* * *
In the spring of 2020, when the track and field season was placed on hold, MileSplitCA contributor/associate editor Mark Gardner devoted hours and days of research toward creating 'Dream Teams' that highlighted the top programs in California. We placed each school's top four performances in their respective history onto a mythological 'dream team'.
Within the context of the addition of the 4x800 relay into this spring's California State Championships event lineup, we wanted to resurface this invaluable research, give it a facelift, and share it for all to enjoy.
Backed by John Lester's 1:47.65 performance in 2021, Amador Valley (NC) moved up from the eighth to the third slot. Meanwhile, Jai Dawson's 1:49.33 effort from 2022 moved the Dana Hills program from 24th, into the top 10 into the eighth spot!
But, it was Newbury Park's boys who were not on that original Top 50 list, from 2020, who skyrocketed up the charts! Colin Sahlman's 1:48.07 and younger brother, Aaron Sahlman (1:48.91 - top U.S. returning time for '23) became the first program in state history with two sub-1:49 performances, albeit in the same APU Meet of Champions race in 2022!
We will reveal our updated girls' list in a couple of days!
GOLDEN STATE 4x800m RELAYHISTORIC 'DREAM TEAMS'
| Teams | No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | Total |
1) Long Beach Poly (SS) | 1:50.14 | 1:50.22 | 1:50.63 | 1:50.68 | 7:21.67 |
| Greg Jones ('68) | Bryan Woodward ('92) | Myles Andrews ('11) | Chris Hall ('11) | ||
| 2) Bakersfield (CC) | 1:48.44 | 1:49.42 | 1:51.59 | 1:52.90 | 7:22.35 |
| Clark Mitchell ('65) | Vondre Amour ('94) | Sean Langer ('84) | Jason Hall ('82) | ||
| 3) Amador Valley (NC) | 1:47.65 | 1:50.71 | 1:51.64 | 1:53.96 | 7:23.96 |
| John Lester ('21) | Dan Gabor ('87) | Connor McKinnon ('14) | Aidan Boyle ('18) | ||
| 4) Newbury Park (SS) | 1:48.07 | 1:48.91 | 1:52.18 | 1:54.83 | 7:23.99 |
| Colin Sahlman ('22) | Aaron Sahlman ('22) | Sean Grumley ('10) | Adam Olson ('22) | ||
| 5) Jesuit (SJ) | 1:49.29 | 1:50.70 | 1:51.74 | 1:53.33 | 7:25.06 |
Michael Stember ('96) | Patrick McCrystle ('82) | Chase Gordon ('19) | Colton Misono ('11) | ||
| 6) Woodbridge (SS) | 1:49.21 | 1:51.02 | 1:52.19 | 1:52.75 | 7:25.17 |
| Eric Schermerhorn ('84) | Michael Haddan ('02) | Josh Kingsland ('11) | Dragan Simic ('12) | ||
| 7) Crenshaw (LA) | 1:48.20 | 1:50.70 | 1:51.20 | 1:56.45 | 7:26.55 |
| Jeff West ('79) | MacArthur Osbourne ('82) | Johnny Gray ('78) | Derrick Blair ('05) | ||
| 8) Dana Hills (SS) | 1:49.33 | 1:51.42 | 1:52.85 | 1:53.20 | 7:26.80 |
| Jai Dawson ('22) | Andy Sims ('84) | Jack Morgenson ('13) | Jesus Molina ('10) | ||
| 9) Long Beach Wilson (SS) | 1:49.30 | 1:52.51 | 1:52.57 | 1:52.71 | 7:26.89 |
| Scott Cox ('81) | Armando Bryson ('19) | Copeland Laris ('15) | Marcel Francis-Mitchell ('22) | ||
| 10) Los Altos (CC) | 1:50.10 | 1:52.18 | 1:52.18 | 1:52.48 | 7:26.94 |
| Rick Brown ('70) | Dale Bennett ('65) | Larry Davis ('70) | Robin Ruble ('60) | ||
| 11) Great Oak (SS) | 1:50.20 | 1:50.62 | 1:53.22 | 1:53.58 | 7:27.62 |
| Issac Cortes ('16) | Nelson Quintana ('16) | Michael Hewitt ('12) | Mateo Joseph ('21) | ||
| 12) Bellarmine Prep (CC) | 1:50.64 | 1:52.24 | 1:52.29 | 1:52.61 | 7:27.78 |
| Alex Scales ('17) | Keith Allen ('84) | Benjamin Micallef ('16) | Ben Pinkel ('22) | ||
