Westlake and Mater Dei among boys, Culver City and J.W. North among girls, are the top teams that emerged from the D-2 Prelims at Ventura HS primed to compete for division titles at this week's championships.
Hosted at Ventura High, the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 Prelims took center
stage while showcasing some of California's top talents.
The girls of Culver City went in as the favorites to claim their first-ever team title next week, but J.W. North of Riverside now sits close by in the rearview mirror and what may very come down to the 4x400 relay next week's Division 2 Finals at Moorpark HS!
Culver City's dynamic duo of sophomore Joelle Trepagnier and junior Morgan Maddox were in a true 'survive and advance' mode as both advanced through with ease. Trepagnier, the state leader in the 400 meters, cruised to a 55.39 just after Maddox advanced with a 55.73. Those two also rolled in the 200 meters with 24.62w and 24.53w wins, respectively. Along with freshman Leena Powell (56.33 in the 400), the 'City' trio looks for 1-2-3 sweep in the 400 for 24 points while returning back to earn 18 more in the 200 at next Saturday's all-division finals.
With their relay advancing as the top seed along with their state-ranked 1600 relay team, Culver City looks for all of their points to come in only four events.
North of Riverside captured the team title in 2021, mostly behind the talent of then-sophomore Mackenzie Browne. Fast forward two years later, and she is the top 800-meter girl in the nation. Browne also moved forward in the 1600 meters and the Huskies bring one of the top 4x400 relay squads in the division, which advanced as the top seed in the event.
But where North was able to close the gap toward a potential team title is the ascendence of senior Breija Stredic, who is not only the defending champ in the 300 hurdles (she advanced as the top seed), but she now also earned Lane 5 for next week in the 100 meters with her 12.00w clocking. With heavily favored Mikaela Warr of Canyon-Caynon Country scratching, the North senior is now the favorite. Adding to potential big points for the Huskies is junior Zoriyah Brooks, who advanced with the top mark in the long jump. This one will get interesting next week.
Elsewhere among the girls, Ventura sophomore phenom Sadie Engelhardt clocked in easily to move on in both the 800 (2:15.10) and 1600 (5:00.48) as she looks to lock up against North's Browne next week to defend both her divisional titles. Engelhardt closed with a nice 68-second last lap in the 1600.
Dana Hills senior Allura Markow advanced in the 800 (2:15.71) and 1600 (4:57.05) as well to prep for what should be the most competitive field for those events of all divisions at next week's championship meet.
Other distance stars to advance in two events include Shadow Hills senior Marjourie Lopez for the 1600 (5:10.02) and the 3200 (11:00.98). Meanwhile, Temescal Canyon sophomore Megan Crum will compete in the 1600 (5:02.59) and 3200 (11:03.62) as well next week. And something you do not often see, South Torrance junior Chloe Esponda moved on for the 800 (2:15.94) and the 3200 meters (11:21.40).
Ventura is the most likely prospect to place third as a team next week as the Cougars feature more than just Engelhardt. Junior Valentina Fakrogha easily advanced in the high jump as she is the favorite to win while her versatility extends onto the oval and she ran 56.35 to advance in the 400 meters while helping her 4x400 relay advance.
Anticipating some great action in the rings, Edison junior Alexa Sheldon advanced with the top mark in the discus (132-7) and the shot put (40-0.75). Top ranked in the division, South Torrance junior Mackenzie Monson needed her third throw (129-2) to move on in the discus. She easily advanced in the shot put (38-3.5).
Mater Dei junior Madison Forbes lost her 2022 postseason to injury but had no problems advancing in both the long jump (17-1.75) and triple jump (36-11). Norco sophomore Kaylee Best will join her in both events as one of the favorites.
Other standout performances came from Golden Valley freshman Marley Scoggins, who moved on in the 100 (12.09w) and 200 (24.85w) while anchoring her group to a 48.57 win in the 400 relay. Her teammate, senior Nevaeh Williams will join her as she moved with 12.17w and 25.19w qualifying efforts.
After leading her squad to move on in the 400 relay, Villa Park senior Estelle McLeary also qualified in the 100 (12.32w) and the 200 (25.32w).
