JUNIOR GIRLS TO WATCH
(athletes are listed alphabetically)
* * *
Laraigh Allen (Helix/SD; pictured) - Laraigh looks to defend her Winter Champs title in the 150 meters. She has the top qualifying mark at 18.17 and went 18.36 in the '22 final as a sophomore. She also has the No. 2 qualifying time in the 300m (39.52). She placed eighth in that event last year in 41.23.
Niya Clayton (Oaks Christian/SS) - Niya has the No. 4 qualifying mark in the 60-meter dash (7.68), the No. 7 time in the 60-meter hurdles (9.18), and she's also a qualifier in the 150m (18.81).
London Davis (St. Bernard/SS) - London has the No. 2 qualifying mark in the 60-meter hurdles at 9.03 seconds. She was a CIF-State Meet finalist in the 100m hurdles last May.
Kelly De Jong (Maranatha Christian/SD) - Kelly is the No. 2 qualifier in the pole vault (12-0) and tied with the sixth-best qualifying height in the high jump (5-0).
Iliana Downing (La Costa Canyon/SD) - Iliana is the only girl in the Winter Championships Series to clear 13-0 feet in the pole vault and one of only two to hit or exceed that height this winter in CA. She placed eighth in the CIF-State Meet last May and was seventh here last winter (11-7).
Mia Flowers (Serra/SS) - Mia has the No. 3 qualifying mark in the 150-meter dash and is scheduled to run in the top-qualified 4x200-meter relay team (1:40.98) along with seniors Sadia Green, Brazil Neal, and Jordan Washington.
Payton Godsey (Oaks Christian/SS) - Payton, a CIF-Southern Section, CIF-State, and Garmin RunningLane national champion in cross country, is scheduled to run a leg on the top-qualified distance medley relay team (12:14.34), running the 1600-meter anchor in the 1200m-400m-800m-1600m event along with freshman Rayah Rodriguez, sophomore Eleanor Borchard, and junior Grace Geyer.
Meagan Humphries (Castaic/SS) - Meagan has the top qualified marks in both the high jump (5-6) and the 300-meter dash (39.24). Humphries placed third in the high jump (5-6) at the CIF-State Meet last May. She placed second in the high jump (5-4) and fifth in the long jump (17-7) here last winter.
Georgia Jeanneret (JSerra/SS) - Georgia has the No. 3 qualifying time in the 600-meter run, has a qualified time in the 300m (42.69), and is also scheduled to run a leg on JSerra's top-qualified 4x800m relay team (9:33.00) along with sophomore Brynn Garcia, junior Brooke O'Brien and senior Anastasia Snodgrass. Jeanneret place third in the 1500 (4:42.45) here last year and ran on the winning 4x8 team (9:13.99).
Gioana Lopizzo (La Costa Canyon/SD) - Gioana is the No. 4 qualifier in the 1500-meter run (4:47.89). She is coming off an impressive cross county season where she won the San Diego Section D-3 title, placed second at Clovis, second at CIF-State, and second at Champs West Regionals to qualify to run on the West Region team at Champs XC Nationals.
Brooke O'Brien (JSerra/SS) - Brooke is the No. 3 qualifier in the 1500-meter run (4:46.03) and is scheduled to run a leg on JSerra's top-qualified 4x800m relay team (9:33.00) along with sophomore Brynn Garcia, junior Georgia Jeanneret, and senior Anastasia Snodgrass. O'Brien place fifth in the 1500 (4:53.16) here last year and ran on the winning 4x8 team (9:13.99).
Amirah Shaheed (Madison/SD) - Amirah, a returning San Diego Section 100m champion, is qualified in all three sprint events here with top times of 7.80 for 60 meters and 18.30 for 150m. She placed fifth in the 60m and seventh in the 150m at this championship last winter.
Payton Smith (La Jolla/SD) - Payton is the No. 5 qualifier in the 150m (18.24) and is also scheduled in the 300m (41.56). She placed fourth in the 60m (7.77) and fifth in the 150 (18.61) here last winter.
Mikaela Warr (Canyon Country Canyon/SS) - Mikaela has the top qualifying time in the 60-meter dash (7.52), the No. 2 mark in the 150m (18.21) and also is qualified in the 300m (41.42). She placed second in the 60m at the 2022 Winter Champs running 7.70.