FIELD EVENTS
Long Jump
Girls CCS Meet Record: Tisha Ponder Del Mar 20-6 1996
Boys CCS Meet Record: Johnny Johnson Pacific Grove 25-3.25 1964
The long jump should be a great competition between St. Ignatius freshman Elie McCuskey-Hay and Aragon junior Pia Cho (photo courtesy of Aragon HS). McCuskey-Hay has the longest jump this season as she sailed 18-9.5 to win the CCS Top 8 meet. Cho had the longest jump in the semis with her 18-0.25 and an even longer 18-4.5 in a league dual meet. The other jumpers that will be in contention for a state meet qualifying spot are Suraya Newman of St. Ignatius, Mia Hamilton of San Lorenzo Valley, and Kristy Huynh of Silver Creek.
Harker's Andrew Fu is the 2-time defending champion in this event but may not be the favorite here. The longest jump in the section (24-0.5) belongs to Palma senior Logan Saldate. The longest jump at the semis belonged to hurdler extraordinaire Miles Roberts of Leland. Christopher's Kingsley Okoronkwo has been one of the most consistent jumpers in the section with a best of 23-2. Two other sprinters with a chance to pop a big one are Los Altos senior Zachary Fagin and Riordan senior Zachary Jones. It should be quite a final and it would not surprise anybody if there was a different leader after each jump.
Triple Jump
Girls CCS Meet Record: Vashti Thomas Mt. Pleasant 43-1.5 2008
Boys CCS Meet Record: Harold Rucker Silver Creek 50-11.5 1986
Clara Fan of Monte Vista has consistently improved throughout the season and recorded her best jump of the season of 37-11.25 at the semis. The other 37 foot mark at the semis belonged to Hollister's Hannah Vincent who also seems to be rounding into peak form at the right time. Mariel Rocca of St. Ignatius won the CCS Top 8 meet as well as the WCAL title and has a best of 37-9.25. Another contender will be Los Altos senior Megan MacKenzie has a best of 37-7.5 from the Rustbuster Invitational and has been consistently over 36 feet during the majority of the season.
As with most of the jump events, the boy's triple jump is up for grabs, and the athlete that gets the closest to his best will win here. The top 2 jumpers at the WCAL final were Monroe Barnum of St. Ignatius and Kenneth Tucker of St. Ignatius. Barnum edged Tucker for the league title but Tucker had the longest attempt at the CCS semis. Christopher's Kingsley Okoronkwo has been one of the most consistent triple jumpers during the season and will be another threat for the win. Branham junior Kazu Kimura has a best of 45-2 and should not be overlooked.
High Jump
Girls CCS Meet Record: Jenna Grimaldi St. Ignatius 6-0 2001
Boys CCS Meet Record: Jeff Rogers Overfelt 7-3 1985
The girl's high jump will feature two podium finishers from last year's state meet including the defending champion. Los Gatos senior Hannah Slover won last year's state meet and will be back to improve her 3rd place finish at last year's section final. She has a season-best of 5-7 and seems to be primed for another big finish this season after dealing with an ankle injury. Her main competition will come from last year's 4th placer at the state meet, Notre Dame Belmont senior, Melanie Castelli. She was victorious at the prestigious Mt. SAC Invitational with a best of 5-8. Other contenders will include Palo Alto's Liliana Wakenshaw, Christopher's Gabriela Baxter, and Jamie Wade of St. Francis, MV.
I wouldn't do this event justice if I tried to pick out a potential winner. The event will come down to whoever can clear their heights on the first attempt. That being said, the best jump this season belongs to Soquel's Braylon Noble with his 6-6 jump at the Garlic Classic Track Invitational. The winner of the CCS Top 8 meet was Brady Kamali of Los Gatos as he cleared 6-2 and won the tie-breaker over Bellarmine's Philip Miller. Zachary Fagin of Los Altos and Alexander Dillon of Milpitas have both cleared 6-4 and have a puncher's chance to win this event.
