DIVISION 4 at CARPINTERIA HS
Serra and Oaks Christian figure to battle for team supremacy at the division finals a week from Saturday and this is where they focus on survive-and-advance. While there aren't many returning D-4 champions, that shortlist is headed by two of the state's finest in Serra senior sprinter Rodrick Pleasant and Oaks Christian junior distance standout Payton Godsey. You may have heard of them ...
Pleasant, of course, is the California high school record-holder in the 100-meter dash (10.14 at 2022 CIF-SS Masters) and ranks No. 2 AT for 200m (20.40 at 2022 D-4 Finals). He is the returning CIF-State Meet champion in both short sprints. The University of Oregon football/track signee will also anchor Serra's stellar 4x100m relay team, which will also be looking to defend its division title next week.
Godsey, a cross country national star and CIF-State division champion who has put down state all-time marks on the track this spring -- CA No. 11 all-time 3200m (9:57.77) and top-26 AT 1600 (4:42.57) -- looks to grab big points for the Lions in the distances.
Godsey has plenty of help led by junior sprinter/hurdler Niya Clayton, frosh sprinter Rayah Rodriguez, and junior hurdler Eleanor Borchard, among them, as the Lions look to unseat Serra, the defending CIF-State team champions.
Serra is loaded to defend led by Oregon-bound sprinter Brazil Neal (the returning State Meet 200m champion), and running mates Zakiyah Wilson, Mia Flowers, and Sadia Green.
Other girls to watch include junior Grace Geyer (Oaks Christian), frosh Chloe Elbaz (Xavier College Prep), and senior JiaLian Mackey (Viewpoint) in the distances; junior London Davis (St. Bernard), frosh Jada Faison (Rosary), senior Mia Reid (La Salle) and junior Fallyn Gowans (Marlborough) in the hurdles; Faison, Serra senior Jordyn Brooks, and senior Tamara Aimufia (United Christian) in the jumps; the St. Mary's duo of junior Jayla Cigar-Dingle and sophomore Madison Mosby in the sprints, and defending division discus throw winner Treasure Brown (Archer) in both throws.
The Oaks Christian challenge to Serra's throne figures to be led by junior Chase Farrell in the sprints and 4x1, sophomore Chase Hansen in the 400 and relays, freshman Deshonne Redeaux (Oaks Christian), and junior Lexington Leffall in the sprints in the sprints and relays, and seniors Ethan Smith in the distances and Ethan Bergman in the pole vault.
Other boys to watch here include Chadwick senior Josh Thomas, San Marino senior Benjamin Hughes, Woodcrest sophomore Eyan Turk, and St. Margaret's junior Everett Capelle (distances).
Mark Gardner is a former coach, popular announcer, and the Southern Section Editor for MileSplitCA
California MileSplit State Editor Jeffrey Parenti contributed to this preview
Photos by DeAnna Turner, Stacy Soriano, and Raymond Tran