MEET PREVIEW: CIF State Track and Field Championships

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Biggest Storylines

Can Long Beach Wilson Make More History? 

The Bruins are chasing a fourth consecutive CIF State title and arrive with arguably their deepest sprint squad yet, including a 3:33.83 4x400m relay that shook California. Aside from Clara Adams and Saniah Varnado entering as favorites in their individual events, the Bruins have scoring threats across the entire roster. Expect to see Long Beach Wilson everywhere from the 4x100m relay to the 4x800m relay and triple jump. 

Can the Servite Dynasty Continue to Grow? 

Last year, the Friars won the CIF State Championship, powered mainly by freshmen, and they continued to impress in 2026 by running 39.70 in the 4×100 m relay, U.S. #4 all-time. False starts by two runners in the open 100m may hurt their point total, but holding the state lead in the 4x1 and 4x4 still makes them heavy favorites. Additionally, Benjamin Harris and Jaelen Hunter remain major scoring threats in the short sprints and 400m.

Who Takes Over the California Spotlight? 

After an all-time CIF State Meet in 2025, many of the athletes who defined it are no longer returning, leaving the spotlight wide open. Kaahliyah Lacy emerged as one of the nation's biggest stars after running U.S. #4 all-time in the 300m hurdles, while Maximo Zavaleta has controlled the distance scene all season in the 1600m and 3200m. Then there's Jaslene Massey, who enters the meet as the national leader in the discus. Or perhaps this season simply proves California track and field has never had more depth across every event. 

Welcome Back Defending Champs

Must-See Events 

Girls 1600m Final 

In 2025, the girls' 1600m final was decided by 5-hundredths of a second, and the defending champion is leaving little doubt that it will happen again. Braelyn Combe is undefeated in the 1600m this season, with her season-best performance a solo effort at The TEN, where she ran U.S. #7 4:40.01. However, Chiara Dailey won't let this victory come easily after placing 3rd in the CIF State 1600m final for two consecutive years. Dailey also won the Arcadia Invitational 1 Mile with a U.S. #6 ranking of 4:39.31. A heavyweight fight is brewing in the girls' 1600m that will be competitive and possibly historic.   

-- Naiaja Sizemore (middle) on her way to win the 2025 CIF State 100m Final --

Girls 100m Final

Although defending 100m and 200m champion Naiaja Sizemore will be in the mix, the girls' 100m feels more wide open than ever. One factor is that five girls from last year's final are returning to the CIF State Championships. Many are running better than ever, including teammates Malia Rainey (SB - 11.41) and Marley Scoggins (SB - 11.43), who ran the top two fastest times by a Californian this season at the CIF-SS Division Finals. Then there are girls who missed that final last year, like Olivia Kirk (SB - 11.44), Maliyah Collins (SB - 11.43), and Essence Brown (SB - 11.59), who are hungry to compete at the highest level. Lastly, there's Calbabsas High School, which has been running with a vengeance since dropping the baton at the CIF D3 4x100m Finals. The Coyotes own the top four all-conditions rankings in California heading into the state meet, and all four of those ladies can realistically make that 100m final. 

Boys 800m Final 

Is the fastest boys' 800m race in the country loading? The 800m generally produces thrilling races that come down to the wire, but this year could be different, as two boys have already run 1:49 this season (Josiah Bowman - 1:49.54 and Lucas Alberts - 1:49.98). Additionally, three boys who've run 1:50 this season are entered (Alden Morales - 1:50.24, Hugh Heyer - 1:50.24, Ryan Burger - 1:50.24). On top of that, with no defending champion in the mix, each runner will be chasing the glory of a CIF State 800m title for the first time. It could be epic! 

Boys High Jump 

All eyes need to be on the high jump pit after defending champion Joshua Harel set a personal record of 7-1 at the CIF-SS Division Finals. Not just because we could reach high altitudes, but because of the enormous depth returning, including last year's runner-up, Jayden Goodman. There's also Naryan Banerjee, who finished 6th last year and has jumped a PR of 6-10 this season, and Dean Guzman, who couldn't make any heights in the final but is ranked CA #2 this season at 7-0. 