| 13) Huntington Beach Edison (SS) | 1:51.60 | 1:51.94 | 1:52.22 | 1:52.90 | 7:28.66 |
| Tom Lloy ('74) | Doug Nichols ('89) | Eamon Smythe ('14) | Charlie Christenson ('76) | ||
| 14) Foothill, Santa Ana (SS) | 1:49.65 | 1:52.60 | 1:53.02 | 1:53.54 | 7:28.81 |
| Jacob Robison ('22) | Grant Callen ('19) | Jeff Williams ('82) | Tad Heath ('93) | ||
| 15) San Pasqual (SD) | 1:52.05 | 1:52.11 | 1:52.23 | 1:52.52 | 7:28.91 |
| Jesse O'Brien ('06) | Francis O'Neill ('89) | Matt Silva ('93) | Noah Tellez-Velazquez ('19) | ||
| 16) Bonita (SS) | 1:51.11 | 1:51.20 | 1:53.29 | 1:53.47 | 7:29.07 |
| David Juliano ('98) | Ray Van Asten ('60) | Josh Castaneda ('04) | Dillon Beckum ('16) | ||
| 17) Westlake (SS) | 1:48.63 | 1:52.34 | 1:53.79 | 1:54.52 | 7:29.28 |
| Cory Primm ('07) | Sam DeMello ('10) | Ryan Finch ('15) | Jimmy DeMello ('15) | ||
| 18) Loyola (SS) | 1:52.22 | 1:52.24 | 1:52.38 | 1:52.47 | 7:29.31 |
| Mason Ratkovich ('19) | Elias Gedyon ('09) | ? Shields ('84) | Justin Reed ('06) | ||
| 19) Vista Murrieta (SS) | 1:51.78 | 1:52.12 | 1:52.71 | 1:53.10 | 7:29.71 |
| Kevin Gonzalez ('12) | Omar Solis ('13) | Porter Reddish ('13) | Willie Coleman ('19) | ||
| 20) Bishop O'Dowd (NC) | 1:50.19 | 1:52.84 | 1:53.26 | 1:53.47 | 7:29.76 |
| Eugene Hamilton ('13) | Kenny Green ('83) | Alex Teekell ('95) | Adam Herndon ('92) | ||
| 21) Davis (SJ) | 1:51.59 | 1:52.02 | 1:52.45 | 1:53.82 | 7:29.88 |
| Willie Hall ('16) | Juan Zarate-Sanchez ('18) | Blake Croft ('14) | Palu Mohr ('13) | ||
| 22) El Modena (SS) | 1:49.40 | 1:52.66 | 1:52.95 | 1:55.10 | 7:30.11 |
| Dave Kingsland ('77) | Ruben Esparza ('82) | Mike Terry ('91) | Terry Fink ('74) | ||
| 23) El Camino (SD) | 1:51.00 | 1:52.51 | 1:53.27 | 1:53.48 | 7:30.26 |
| Jim Brennan ('79) | Randy Pensinger ('05) | AJ Acosta ('04) | Jeree Henry ('06) | ||
| 24) Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (SS) | 1:51.97 | 1:52.04 | 1:53.04 | 1:53.24 | 7:30.29 |
| Anthony Chaidez ('16) | Brian Russell ('75) | Tim McCauley ('77) | Bruce Rocheleau ('75) | ||
| 25) Berkeley (NC) | 1:47.31 | 1:53.11 | 1:53.98 | 1:56.00 | 7:30.40 |
| Pete Richardson ('81) | Timothy Keller ('22) | Johnny Langerston ('81) | Rodney Lewis ('82) | ||
| 26) Locke (LA) | 1:49.50 | 1:50.25 | 1:54.74 | 1:55.95 | 7:30.44 |
| David Mack ('75) | Vincent Thompson ('86) | ? McDaniel ('84) | Ricky Pinchback ('80) | ||
| 27) Westmont (CC) | 1:50.21 | 1:51.69 | 1:52.25 | 1:56.54 | 7:30.69 |
| Jason Gomez ('18) | Randy Carlson ('71) | Garrett MacQuiddy ('19) | Robert Munoz ('79) | ||
| 28) Burbank (SS) | 1:49.40 | 1:50.40 | 1:54.40 | 1:56.63 | 7:30.73 |
| Greg Dotson ('10) | John Musich ('74) | Mark VanElswick ('70) | Arsen Mkrtchyan ('14) | ||
| 29) Mission Viejo (SS) | 1:52.30 | 1:52.61 | 1:52.89 | 1:53.13 | 7:30.93 |
| Jon Cook ('73) | Jacob Gustafsson ('02) | Brett Hickman ('18) | John Cronin ('85) | ||
| 30) Villa Park (SS) | 1:52.38 | 1:52.50 | 1:52.89 | 1:53.14 | 7:31.00 |
| Jim Sorenson ('86) | Dave Congelosi ('79) | Garrett Corcoran ('14) | Kevin Green ('82) | ||
| 31) Torrey Pines (SD) | 1:51.99 | 1:52.34 | 1:53.05 | 1:53.44 | 7:31.08 |
| Matt Carpowitz ('11) | Ryan Thomas ('22) | Trent Newquist ('11) | Jack Kuzminski ('14) | ||
| 32) Upland (SS) | 1:51.40 | 1:51.68 | 1:53.54 | 1:54.60 | 7:31.22 |
| Steve Scott ('74) | Ryan Gamboa ('06) | Casey Cox ('76) | Alex Greenberg ('05) | ||
