Who was the top girls track and field athlete in the Class of 2023?
Below are five stellar candidates looking for your votes. These candidates all put up amazing performances to win State Meet titles and rank among the best in the U.S.
MileSplitCA Athletes of the Year candidates are selected based off criteria to include performances at the State Meet, section championships, and rankings within the class in CA and nationally.
This poll is open until Thursday at 5 p.m.
MileSplitCA Senior Girls AOTY Candidates
Athletes are listed alphabetically
MACKENZIE BROWNE
J.W. North (SS)
MacKenzie is one of the greatest 800-meter runners in CA history. Her 2:03.07 to win at Arcadia ranks U.S. No. 1 and CA No. 3 all-time. It ranks her as the 17th best performer in high school history and the 21st fastest time. It was a huge PR drop from her 2022 State Meet-winning 2:08.66. She also had performances of 2:09.48 at Mt. Carmel, 2:08.56 at Ivy League Finals, 2:07.49 to win at Southern Section Masters, and 2:08.06 for second at the '23 CIF-State Meet.
NAILEA FIELDS
Caruthers (CS)
Nailea, headed to the University of Oklahoma, is a two-time CIF-State discus throw champion. She defended her title with a winning throw of 167-6 (an improvement from her '22 State title best of 157-1). Nailea's PR of 167-8 to win at Central Section Masters, ranks U.S. No. 8. That mark slots her as one of the top 25 performers in CA track and field history.
AUJANE LUCKEY
Long Beach Wilson (SS)
Aujane, headed to Arizona State University, won the 400-meter dash at the State Meet while medaling in four events as she led the Bruins to the CIF-State team title. She ran 53.26 to win the 400m title at State, 24.09 to earn a seventh-place medal in the 200m, ran second leg on the third-place 4x100m relay team (46.66), and anchored the runner-up 4x400m relay team (3:42.49, U.S. No. 8). Aujane ran her 400m PR of 52.71 (U.S. No. 8) to win Southern Section Masters, the first sub-53-second effort in California since 2018, making her among the top performers in CA history. At CIF-SS Division 1 finals, she won the 400 and placed third in the 200, leading the Bruins to their first D-1 team title since 2006.
HANNAH RIGGINS
Del Norte (SD)
Hannah, headed to Princeton University, set two San Diego Section individual records, won two medals at the State Meet, and led her team to an historic title in the inaugural 4x800-meter relay at the State Championships. Hannah ran 2:06.69 at Arcadia to set an SDS record for 800m, and 4:41.42 for third place at the State Meet to set the SDS mark for 1600m. She ran a 2:07.5 third-leg split on that 4x800m relay team to put the Nighthawks in position for the title. Her 800m time ranks CA No. 2, and her 1600m time ranks CA No. 3. The Nighthawks followed up their State 4x8 performance with a 8:51.78 winning effort at the Nike Outdoor Nationals (U.S. No. 4).
SYDNIE VANEK
Clovis (CS)
Sydnie, a volleyball/track standout headed to the University of Arizona, is a two-time CIF-State long jump champion. Her 20-7.75 (1.2) wind-legal PR to win State ranks U.S. No. 5. That mark slots her among the top 16 on the CA all-time performers list. Sydnie won the long jump in 17 meets over the past two years, exceeding 20 feet eight times, seven this season, including 20-7.5 to win at Arcadia, 20-7.25 to win at the Oregon Relays, and 20-5.5 to win a Central Section Division 1 title.
