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Adren Parker's answer to a question about his fitness after an injury sidelined him in football is all you need to know about the La Mesa Helix High senior quarter-miler:
"I would prefer not to speak of any injuries," said Parker, whose 46.82 at the CIF-State Prelims is the fastest returning time in the state this season and ranks No. 8 U.S. "But I am optimistic and hungry going into the 2023 track season."
His actions spoke even louder.
In January, he posted the fastest 300-meter dash time of 35.32 at the Winter Championship qualifier at Canyon Crest Academy, winning his race by almost two seconds.
"I'm coming back to win State," said Parker. "I know what it takes and I'm putting in the work necessary to do so."
Whew.
Here's a look at some of the top returnees for 2023.
BOYS TOP 50 RETURNING RANKINGS | GIRLS TOP 50 RETURNING RANKINGS
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SAN DIEGO SECTION TOP RETURNING GIRLS TO WATCH
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San Diego Section Track and Field Boys to Watch
(In alphabetical order)
Helix, Fr.
Sprints
If results from his first high school winter track season are any indication, Arrington's impact on Helix's SDS runner-up 4x100m relay team and section sprint depth overall, will be huge. Arrington was a surprise winner of the 150-meter dash at the CA Winter Championships at Arcadia in 15.94 seconds to beat, among others, Dijon Stanley, who placed third in the 400m at the State Meet last May. Arrington's 150 is the fastest in the state this winter and his 6.96 time in the 60m dash ranks tied for fifth in CA. Not a bad start for the freshie.
Cathedral Catholic, Jr.
300 Hurdles
The fastest returning junior in the state and eighth overall, Atilano roared to a time of 38.78 seconds, the fastest of the day at the section championships and almost a full second faster than his previous best of 39.56 while winning the Western League championship. He broke 40 seconds for the first time at the Arcadia Invitational (39.62). He'll get plenty of competition, though, with Del Norte's Danny Tragarz (39.63) and Oceanside's Jaden Dasher (39.94) also returning.
San Diego, Jr.
Sprints
Yes, San Diego does have a quality group of returnees in the sprints and San Diego High athletes have a pretty good record of improvement. Last year as a sophomore, Besikof rolled to times of 49.83 in the 400 at the Division 1 prelims and 21.92 in the 200 in a dual meet. The 200 time gives San Diego four runners under 22-seconds by adding Parker (21.75), Maranatha Christian's Matthew Priest (21.83) and Mira Mesa's Chris Brown (21.90). Interestingly, Besikof is the No. 2 returning 400-meter runner in the section, one of only two under 50 seconds.
Mission Bay, Jr.
Field events
Horizontally, vertically, it doesn't make a difference to Cheeks. In the high jump, Cheeks got a PR by clearing 6-8 in the section finals but like most of the others, wasn't able to improve at Clovis. In the long jump, Cheeks had a best of 23-2 ½ in the section finals and finished 12th in the state meet. Cheeks hit 46-3 in the triple jump at the Division 3 section prelims before winning the section division title and advancing where he placed 10th in the state meet.
Point Loma, Sr.
Distances
With Correia in the race, you can almost bet it will be a fast time. That's because he loves to run out in front and it allowed him to post a time of 4:14.08 in the 1600, the fastest among the section returnees. That time came in the section Division 2 prelims. He broke 4:15 twice, clocking a 4:14.62 at the Mt. Carmel Invitational. Correia is a speedster, having a best of 1:54.81 in the 800 at the Escondido Invitational.
Rancho Buena Vista, Sr.
Weights
Very versatile, Knowles put the shot 53-6 in the Avocado League championships after hitting 163-7 in the discus at the Escondido Invitational. He came back to spin the discus 155-2 in the section finals, qualifying for state. With the top three weight event individuals, all of whom qualified for the state finals, having graduated, Knowles will be one of the favorites in the discus. In the shot, it's anyone's guess who will emerge.
Helix, Jr.
Hurdles
In the past, hurdlers from the section have shown great improvement in their final two years and Martin is definitely one to watch after transferring from Eastlake. He didn't have the fastest start to the season a year ago, but he came on to post times of 15.00 in the 110s at the state prelims, second fastest in the section, and 40.12 in the 300s at the Mesa League finals. A runner so close to getting under 15 and 40 seconds figures to be highly motivated and will join Adren Parker on the 4x100 relay as well.
Helix, Sr.
Sprints
At 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, Parker is a perfect size for a quarter-miler specialist who also runs the 100, 200 and both relays. His bests of 10.82, 21.75 and 46.82 are high quality with the 46.82, clocked in the state prelims, eclipsing the section record of 46.85 run by Lydell Burston of Morse in 1996. Timewise, Parker is the fastest returning 400-meter runner in the state and don't forget the eye-popping 45.8 anchor leg on the 4x4 relay. That 46.82 is the eighth-fastest returnee in the nation. He clocked a 47.31 to win the section after posting a 47.36 at the Arcadia Invitational.
Maranatha Christian, Jr.
Sprints
The surprise sprinter of the season, Priest posted his best time of 10.56 in the section prelims. In the finals, defending champion Bryce Brock of Cathedral Catholic came out off an injury to win the title before opting to attend graduation over the state meet. Priest, whose school doesn't even have a track, also clocked a 10.57 to win the Coastal League after finishing first in the Mt. Carmel frosh-soph meet at 10.76. He is the No. 2 returning runner in the 200 behind Parker, having a best of 21.83 at the Coastal finals.
Liberty Charter, Sr.
Distances
One thing you learned about Sanchez after cross country is that when he sets his mind to do something, he gets it done. The State Division V champion over 5,000-meters and a CHAMPS National Cross Country Championships finalist, Sanchez is looking to make his mark on the track as well after clocking times like 4:16.80 for 1600, the third-fastest among the section returnees. He didn't run 3200 often, posting a best of 9:54.39. This is a completely different runner from a year ago even though his school in Alpine still doesn't have a competition track for training. Sanchez and Francis Parker's York Bourgeois (at right in photo above) went 1-2 in the 1600m at the SDS D-3 final last May. The battled again this fall on the cross country courses, two of the top small school distance runners in the state.
Torrey Pines, Sr.
800
If anyone has a chip on their shoulder heading into this track season, it's Thomas. After clocking a PR 1:52.34 in the state prelims, Thomas, who placed second in the section championships at 1:53.11, was looking to at least crack 1:52 in the finals. Instead, he got tangled up with another runner and was disqualified. Thomas, who is coming off a strong cross country season, dipped under 1:53 four times last season. He also will be the second-fastest 1600-meter returnee after speeding to a 4:16.01 at the Arcadia Invitational.
Steve Brand is a freelance writer and a regular contributor to MileSplit
California MileSplit state editor Jeffrey Parenti contributed to this article.
Photos by DeAnna Turner, Josh Barber, James Huenink, Raymond Tran, Dan Tyree