Future Stars: California's Next Standout Athletes

May 28, 2026

Future Stars: California's Next Standout Athletes

CIF STATE START LIST

Jasir Fontenot (Mater Dei Catholic)

Ranked 3rd in the state for the boys' 110m hurdles, as a sophomore. Has yet to dip under the 11-second mark in the 100m dash this season but does have a 10.84 P.R from his freshman year. Was the section champion for the 110m hurdles and third pace in the 100m dash at the CIFSDS Championships.

Jaelen Hunter (Servite)

Freshman Jaelen Hunter gave us a 400m dash to remember at the CIF Southern Section Masters meet. He finished runner-up and will be the Southern Section's top returner in the event next year. Hunter clocked a 46.51 over the quarter-mile distance, a season-best and good enough to take over the #2 CA time in the 400m.

Azra Gercek (Portola)

Another sophomore on our radar. Gercek was dominant all season but really had a breakthrough performance at the CIF Southern Section Masters meet, where she finished runner-up in the 800m run. The sophomore from Irvine also took a stab at the 400m 200m, and 100m this season, setting new P.Rs across all four events and even securing a respectable 56.11 split for the quarter-mile.

Ava Parker (Helix)

A freshman to look out for. The standout freshman from San Diego took on the older girls at the CIFSDS Championships, where she took 1st in both the 200m and 400m dash. Parker rolled to victory in a blazing 54.45 for the quarter-mile, a time that backed up her current P.R of 53.47 at this year's Mt. SAC Relays.