The CIF Southern Section Division Finals produced some of the biggest performances in California last weekend. Multiple athletes entered state and national contention, powerhouse programs led in team races, and underclassmen delivered breakout performances. With the CIF State Meet near, here's a look at key marks, moments, and storylines across divisions.
New State Leads
Brandon Andrade (Etiwanda) - 110mH: 13.60 (+1.8), 300mH: 36.63
After disappointing finishes at the CIF-SS Division Finals last year, Brandon Andrade rebounded with a sweep in both events. He ran personal records, and California leads in both events, demonstrating that he's ready for the CIF State stage again later this May. It also marked his first major invitational wins of the season. Andrade's junior season has been filled with runner-up and mid-pack finishes in the toughest fields from the Chandler Rotary Invitational, Arcadia Invitational, and the Mt. SAC Relays.
Joshua Harel (Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks) - High Jump: 7-1
Since the D3 High Jump featured the three best-ranked jumpers in the state, including the defending CIF State Champion Joshua Harel, it was guaranteed to be a must-see event. While Moorpark's duo, Dean Guzman and Davis Benson, elected to pass on their final jumps, Harel kept moving the bar up and pushed himself to a new personal record. Harel leaped over 7-1 to break the D3 meet record and move up to #7 in the national rankings. Afterward, he made three attempts at 7-2 but was unsuccessful; nonetheless, he has the necessary momentum heading into the Masters and the State Meet.
If the spotlight wasn't already on Maximo Zavaleta, the lights got brighter after he ran 4:04.28 to win the D1 1600m title. Zavaleta broke the D1 meet record and moved up to #9 on the national rankings. He's the favorite for the State title in two weeks, but it won't come easy, as seven other boys in the Southern Section alone ran under 4:10 last weekend.
Malia Rainey (Calabasas) - 100m: 11.41 (+1.3)
The D3 girls' 100m was a 1st-4th sweep for the Calabasas Coyotes, spearheaded by Malia Rainey, who ran a state-leading 11.41 to secure the victory. Rainey proved again she can deliver in championship settings similar to the Mt. Carmel Sundevil Invitational, Mt. SAC Relays, and Arcadia Invitational.
Kaahliyah Lacy (San Jacinto Valley Academy) - 100mH: 13.43 (+1.6)
Each week, the sophomore from San Jacinto Valley Academy gets better, and this week was no different. In the D4 championship race, Kaahliyah Lacy ran a personal record of 13.43 to win and break the D4 meet record. She was heavily pushed by Lorrin Hervey, who finished runner-up in a time of 13.78. This time ranks Lacy as the #5 100m hurdles runner nationally.
-- Brandon Andrade winning the D1 Boys 300m Hurdles, Photo by Jon Huerta --
Team Dominance
Girls D3 Team Race
JSerra Catholic - 126
Calabasas - 65
Oaks Christian - 42
JSerra Catholic scored 126 points to dominate the D3 team race, nearly doubling the runner-up team's total. The day began with a surprise 4x100m relay win that must have given the squad momentum.. Their top-scoring event was the 800m, with 24 points, headlined by Reese Holley and Chloe Elbaz sweeping the podium. The pole vault also paid dividends, with Helena Reuter and Adi Rusin sweeping the event and Jayden McDermott pushing the event total to 21 points.
Girls D4 Team Race
Rosary Academy - 112
Foothill Technology - 29
St. Bernard - 26
The Rosary Academy girls almost quadrupled the runner-up team on their way to winning the D4 team title. The #2 U.S. 4x100m relay team of all-time, including Maliyah Collins, Justine Wilson, Pfeiffer Lee, and Tra'Via Flournoy, helped lead the Royals to their victory. These four ladies scored a whopping 27 points in the 200m dash. Outside of the sprints, Jada Faison and Amaya Faison contributed 24 points in the jump events.
Girls D1 Team Race
Wilson-Long Beach - 96
Long Beach Poly - 50
Mira Costa - 44
As no surprise, three-time defending CIF State champion Long Beach Wilson won the D1 team championship. It is impressive to see how they swept 1st through 4th place in the 400m dash, scoring 29 points, led by Clara Adams, Saniah Varnado, Brooklyn Fowler, and Brooke Blue. Those four girls accounted for 72 of their 96 points last Saturday, including the 4x1 and 4x4 relays.
Record-Breaking Performances
D4 Girls 4x100m Meet Record - Rosary Academy: 44.91
D1 Girls 1600m Meet Record - Braelyn Combe (Santiago): 4:41.36 (3rd Consecutive Year Winning)
D4 Girls 100mH Meet Record - Kaahliyah Lacy (San Jacinto Valley Academy): 13.43
D3 Girls 100m Meet Record - Malia Rainey (Calabasas): 11.41
D4 Girls Discus Meet Record - Corynn Smith (Desert Christian): 157-0
D1 Boys 1600m Meet Record - Maximo Zavaleta (ML King): 4:04.28
D3 Boys 4x100m Meet Record - Servite: 39.89
D2 Boys 4x100m Meet Record - Newbury Park: 40.68
D1 Boys 110mH Meet Record - Brandon Andrade: 13.60
D3 Boys 400m Meet Record - Jaelen Hunter: 46.36
D3 Boys High Jump Meet Record - Joshua Harel: 7-1
-- Braelyn Combe winning the D1 girls 800m, Photo by Jon Huerta --
Breakout Performances
Girls
The CIF Southern Section Division Finals produced some of the biggest performances in California last weekend. Multiple athletes entered state and national contention, powerhouse programs led in team races, and underclassmen delivered breakout performances. With the CIF State Meet near, here's a look at key marks, moments, and storylines across divisions.
New State Leads
Brandon Andrade (Etiwanda) - 110mH: 13.60 (+1.8), 300mH: 36.63
After disappointing finishes at the CIF-SS Division Finals last year, Brandon Andrade rebounded with a sweep in both events. He ran personal records, and California leads in both events, demonstrating that he's ready for the CIF State stage again later this May. It also marked his first major invitational wins of the season. Andrade's junior season has been filled with runner-up and mid-pack finishes in the toughest fields from the Chandler Rotary Invitational, Arcadia Invitational, and the Mt. SAC Relays.
Joshua Harel (Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks) - High Jump: 7-1
Since the D3 High Jump featured the three best-ranked jumpers in the state, including the defending CIF State Champion Joshua Harel, it was guaranteed to be a must-see event. While Moorpark's duo, Dean Guzman and Davis Benson, elected to pass on their final jumps, Harel kept moving the bar up and pushed himself to a new personal record. Harel leaped over 7-1 to break the D3 meet record and move up to #7 in the national rankings. Afterward, he made three attempts at 7-2 but was unsuccessful; nonetheless, he has the necessary momentum heading into the Masters and the State Meet.