The Santiago (Corona) Sharks return to the TEN this weekend after last year serving as the launch point for tying for runner-up in the CIF State team standings. Recent graduate, Rylee Blade, dominated the girls' 3200m race to set a meet record with a time of 10:00.56, while Braelyn Combe achieved a personal best in the 800m of 2:09.59 to finish second.
On Saturday, Combe returns to the 800m as the top returning athlete, the reigning CIF State 1600m champion, and a Nike Indoor National 1-mile champion. She's clearly one of the best track and field athletes in the country and will look to lead Santiago to even better finishes in 2026.
It also helps that Santiago is bringing back their 4x800m relay team, which won the 2026 CIF State title in 8:49.01, breaking the California record. Two other members of that team, Taylor Davis and Nicole Samson, will be part of the action on Saturday. Davis will compete in the 1600m, while Samson races in the fastest section of the 800m with Combe.
Nicole Samson has been particularly impressive this year with personal records in the 800m (2:11.66) and the 1600m (5:04). Besides being a crucial 4x800m relay leg, Samson is starting to emerge as a top individual in California.
Emily Cuevas (800m) and Sofia Ramirez (3200m) are two other Lady Sharks to watch competing at the TEN on Saturday, aiming to set impressive personal records for the season.
The superstar freshman, Addyson Johns, is absent from this weekend's entries, but we shouldn't overlook her in Santiago's spotlight. Johns has already clocked 5:06 in the 1600m and 11:09 in the 3200m this year after a stellar cross country season.
The TEN Entries
3:54 pm- Girls 800m Section 2
Emily Cuevas (Class of 2026)
4:06 pm- Girls 1600m Section 3
Taylor Davis (Class of 2026)
6 pm- HOKA Boys 1600m Section 2
Jackson Horvath (Class of 2029)
6:25 pm- HOKA Girls 800m
Braelyn Combe (Class of 2026)
Nicole Samson (Class of 2029)
6:50 pm- HOKA Girls 3200m
Sofia Ramirez (Class of 2027)
Outside of the girls' distance squad, Santiago is an exciting team across various events. Starting with the boys' distance team, freshman Jackson Horvath is looking like the next big distance star for the Sharks. He's already run 9:19.54 in the 3200m, ranking him the fastest freshman in California and the second fastest freshman in the country.
-- Jackson Horvath competing at the ASCIS Clovis XC Invitational ---
On the field side, Ryan Rim is no stranger to the big stage after reaching the CIF-SS Masters meet last year in the long jump. Rim already achieved a personal record of 23-2.00 in the long jump to start the season, increasing his chances of making the CIF State meet. Then the newcomer, Zeth Etienne, has been exceptional in the triple jump, posting a 45-00 to start his season, ranking him 23rd in the state.
Hurdlers Elijah Adams and Kinsley Whitecavage appear to be on a similar path to challenge the best in their respective events. Adams has already run a wind-aided 14.40 in the 110m hurdles, while Kinsley Whitcavage has a season's best of 45.51 in the 300m hurdles.
Although Santiago's distance girls will be front and center at the TEN this weekend, keep your eyes on the full squad that will look to achieve great results this season.