Saturday was an action-packed day at the CIF-SS Track and Field Finals. So much action that it couldn’t all fit within the print story.
Here is where we’ll look at some of the other notable performances from the meet, and we’ll break it down by division. Divisions 1 and 2 will be noted in this post.
DIVISION 2
Woobridge’s Gabe Warner did well for himself on Saturday. He was a part of the Warriors’ 400-meter relay team, which finished second in its race in 41.89, and qualified for the CIF Master’s meet.
Warner also won the boys 400 title in 47.86, the 10th best time in California this season. Later in the day, he finished second in the 200, to Mater Dei’s Curtis Godin, with a time of 21.34. the 200 mark is the eight-best in the state.
In the last event of the day, Warner guided Woodbridge to a division title in the 1,600-meter relay in 3:18.54, which also qualifed for Master’s.
Tesoro’s Amanda Gehrich ran the fifth-fastest time of the day in the girls 1,600 with 4:51.47, which gave her the division title and placed her eighth in California this season.
Villa Park’s Garrett Corcoran led the boys 1,600 for about three laps and some change, but couldn’t hold off a final push from Mayfair’s Ellis Newton.
Newton kept pace with Corcoran and took control very late in the race to earn the win in 4:06.71. Corcoran’s 4:07.05 was the second best time of the day. He posted the fifth-best time overall in the 3,200, as well, with a 9:07.02.
In the girls 100-meter hurdles, a 14.22 was enough for the win for Mater Dei’s Emma Radan. Radan now stands in fifth-place in the event in the all-time county record books. Radan finished third in the 300-meter hurdles with a 43.39. Both times qualified Radan for Master’s.
Mission Viejo’s Diego Courbis recorded the fastest time in any division in the boys 300-meter hurdles, 37.65.That’s fifth in the state this season. The Diablos senior transferred to the school from Spain, and has had quite the season.
Mission Viejo’s Kennedy Gillian displayed her talent on the girls side with wins in the 200, and 400. She helped the Diablos qualify for Master’s in the 1,600 relay too as she showed off her speed in the final 100 meters to help her team finish second in 3:51.07. The team also got a boost from Taylor Acro, who finished fourth in the 800 (2:11.61), and qualified for Master’s.
In the girls pole vault, Mater Dei freshman McKenna Caskey gave a hint toward her bright future with a clearance of 12-09 to win the title. That’s the No. 3 mark in the state.
Tesoro’s Mitchell Bland won a triple jump title as he posted a 48-04.75. Bland’s high jump of 6-05 earned him third place.
DIVISION 1
Los Alamitos’ Mackenna Howard had an impressive performance in the girls shot put. She threw a personal best of 49-02 to win the title.That’s the fifth best throw by a girl in the shot put in the country this year, it’s the second best in California, and fifth best all-time in county history. Howard will also be the third seed in the discus next week after her mark of 142-09.
Edison’s Julia Sienski qualified for Master’s in the girls 1,600 with her time of 4:55.66. She finished fifth in her division.
Dana Hills Jake Ogden finished second in the boys 1,600 with a 4:11.15.
Los Alamitos’ Tyler Rios ran a wind-aided 14.26 in the boys 110-meter hurdles, he followed that with a championship in the 300-meter hurdles, finishing in 37.69.
Edison’s Eamon Smythe has the CIF-State meet on his mind, and he ran like in the boys 800. Smythe clocked in at 1:52.56 to give him the win, along with the sixth-best time in the state.
“It was good, I’m happy about the time and everything,” Smythe said about his race. “The only thing I still need to work on is the last turn.”
Smythe said his goal is to run sub-1:50.
The Chargers’ AJ Beynon cleared 6-07 in the high jump to claim second place. He also finished third in the 300-meter hurdles (38.34).
San Clemente’s Melissa Eisele ran a strong 10:36.20 in the 3,200 to qualify herself for Master’s. For the Tritons boys squad, Arik Nesbit moves on to next week’s meet in the long jump and triple jump.
Dana Hills girls 1,600-meter relay team of Kimiko Tanaka, Hollis Donovan, Chloe Deol and Brenna McNulty finished second to Long Beach Poly in the relay, but ran an impressive 3:50.27.
The Dolphins’ Claire Kao advances to next week with an 11-03 clearance in the girls pole vault.
In the boys pole vault, Luke Newman and Christopher Doerr finished second and third, for Trabuco Hills, respectively, with marks of 15-03.
Valencia’s Michael Sota unleashed a 58-03.25 in the boys shot put to finish second. He was followed by San Clemente’s Kelsey Benoit, who threw 58-00.50
The Tritons’ Rocky Fenton had the best mark in the division for the discus, 172-09. Benoit finished third in discus, too, with a throw of 163-11.
