Congratulations to both Chukwunonso Udeh of De La Salle (NC) and Evan Noonan of Dana Hills (SS), last week's co-top vote-getters in MileSplit Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Week poll.
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Evan, a sophomore, ran a CA No. 3 time to win the 3200m, 8:49.38, at Southern Section Masters. That time is nearly a 10-second improvement from his previous PR, run the week before to win the Division 3 title.
Chuk, a senior, won the 110m hurdles (14.36/0.7), high jump (6-4), and the long jump at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions. His long jump mark of 23-09.25 (3.6) is a PR and equals the fifth best all-conditions jump in the state.
Both boys received 20 percent of a very tight vote in last week's statewide poll!!!
Christian Edwards, a senior at Liberty-Bakersfield (CS), Dijon Stanley, a senior at Granada Hills Charter (LA), and McKay Madsen, a sophomore at Clovis North (CS) each received 15% of the vote.
Congratulations to all athletes whose performances warrant consideration in this weekly poll. And thanks to everyone who voted to support these amazing athletes.
Who's next?
This week, we ask you to select the top boys performer from the 103rd CIF-State Track and Field Championships held over the weekend at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis.
Below find boys of eight candidates for your appreciation and votes. (Unfortunately, we are limited to a max of eight options in our polls and had to leave a handful of other deserving athletes off the list.)
Check out the resumes below and then VOTE in the FanPower module at the bottom of the page. That is where you choose the top boys track and field athlete of the 2023 State Meet.
Because we had a technical issue earlier this week, we're keeping the poll open until Monday at noon. Be sure to vote.
WHO YA GOT?
This week's candidates
(listed alphabetically by last name)
Davis Davis-Lyric (Upland) - Ran a state-leading 13.83 (1.0) PR to win the 110m hurdles, the sixth consecutive State Meet where an Upland athlete has won a hurdles title and the fourth time in the past six State Meets an Upland boy has won the 110mH. It was his 16th consecutive win this season.
Hilton Green (Buchanan/CS) - Hilton, a senior, needed a last-attempt clearance at 16-06 to win the pole vault title. He cleared at both 15-06 and 15-10, passed after missing at 16-02, passed his first attempt at 16-06, missed his second attempt, and then cleared on his final attempt to win the title.
Rodrick Pleasant (Serra-Gardena/SS) - Rodrick, a senior, ran a State Meet record 10.20 (2.0) to defend his title in the 100-meter dash and he also won the 200m (20.67/1.5) for the second year in a row. In the 100m, he beat Jordan (SS) junior Jordan Washington whose 10.30 time equalled the previous meet record.
Xai Ricks (Long Beach Poly/SS) - Xai, a junior, became the first boy in State Meet to run on three relay teams, including a 46.94 anchor leg on the winning 4x400m relay team (3:12.99, CA No. 1), a 1:49.59 anchor on the fourth-place 4x800m relay (7:40.57 season best), a leg on the fourth-place 4x100m relay (41.22 SB), and he placed second in the 400m (46.06 PR).
Brendon See (JSerra/SS) - Brendon, a senior, defended his title in the discus throw with a winning mark of 196-04, and he also won the shot put with a fifth-attempt winning throw of 62-09.50. IOn the discus, his first attempt was the wiSee had two other throws in his series farther than event runner-up Jose Soto of Tulare Western (CS).
Jake Stafford (JSerra/SS) - Jake won the high jump (6-07) and also medaled in the discus throw, placing sixth (182-02), helping JSerra to the runner-up team trophy. In the discus, his final throw was his best, nearly a seven-foot improvement that moved him up the standings. In the high jump, he had third-attempt clearances at 6-04, 6-06, and on the winning height to beat three others who had cleared 6-06.
Dijon Stanley (Granada Hills Charter/LA) - Dijon won the 400m in a CA-best 45.77, placed second in the 200m (20.95/1.5), ran second leg on the winning 4x100m relay team (40.39), and anchored the 4x400m relay team (3:15.14) from sixth to third with a 45.90 last lap to deliver the program its first CIF-State team title.
Chukwunonso Udeh (De La Salle/NC) - Chuk, a senior, won the long jump (23-09.75 (2.4),and also brought home medals with fifth place finishes in the 110m hurdles (14.29/1.0) and 4x100m relay (41.28), and placed sixth in the high jump (6-4). In the long jump, he took the lead with a 23-06.75 (1.2) second attempt, increased that lead on his third attempt, and passed his final three jumps.
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Photo by Eric Morford and Josh Barber