Thousand Oaks junior Morgan Quinn will compete in four events, including both relays, the 200 (25.34w) and 400 (58.21).
Calabasas' Paige Porter advanced in the 100 (12.10w) and 200 meters (25.10w) while also looking to help her squad go under 3:50 for the 4x400 relay and advance onward to the CIF-SS Masters Meet.
Edison senior Lindy Tarvin qualified in both hurdles as she looks to pull the upset over Stredic next week. San Marcos senior Makenzie Fauver also advanced in both hurdles.
On the boy's side, the team title battle could also come down to the final relay but everything, on paper, goes according to plan, Mater Dei hopes to have it wrapped up before Westlake's top-ranked 4x400 squad takes the baton.
Overcoming some early season setbacks, Mater Dei is primed to earn their second team title to join the championship banner they also earned in 2014. They have come close on several occasions, including last year but the Monarchs seek major points from the jumps with sophomore Brandon Gorski favored to capture the long and high jumps and senior Jared McDuffie looking to earn an additional 10-12 points in both horizontal jumps.
Support will also come in the form of Isley Gutierrez in the high jump where he is ranked third. Meanwhile, their 'ace up their sleeve' so to speak is Aydin Breland who easily advanced and is a slight favorite in the discus with his 180-3 seasonal best.
Patiently allowing senior and defending divisional champ, Logan Lyght, to heal from a hamstring setback, he still is projected to win as he held back in qualifying 14.59w in the 110 hurdles. Junior Nate Frazier advanced in the 100 (10.80w) while also anchoring their qualifying 400 relay team (42.88).
Westlake will counter with a well-balanced approach and advanced everybody projected to do so. Junior Ifeoluwaleyi Orekoya advanced in the 200 (22.06w) along with a controlled 400 (49.51). The Warriors are also looking for big points from senior Adam Laycock, who qualified for both throws for the second in a row. They are also looking for huge performances from KC Barber in the 3200 meters and Marcus Nortey in the 400. They kicked off the day by easily qualifying with a 42.31 in the 400 relay and are favored to win the 4x400 relay.
South Torrance senior Anthony Flowers turned heads in erupting in the 100 (10.40w) and 200 (21.25w), earning Lane 5 in both events next weekend.
Meanwhile, Simi Valley senior Jaelon Barbarin reminded everyone that he was a CIF-SS Masters Meet qualifier last year for the 100 in rolling to a qualifying win with a wind-legal 10.51 effort. He later returned for a 21.61w to easily advance in the 200 as well while opening the meet up anchoring his squad to a 41.92 top-seed for the 400 relay.
You will not see this often, but Villa Park Dylan Poteat advanced in three sprints! With the hurdles being his priority and rolling to a 14.55 wind-legal win, he then proceeded to also advance in the 100 (10.87) and 200 (21.76w).
The Thousand Oaks hurdling senior duo of Jeremy Frank and Pyrce Edwards advanced in four events, including both relays. Individually, Edwards came up with 14.58 and 39.52 while Frank boosted his own resume with 14.75w and 39.69 qualifying efforts.
Staying the hurdling theme, Canyon-Canyon Country sophomore Jordehn Gammage continues his improvement in advancing in both hurdles with lifetime bests of 14.87 and 39.20. He earned the top seed in the 300 hurdles.
Qualifying in two events, Gahr sophomore Dylan Thompson advanced in the 100 (10.77) and 200 (21.83w). North sophomore Dontae Smith advanced in the 200 (22.20w) and 400 (49.64).
In the distances, Dana Hills sophomore Evan Noonan rolled to advancing efforts with a 4:14.71 for the 1600 and came back to move on in the 3200 meters (9:10.02). His teammate, junior Garrett Woodruff will join him in both races next week.
Ventura's boys also impressed in advancing three in the shot put including Ian Hughes and Erik Muromurillo, who also advanced in the discus. Ventura also advanced the top two ranked boys in the division for the 1600 meters as Anthony Fast Horse (4:14.59) and Micah Grossman (4:18.23) moved forward.
The Division 2 Boys 1600 meters will be the fastest of all sections with five boys with sub-4:10 resumes advancing onward!
Stay tuned for our Division 2 CIF-SS Finals Preview that will come out this Friday!