Pole Vault
Girls CCS Meet Record: Erika Malaspina Pacific Collegiate 13-9 2016
Boys CCS Meet Record: Nico Weiler Los Gatos 17-6.25 2007
The top two finishers from last year's section final are back. Defending champion, Soquel's Jonelle Scott (Raul Ebio photo above) secured her personal best of 12-1 to win the CCS Top 8 meet. She was also the SCCAL champion in the 100 with an impressive time of 12.63. Last year's 2nd place finisher Emily Zamora of Willow Glen has a best of 11-1 and finished 2nd behind Scott at this year's CCS Top 8 meet. Branham's Kendra Williams has also cleared 11-0 this season and will be in the mix. St. Francis MV teammates Alexa Egan and Katherine Floering have both cleared 10-6 and are threats to land on the podium. Pacific Collegiate senior Katharina Guth and Carmel's Bella Ortega have also cleared 10-6 and could surprise the field provided they can clear the bar on their first attempts.
The top two returners from last year's section final are Erik Dodge of Aragon and Dakota Grant of Branham. Both finished tied for 3rd place and advanced to the state meet in 2022. Dodge has a best of 15-1 so far this season and may be a slight favorite. Menlo senior William Floyd was impressive at the semis clearing the bar by a huge margin and will be looking to qualify for the state meet as well as gain valuable team points for the contending Menlo team.
Shot Put
Girls CCS Meet Record: Elena Bruckner Valley Christian SJ 53-8.25 2016
Boys CCS Meet Record: Bob Brannen Los Gatos 63-9 1964
After the semis, Hollister's Golda Demby turned the shot put into a two girl battle. Throughout the season, Los Gatos sophomore Nicole Steiner was the lone thrower in the section to surpass the 40 foot mark. Last Saturday, Demby exploded for a huge 41-5 throw and will now be the co-favorite with Steiner. Archbishop Mitty sophomore Maya Ifo desai had a huge day at the semis which included a 39-9 personal best in the shot put. She is clearly the 3rd best thrower in the section and will be a favorite to make the state meet.
Serra sophomore Luke Lewis has emerged as the best shot putter in the section after Saturday's result. He threw a lifetime best 57-8 at the CCS semis to separate himself from the rest of the field. Lewis's father is a legendary College of San Mateo throw coach while his mother competed in the 1996 Olympics in the javelin. If he throws anywhere near his mark from last Saturday, the competition here will be for 2nd place. His main competition should come from the best combo thrower in the section, Santa Clara's Liam Brennan. Mateo Garcia of Santa Clara started out as a jumper as a freshman but has successfully converted to this event with a best of 51-4. The last 50 foot thrower in the field is Carlmont's Richard La Grill who has a best of 50-2.5.
Discus
Girls CCS Meet Record: Elena Bruckner Valley Christian SJ 165-11 2016
Boys CCS Meet Record: Nik Kay Los Gatos 204-10 2003
Ningning O'Brien will be a strong favorite to win this event. She has the best mark in the section at 144-1 and is also the defending champion in this event. Archbishop Mitty sophomore Maya Ifo desai has improved tremendously in the last month of the season and is poised to garner valuable points for her team. O'Brien's teammate Tatum Leuenberger had the 3rd longest throw in the semis and might join her teammate to the state meet. Santa Teresa senior Samantha Smith has a best of 128-0 and is a threat along with Woodside junior Bridget Reynolds.
This event will come down to the two best discus throwers in this section. Silver Creek's Kyler Headley had the longest throw in the semis and has a season-best of 170-3 and is the defending section champion. Santa Clara's Liam Brennan (Karl Mondon photo above) has the best throw of the season at 176-5 which he accomplished while winning the CCS Top 8 meet. Those two should have quite a duel to determine who is the best discus thrower in the section. We should also have quite a battle for 3rd place with a ton of throwers in contention including Westmont's Blake DaQuino, Bellarmine's Ricky Campagna, Wilcox's Ty Jeter, and Aptos sophomore Logan Brantley. Another sophomore who should not be overlooked is shot put favorite Luke Lewis of Serra who also set his best discus mark of the season last Saturday at 141-2.
Girls Team
The Archbishop Mitty girls appear to be the slight favorites based on their dominance in the hurdles as well as potential points in 400, 200, 3200, shot put and discus. St. Ignatius should also collect quite a few points from their star freshman, 400 relay, and several jump events. Other teams that could potentially also be in contention are Los Altos and Menlo Atherton.
Boys Team
Following the semifinals, it appears that Serra is the favorite to win the team title. They have an opportunity to score in both relays, sprints, hurdles, and weight events. Their main competition should come from Los Gatos, Menlo, Los Altos, and Bellarmine.