With so many headliners outdoing one another, where do
we even begin?
Hosted at Moorpark High School, the largest section in California conducted its own version of the 'Road to State' grind where all four divisions decide which squads will be crowned divisional champion. It also serves as a qualifying process on which athletes and relay squads advance to next week's CIF-SS Masters Meet.
With the wealth of talent on full display, a reconfiguration of the statewide leader's board saw some major adjusting after this year's version of the CIF-SS Divisional Finals!
RESULTS | INTERVIEWS | RACE VIDEOS | PHOTOS
More photos, videos on the way
Meagan
Humphries Steals the Show
Never before in CIF-SS history as an athlete earned four individual titles in
the same season. Earning 40 points, Castaic
junior Meagan Humphries did just that with precision and purpose as she began
by taking the long jump (20-0.25), moving over to the high jump (5-8) without a
miss until she had three attempts at 5-10.25. The triple jump is where we felt she would face her greatest challenge
as defending D-2 champion, Mission Viejo senior Jada Gatlin awaited. Humphries answered the challenge with a 39-10.75
performance. With the top three marks, regardless of division at that point, she then got
into the blocks for the 200 meters and motored to a 23.85 wind-legal best (no.
4 wind-legal effort in the state).
Roderick Pleasant Wow the Crowd
The University of Oregon-bound Serra senior has become a legend over the past
two seasons. Employing a patient racing schedule with the postseason as the
primary focus, Pleasant did not disappoint as he erupted to a 10.09 (+3.3), now
the fastest time under all conditions in California prep history. He came back, motoring to a wind-legal 20.53
clocking, the fastest time in the state.
Jordan Washington Carves out his own
Chapter
Lost in the greatness of Pleasant, Jordan (Long Beach) junior Jordan Washington
initiated his own chapter, claiming the D-1 title in the 100 meters in 10.24. He now owns the fastest wind-legal mark in
the state. Keep in mind that before Pleasant,
this would have been THE fastest time in state prep history. His 20.76 (+2.4) winning performance also
turned heads to arguably one of the greatest days in section history.
Sadie Engelhardt Defends Her Titles
Difficult to believe she is still only a sophomore, she is already regarded as the greatest
California distance prep. With a history where she peels off from the
competition midway through the race, this time out, she employed a late-race kick
over the finals 150 meters to capture the 800 meters (2:08.48) to outkick
national leader, J.W. North senior Mackenzie Browne Earlier in the tactical 1600, she cruised
home to the win (4:49.66).
JSerra Girls Establish New Division 3 Scoring Record
As anticipated, the Lions performed as expected coming home with 128.5 points, breaking
the old record of 112 held by Santa Margarita (2017). The highlight of the afternoon was JSerra
capturing the top FIVE spots and monopolizing the 800 meters where they claimed
34 of the possible 39 points allocated! Anne
Elise Packard captured the 1600 (4:54.70), Maya Woolforde won the 400 (56.33)
while Georgia Jeanneret (2:12.01) and Brooke O'Brien (2:13.94) led the charge
in the 800 meters. Hanna Barmettler was runner-up in the 300 hurdles (43.87) while
the crew also advanced to the Masters Meet with a 3:51.68 victory in the 4x400 relay.
Long Beach Poly Boys Earn the Division 1 Title
Equipped with three of California's best for the 800 meters and tactfully
allowing for junior Xai Ricks to focus outside his national leading best of
1:48.09, the Jackrabbits executed the plan as drawn up. Lamarr Kirk Jr., with the lean at the finish line,
earned the title in the 800 meters while Cameron Rhone combined for seven additional
points between his efforts in the 800 and 1600 meters. Ricks ran away with a lifetime best in the
400 meters (46.56) to move up to second in the state while freshman Noah Smith placed third for 16 valuable points. Ricks, and freshman Malachi Dawson placed third and fourth, respectively,
in the 200 meters to essentially cement the deal for their 11th team
title since 1998.
Long Beach Wilson Girls Earn First Title
Since 2006
The Bruins checked ALL of the boxes in cruising to the divisional title. Bookending the meet with victories in the 400
relay (46.16) and the 1600 relay (3:43.86). Sophomore Kaylin Edwards continued to step up her game with a lifetime
best of 42.52 to win the 300 hurdles after taking second in the 100 hurdles
(14.31). Aujane Luckey unleashed a
lifetime best of 53.23 to move up to the top of the statewide lists while she
returned for a third-place effort (23.89) in the 200 meters. Sophomore Loren Webster also delivered a
runner-up effort in the long jump.