| 33) Clovis (CS) | 1:51.05 | 1:52.34 | 1:53.60 | 1:54.24 | 7:31.23 |
| Connor Morello ('14) | Andrew Scherf ('17) | Kevin Chavira ('14) | Rusty Pishione ('76) | ||
| 34) Hemet (SS) | 1:50.52 | 1:52.53 | 1:53.62 | 1:54.86 | 7:31.33 |
| Robert Frichtel ('96) | Troy Collins ('89) | Clint Coon ('97) | Mike O'Boyle ('86) | ||
| 35) Mater Dei (SS) | 1:51.07 | 1:52.62 | 1:53.52 | 1:54.43 | 7:31.54 |
| Sam Van Dorpe ('18) | Jim Gallivan ('83) | Louis Gallardo ('08) | John Wacker ('18) | ||
| 36) Los Gatos (CC) | 1:51.90 | 1:52.35 | 1:53.62 | 1:53.87 | 7:31.74 |
| Beebe Rutledge ('96) | Matt Bates ('01) | Scott Oliver ('80) | Bob Chambers ('44) | ||
| 37) Leigh (CC) | 1:50.40 | 1:51.98 | 1:54.74 | 1:55.04 | 7:32.16 |
| Conrad Suhr ('74) | Dave Hamilton ('74) | Ron Jones ('86) | Brian Dulin ('81) | ||
| 38) Montgomery (NC) | 1:51.54 | 1:52.36 | 1:53.98 | 1:54.34 | 7:32.22 |
| Dave Rodriguez ('81) | Marc Spina ('86) | Blake McDowell ('07) | Regan Masi ('02) | ||
| 39) Carlmont (CC) | 1:52.60 | 1:52.92 | 1:53.04 | 1:53.67 | 7:32.23 |
| Tim Layton ('13) | Ryan Wilson ('17) | Tanner Anderson ('18) | Brian Hurdal ('75) | ||
| 40) Piedmont (NC) | 1:51.07 | 1:52.64 | 1:53.40 | 1:55.26 | 7:32.31 |
| Gordon Johnson ('89) | Reece Proctor ('18) | Cooper Downing ('22) | John Weber ('10) | ||
| 41) Poway (SD) | 1:52.14 | 1:52.59 | 1:53.21 | 1:54.44 | 7:32.38 |
| Dave Brown ('78) | Aaron Powell ('00) | Jarrett Chin ('17) | Eric Hayen ('11) | ||
| 42) St. Ignatius (CC) | 1:50.83 | 1:53.15 | 1:54.07 | 1:54.34 | 7:32.39 |
| Neil Fitzgerald ('86) | Brendan Fitzgibbon ('97) | Paul McCarthy ('75) | T. Loftus ('86) | ||
| 43) Redondo Union (SS) | 1:50.90 | 1:53.43 | 1:53.94 | 1:54.00 | 7:32.57 |
| Don Burns ('67) | Sergio Rodriguez ('15) | Nicholas Wells ('14) | Evan Malone-White ('13) | ||
| 44) Pioneer (CC) | 1:50.43 | 1:53.66 | 1:54.00 | 1:54.77 | 7:32.86 |
| Nathan Strum ('10) | Sean Lopes ('04) | Brenden Mosher ('93) | Alex Liebscher ('16) | ||
| 45) Royal (SS) | 1:51.94 | 1:53.21 | 1:53.69 | 1:54.03 | 7:32.87 |
| Brian Rodie ('03) | Matthew Russell ('21) | Travis Patterson ('02) | Hudson Andrews ('06) | ||
| 46) Placentia Valencia (SS) | 1:48.20 | 1:51.70 | 1:55.66 | 1:57.46 | 7:33.02 |
| Sean Krinik ('10) | Mike Owens ('65) | Talal Khan ('08) | Danny Gonzalez ('09) | ||
| 47) Corona del Mar (SS) | 1:52.10 | 1:52.99 | 1:53.60 | 1:54.50 | 7:33.19 |
| Nick Rose ('71) | Dave Anderson ('84) | Mike Bruggeman ('79) | Jim Robbins ('88) | ||
| 48) Estancia (SS) | 1:48.80 | 1:52.50 | 1:55.36 | 1:56.96 | 7:33.32 |
| Jim Walters ('77) | Eric Olson ('72) | Humberto Rojas ('03) | Tito Castaneda ('05) | ||
| 49) Simi Valley (SS) | 1:51.67 | 1:52.57 | 1:53.34 | 1:55.94 | 7:33.52 |
| Dave Bogard ('65) | Ryan Meuse ('97) | Bob Bouillon ('77) | Juan Jimenez ('14) | ||
| 50) San Clemente (SS) | 1:50.41 | 1:52.89 | 1:54.71 | 1:55.70 | 7:33.71 |
| Connor Dunne ('16) | Matthew Stollenwork ('03) | Hayden Beauchemin ('22) | Bobby Stangl ('07) |
* * *
In the spring of 2020, when the track and field season was placed on hold, MileSplitCA contributor/associate editor Mark Gardner devoted hours and days of research toward creating 'Dream Teams' that highlighted the top programs in California. We placed each school's top four performances in their respective history onto a mythological 'dream team'.