-- Cassidy Nguyen clearing 13-0 feet at the Mt. SAC Relays --

Girls Pole Vault 

After Cassidy Nguyen took down last year's top returners at the Mt. SAC Relays, interest in the girls' pole vault grew. Sophia Forst immediately responded with a 13-1 leap to win the Sacramento Meet of Champions and take the state lead, but Nguyen responded last week with a 13-2 vault at the CIF-SS Masters Meet. Then there's Caitlin Khieu, Madelyn Porter, and Helena Reuter, who all vaulted 12-8 at their respective section championships, making the battle in Clovis extremely competitive.  

Boys 200m Final 

In 2016, only two boys ran sub-21 seconds in the 200m. In 2021, only one boy ran sub-21 in the 200m. Last year, the 200m saw a dramatic jump, with eight boys running wind-legal sub-21 seconds. This year, eleven boys have already run wind-legal sub-21 seconds. The boys' 200m dash continues to impress, and this CIF State Championship promises to be no different. Although only three runners are returning from the CIF State final, including the CIF State Champion, no one has cemented themselves as a clear favorite. Jace Wells owned the start of the season with an indoor 20.99; Nicolas Obimgba dominated the middle of the season with a 20.66 state-lead at the Mt. SAC Relays; Benjamin Harris owned the Southern Section with a 20.51 (+2.5w); and Cy Lugo is riding the momentum of winning the CIF-SJS Section finals in a personal record of 20.67. Anyone can walk away with this CIF State title, which may be the deepest 200m in California's history. 

State Meet Record Watch 

Girls 4x100m - St. Bernard (1997), 44.70 

Since Rosary ran the second-fastest 4x100m relay time of 44.23 at the Arcadia Invitational, they've run 44 seconds on three more separate occasions. 

Girls 3200m - Hanne Thomsen (2025), 9:48.98

This could be a stretch, but the combination of Chiara Dailey (PR- 9:53), Amaya Bharadwaj (PR- 10:01),  and Summer Wilson (PR- 9:59 for 2mi) could push the limits of this impressive record. 

Girls 4x400m - Long Beach Poly (2004), 3:35.49 

After Long Beach Wilson ran 3:33.83 at the CIF-SS Masters, everyone should be seated and wait to see what they can do next.  

Girls Discus - Anna Jelimi (2009), 186-09 & Girls Shot Put - Anna Jelimi (2009), 53-8

Jaslene Massey has already thrown farther than the outdoor discus record and the indoor shot put record. She's also proven she can go big in both events after sweeping the Arcadia Invitational with a 182-2 and a 53-2 throw. 

This season, Servite has run 40 seconds three times, including the #4 fastest time in U.S. high school history at 39.70

Freshmen Ready to Shine

Sterling White (Oaks Christian), Event - 3200m, PR - 8:59.26, Freshman class record holder in the 3200m

4 Freshman Girls in the 3200m: Alyssa Gutierrez (St. Francis) - 10:18.86, Anais Cruz (Westlake) - 10:31.83, Addyson Johns (Santiago) - 10:33.85, Sabina Cruz (Westlake) - 10:34.98

Laila Kirk (Long Beach Poly), Event - 800m, SB - 2:08.83, Ran 2:07 as an eighth grader and is getting faster each week over the past month

Ava Parker (Helix), Event - 400m & 200m, PR - 53.47, Second fastest U.S. freshman girl in the 400m 

2 Freshman Girls Over 40ft in the Shot Put: Journey Scott (Murrieta Mesa) - 45-8.5 & Najae Ellison (Bishop O'Dowd) - 43-0.75

Alex Garza (Branham), Event - 800m, PR - 1:52.19, Fastest U.S. freshman boys in the 800m