Cathedral's Boys Use the Distances to Claim D-3 Title
Utilizing only four athletes and its 4x400 relay squad, the Phantoms defended their team title from a year ago. Emmanuel Perez took care of business with wins in the 1600 (4:13.98) and 3200 (9:05.64),
with Emmanuel Hernandez claiming the silver medals in both events with 4:15.09
and 9:17.36 efforts. While those two comprised
36 of the team's 66 points, fellow junior Ambodai Ligons also brought home the
title in the 800 meters (1:52.62) to add 10 additional points. Ligons closed out the meet by anchoring their
4x400 relay squad that ran a seasonal best of 3:17.74 to put an exclamation
point on the day.
Notre Dame's Double Duo Deliver
April Fontenette has been ranked on top of the statewide lists for the shot put and discus all season. The UCLA-bound senior she stepped up her game even more so in setting a new D-3 record with her 162-8 performance in the discus. She also set a new lifetime best of 45-2 to capture the shot put. Sophomore teammate Aja Johnson placed second in both events, including a lifetime best of 149-7 in the discus. These 36 points helped propel their team to the runner-up plaque in D-3. These two alone have their school favored to claim the state championship in two weeks as they are projected to score 34 points!
Mater Dei's Boys Overcome Setbacks to Win
the Div. 2 Boys Title
With only one leg of their
original 4x100 relay squad, along with some early meet setbacks in the long jump and
discus, Mater Dei came back to earn their second title to hoist up next to
their 2014 one. Logan Lyght defended his
title in 110 hurdles (13.95w), sophomore Brandon Gorski defended his title in
the high jump (6-6) and senior Jared McDuffie captured the triple jump (46-4.5). Cementing the deal was a season best from their
4x400 relay (3:23.42).
Terrific Trio Drives Culver City to the Division 2 Girls Title
With the foundation laying
in the 400-meter sweep of the top three spots (24 points), Culver City also bookended
the meet with wins in the 400 relay (47.13) and the 1600 relay (3:44.25). The former is now the second-best time in
California. Sophomore Joelle Trepagnier
(54.54 and 24.20) along with junior Morgan Maddox (55.45 and 24.20) earned 36
points while freshman Leena Powell added that third-place effort in the 400 meters.
Oaks Christian Sweeps both Division 4 Titles
With both squads each earning their ninth title since 2014, the Oaks Christian
juggernaut was on full display at the CIF Finals! Those bringing home individual titles include
Payton Godsey (1600, 3200), Niya Clayton (100), Rayah Rodriguez (400), and Eleanor Borchard (300 hurdles) along with 1600-relay as the girls left no doubt in earning
133 points!
On the boys' side, despite missing Chase Farrell, the boys kicked off the meet with the win in the 400-relay. Freshman Deshonne Redeaux anchored on a come from behind win (41.28). Chase Hansen rolled to a 47.89 to capture the 400 meters while the group also came away with an overwhelming win in the 4x400 relay (3:22.79). The Lions came away with the 89-55 win over Sierra Canyon.
Fastest Session of the Girls 200 in CIF-SS
History?
Wow! A wind-legal 24.20 was the last qualifying
spot to next week's Masters Meet whereas the state meet standard (average of the last three years needed to advance to the state meet finals) is 24.50! Capped off by Quartz Hill senior Adonijah Currie and her D-1 title (23.58) but kicked off by Serra senior Brazil Neal
(23.67) winning the D-4 title, it was a true display of excellence.
A wind-legal 24.30 did not advance. Folks, it is time to expand the CIF-SS Masters Meet as discriminates against the laned races (sprints) while we advance 12 athletes in the distances and 12 (perhaps more) in the field events!
Upsets of the Day
*Glenn senior Mikel Udengwu won the Div. 3 boys discus (193-0) as coming into
the day with only a 171-9 best. In doing
so, he beat defending state champion, Brendon See of JSerra.
*Loyola's John Mueller owned a 38.62 best for the 300 hurdles coming into last week. After dropping a 38.09 at last week's
prelims, he motored to a 37.76 to beat a field that included two-sub 38-second
hurdlers.
Mishaps Along the Way...
*Santa Margarita senior and current state leader, Roman Mendoza, dropped the
300 hurdles (37.39) as he pulled up after winning the Div. 3 title in the 110
hurdles with a lifetime best of 14.21.
*Cajon's boys were fourth in California for the 4x100 relay (41.64) but false started in the D-1 final.
*Rancho Cucamonga sophomore Daniel Wimbush was second in the state for the 300 hurdles (37.91) but was not able to advance
*The Murrieta Mesa boys 4x100 crew was ranked fifth (41.75) in the state but was unable to advance.
*Moorpark's Victor Ezike came in with one of the state's top legal marks in the triple jump but did not advance. He will now focus solely on the high jump.