MISSION VIEJO -- The placing of this year's Trabuco Hills Invitational and Distance Carnival on the calendar -- the last day of March and first day of April -- seemed appropriate. Timing of the seasons appear to be ready to change, as the rainy and inclement weather that loomed over much of the start of the state's high school outdoor track season fades and blue skies and sunny days arrive.
So, too, is the arrival of standout athletes who are taking their first significant spring steps toward what they hope to accomplish in late May. Saturday's performances by many here were only a first or second attempt, but the biggest realization was that it's time to get serious.
Trabuco Hills hosted such talented sprinters as defending state champions Rodrick Pleasant (100), Brazil Neal (200) from Gardena Serra, and Castaic's Meagan Humphries. Each made favorable strides, giving everyone a glimpse into what's possible as the next few months unfold.
Pleasant, a senior who has committed to Oregon for football and sprints, made his 2023 outdoor 100-meter dash debut and tied a meet record with a winning 10.40 (+1.7). He was selected as the Most Outstanding Sprint/Hurdles Male Athlete of the Meet. Servite's Max Thomas, now at USC, ran 10.40 at the 2022 Trabuco Hills Invitational. Pleasant, who won the 2022 CIF State title in the 100 in a wind-aided 10.30 and set the California record of 10.14 at last year's Southern Section Masters Meet, only ran the 100 on Saturday. Two weeks ago, he ran his first 200 of the 2023 outdoor season. He is scheduled to run the 100, 200 and a leg of the 4x100 at the upcoming Arcadia Invitational.
"I'm excited, a 10.40, to tie the meet record. I hope to run faster this season, but it's a stepping stone," he said. "I've been working on getting in shape, been working on different phases, but I'm getting excited about April and May because it's time to turn it up."
Humphries, a junior, was the top female winner at Trabuco Hills, demonstrating her versatility with wins in the 200, 400 and long jump. She recorded personal bests in all three events and was named the Most Outstanding Sprint/Hurdles Female Athlete of the Meet. She went 19-9.5 in the long jump, besting her nearest competitors, Portola's Alexis Richmond and Serra's Jordyn Brooks (both at 17-0). When she moved to the track events, she first won the 400 in 56.27 and then later in the day, won the 200 in a wind-aided 24.04 (+2.5). The latter was special because she edged Serra's Neal (24.18w) in their top heat race.
"Doing both the 400 and 200 definitely boost my confidence because I had not been able to do those races so far this season to see where I'm at," said Humphries, who struggled as recent rains had hampered her optimal training time. She said her long jump performance Saturday was a big positive step to help her break free from a mental "imposter syndrome" of believing she wasn't at the same level as others. Her PR in the long jump puts her on the path toward greater things.
Despite a second-place showing in the 200, Neal, who will head to Oregon in the fall, did improve in only her second 200 outdoor race of 2023. She went 25.31 at the Pasadena Games. The loss didn't overshadow a good day overall. Neal won the 100-meter dash in 11.83 (+1.9), her fastest time in three outdoor meets in 2023. Her personal best is an 11.57, set as the 2022 CIF State runner-up.
"I feel like I'm in a very good spot right now," Neal said. "At this time last year I wasn't even touching 11s in the 100. I didn't start running 11s until near the end of May. I feel good, I feel accomplished where I am right now and I'm excited for the rest of the season to come."
Neal also ran the opening leg of Serra's winning 4x100 relay team. Neal, Mia Flowers, Jaiya Fletcher and Zakiyah Wilson went 46.57. Serra is the defending State champion in the 4x100 relay, but only Neal, Flowers and Fletcher ran that State final race (46.08). Wilson, a senior, ran anchor on Saturday.
The 2023 season is shaping up well for senior pole vaulter Dylan Curtis of Redondo Union. On Saturday, Curtis set a personal best with a 16-1 to win the event. He did make three attempts at 16-6.50, which would have set both a meet record and would seize the state lead from Buchanan's Hilton Green who did go 16-6 at this weekend's West Coast Relays and did attempt 17 feet. Alas, Curtis' 16-1 was a "baby PR," as he termed it. At the March 24-25 Simi Valley Invitational, Curtis topped out at 16-0.5. Curtis has been solidly rising this season. He's won all seven outdoor events he's entered and has gone from a 14-10 in his season debut. Furthermore, Curtis also competed in two other varsity events, the long jump and 300 hurdles. He was fourth in the long jump with a top mark of 20-6.50 and 15th in the 300 hurdles in 42.76. Curtis, who remains undeclared for college, was later recognized as the Most Outstanding Field Male Athlete of the Meet.
Also earning award recognition Saturday was Jada Gatlin, a senior jumper and sprinter for Mission Viejo and a USC commit. She went 40-8 to win the triple jump competition and was named the Most Outstanding Field Female Athlete of the Meet. It was her first jump of 40 and above this season. In 2022 she went 40+ on four occasions, including wins in the South Coast League Finals, Southern Section Division I Final and the SS-Masters Meet. She notched her PR of 40-9 in the CIF State prelims.
Friday's action was a distance carnival with general varsity and frosh-soph boys and girls races for the 800, 1600 and 3200 as well as invite-only races. Highlights included a win for sophomore Juan Juarez of Liberty (SS) in the boys invite 800 in 1:54.59, and Huntington Beach junior Makenzie McRae in the girls invite 1600 in 4:57.19. For their efforts, they received male and female distance runner of the meet trophies, respectively.
Ryan Blystone is a freelance writer and a regular contributor to MileSplit
Photo by Raymond Tran / Interviews by Ryan Blystone