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Six girls who competed in eight individual events last May at the CIF-State Track and Field Championship Finals, are scheduled to return for the 2023 outdoor season. That group includes Lincoln senior hurdler Y'Vette Harris (pictured), who medaled in both hurdles races last spring, and Weston Ranch senior Galadriel Mellion, who was a finalist in both the shot put and the discus throw.
ASHANTI ELIE
Whitney, Sr.
Jumps
She led the state in the high jump last season, twice clearing 5-10, and has the top returning mark from the '22 outdoor season. Ashanti went to the SJS Division Finals in the short sprints but her best event is the high jump where she won the SJS Masters title with a best of 5-5 among 15 event wins last spring.
KORI FIELDS
St. Mary's, Sr.
Sprints/Hurdles
Kori is the defending SJS Masters champion the 100m hurdles (14.52/1.2), the 200-meter dash (24.44/-0.7) and she was a member of the section champion 4x100m relay team that placed third at the State Meet (46.78). She won the 200m dash at seven meets last spring.
CARLY FOSTER
Granite Bay, Sr.
Distance
Carly, a leader on the strong Granite Bay XC team, is the top returner in the 1600m from the SJS Masters, where she placed second in 5:10.12. She ran her 1600m PR of 4:58.94 at the SJS Division 1 final. She is the No. 3 returner in both the 1600m and 3200m (10:52.98) from marks achieved last spring.
KEILEE HALL
Christian Brothers, Sr.
Hurdles/Sprints
Keilee placed sixth in the 300m hurdles at the State Finals (43.57) and is one of the top returners in the 400m after running 56.99 at the SJS MOC. Hall has run 2:13.00 for 800m, and 42.76 in the long hurdles.
Y'VETTE HARRIS
Lincoln, Sr.
Hurdles
Y'Vette is the top returning combo hurdler in CA after placing second in the 100mH (14.12) and fifth in the 300mH (43.19) at the CIF-State Championships last May. Harris has already won the 60mH and the "indoor" pentathlon at the CA Winter Championships, kicking off her senior season in grand style. Her junior season included a 14.00 (1.2) clocking in the 100 hurdles at State Prelims, 42.61 to win the SJS Masters title in the 300s, and two post-CIF summer 100mH times of 13.98 and 13.94 at U20 events.
GISELLE KIRCHNER
Rocklin, Jr.
Hurdles
Giselle and Y'Vette Harris are two of the state's top returning combo hurdlers. Gigi won the SJS title in the 100mH (14.03) and went 14.15 (0.7) for fourth place at the State Meet. She ran 44.19 for second in the 300mH at the SJS D-1 Finals. Her 100mH best ranks CA No. 3 and her 300mH best sits CA No. 9 among returning girls.
KATIE KOPEC
Whitney, Sr.
Distances
Katie, headed to Oregon State in the fall, is a two-time SJS cross country champion, who competed on the West Regional team at the Champs Cross Country Nationals. She is top returner for 3200m in the SJS with her PR of 10:30.72 from Arcadia. She placed 13th in the 3200m at the State Meet (10:43.13) and ran her 1600m PR of 4:57.61 for fourth at the SJS D-1 Finals.
GALADRIEL MELLION
Weston Ranch, Sr.
Throws
Galadriel, headed to Arizona State in the fall, placed sixth in the shot put (41-00.50) and seventh in the discus throw (138-04) at the State Meet after sweeping both titles at the SJS Maters meet (40-04/137-06). Her shot PR of 42-8.50 ranks CA No. 2 among returners, and her discus best from State is CA No. 4.
JULIANA ROBERSON
Whitney, Jr.
Jumps
As a sophomore, Juliana placed eighth in the triple jump at the State Meet Finals with a best of 37-10 (2.7). She jumped her PF of 38-9 at SJS Masters, and she went 37-8 to win at the Sacramento Meet of Champions. She also has a long jump PR of 18-0.50.
Photos by DeAnna Turner, Daniel Hernandez, James Leash, Raymond Tran, and Dan Tyree.
