fourth in the Middle School Division 200m in 25.67 (1.2) She ran 25.85 (1.0) in prelims. Woolforde placed third in the 400m in 57.30 just ahead of two eighth-graders from Pacific Coast Shockwaves, Xiomara Lewis (58.18) and Brooke Blue (58.21). Sofia Lopes, an eighth-grader for Valley Vipers, was seventh in 1:03.75.

Aliyah Williams, a senior from Edison (SJ), placed fifth in the EE 400m in 57.45. She also placed second in the EE 800m  in 2:13.53.

Tessa Buswell, a sophomore from Poway (SD), placed sixth in the 800m in 2:10.16, just ahead of Cate Peters, a junior at Monte Vista (NC) who crossed seventh in 2:10.19. Buswell placed sixth at the State Meet. Peters, who peaked at 2:06.89 at Mt. SAC in mid-April, was injured later in the spring and missed the CIF post-season. Samira Kennedy, a junior at Castilleja (CC) was 311th in 2:12.55 with Hillary Studdert, a junior from Palo Alto (CC), 12th in 2:12.64. 

Lewis, the eighth-grader for the Pacific Coast Shockwaves, won the Middle School Division 800m in 2:18.28, with teammate Race Nunez fifth in 2.21.99, and seventh-grader Reese Holley of the San Diego Waves placing sixth in 2:22.81. Holley also placed seventh in the 1 mile run in 5:13.33.

Mackenzie Rogers, a recent graduate of Poway (SD), placed 12th in the 1-mile race won by Engelhardt, running 4:52.09. Allura Markow, a junior from Dana Hills (SS), was 1th in 4:53.85.

Gioana Lopizzo, a sophomore from La Costa Canyon (SD), placed third in the EE 1 mile in 4:59.69, and JSerra sophomore Brooke O'Brien was 10th in 5:04.76. Lopizzo was sixth in the 3200 meters at the State Meet.

Watch the 3200m Final at the State Meet

Evangeline Marheineke of Archbishop Mitty (CC) placed third in the Freshman Division 1 mile in 5:01.62 with JSerra's Brynn Garcia fourth in 5:02.47. 

Garcia won the EE 2-mile race in 10:38.18. Kinsey Pogue, a senior from Monte Vista (NC) was 10th in 11:05.53.

Chloe Elbaz, an eighth-grader for the Pacific Coast Shockwaves, was third in the Middle School Division of the 1-mile run in 5:08.28. Ava Torgersen, a sixth-grader competing for the Oakland Cubs, was 11th in 5:26.33.

Talia Green, a sophomore from College Prep (NC), won the 3K racewalk in 14:04.90. Torgersen was third in 16:08.67.

Kaylah Tasser, an eighth-grader competing for the Pacific Coast Shockwaves, won the Middle School Division 2-mile race in 10:59.60. That time would have placed 17th in the championship division, eighth in EE, and would have won the Freshman race.

Y'Vette Harris, a junior from Stockton Lincoln (SJ) competing for God Speed, placed fifth in the 100m hurdles in a 14.17 (1.2) PR, with Kapiolani Coleman, a junior from Cathedral Catholic (SD), who crossed sixth in 14.24. Coleman was the ninth and final qualifier out of prelims, making the final field of nine by 0.01 seconds. Harris was the State Meet runner-up in the 100m hurdles.

Watch the 100m Hurdles Final at State

Coleman, the CIF-State champion in the 300m hurdles, placed eighth in the 400m hurdles (30") in 1:03.20. Harris, who was fifth in the 300s at State, was 10th in 1:03.32.

Giselle Kirchner, a sophomore from Rocklin (SJ) competing for Revolution Express, was ninth in the EE 400m hurdles in 1:05.44. JSerra junior Hanna Barmettler was 16th in 1:08.26.

The Poway team competing in the 4x400m relay of seniors Claire Blanco, Indiana Langford, sophomore Tessa Buswell, and senior Alyssa Bean, placed sixth in 3:55.24. 

The Heritage (NC) team competing in the EE 4x4 of sophomore Kayla Marino, senior Sabrina Rogers, sophomore Camille Williams, and freshman Eden Enoru placed fifth in 4:07.78.

JSerra's quartet of junior Anastasia Snodgrass, sophomores Georgia Jeanneret and Brooke O'Brien, and senior Ashlee Gallegos, placed second in the 4x800m relay in 8:52.68. 

JSerra's lineup of Gallegos, junior Hanna Barmettler, Jeanneret, and Snodgrass placed third in the DMR (12-4-8-16) in 11:55.72.

The South Carlsbad TC (La Costa Canyon/SD) quartet of Lopizzo, senior Kyra Compton, junior Sophia Biesinger, and junior Kira Larner placed third in the 4xMile in 20:36.14.

Melanie Castelli, a junior at Notre Dame Bellmont (CC) competing or Race Continues TC, placed eighth in the high jump 1.69.

Jathiyah Muhammad, a sophomore from Dublin (NC) who won the CIF-State title in the pole vault, placed fifth in 4.02 in a competition that saw junior Amanda Moll of Northwest (WA) Pole Vault clear 4.47 and sister Hana clear 4.22. Iliana Downing, a sophomore from La Costa Canyon (SD), was eighth at 3.87, and Quincy Hansen, a senior from San Dieguito Academy (SD) was 11th at 3.87. Downing was eighth at State and Hansen also made the championship round.

Cassandra Cinzori, a junior from San Dieguito Academy (SD), Kelly VanderPol, a sophomore from San Marcos (SD), and Jordan Kinkead a sophomore from La Jolla, each cleared 3.42 to tie for second in the EE pole vault. Paige Hansen, a junior from Hillcrest (SS), and Katie Rodriguez, a junior from Vista Murrieta (SS), also cleared 3.42 and placed seventh and eighth, respectively.

Eliza Ayres from Oakland Technical (OK), placed second in the Freshman Division long jump at 5:18 (0.7). 

Garryn Forde, an eighth-grader for LEAP Squad, was sixth in the middle school division long jump (4.79/0.0). 

Kennedy Johnson, a junior at Glendora (SS), placed sixth in the triple jump at 12.07 (1.1)

Katelyn Peterson, a senior from Dixon (SJ), and Angela Schykerynec, a junior from Orland (NS), both competing for Golden State Throwers, went 2-3 in the 4kg hammer at 53.80 and 53.10, respectively.