FRESNO – The Indoor State Track Championships are an opportunity to see where they stand with their training heading into the opening of the CIF-Southern Section outdoor season at the end of this month.
For one, Mission Viejo’s Jessica Lang, appears at the top of her game.
Lang, a sophomore, took second in the high jump with a personal-best clearance of 5-feet, 6-inches. Chianne Warner (Knight of Palmdale) also cleared 5-6 and was declared the winner based on fewer attempts.
“I was just happy to clear 5-4,” Lang said. “I was just happy to clear five (feet), our opening height.”
Lang said she competed in two varsity meets last season, with a best of 5 feet and just missed qualifying for the CIF-Southern Section prelims.
This was the sixth Indoor State meet, a two-day event held at the Save Mart Center on the Fresno State campus. Athletes qualified through all-comers meets held outdoors. More than 100 individuals, representing more than 25 Orange County schools, qualified to compete Sunday and Monday.
Among the top Orange County results:
Luke Newman, a senior at Trabuco Hills, cleared 15-feet for second place in the boys pole vault. Teammate Nate Harper placed seventh with a best of 14-0.
Connor Meech, a senior from San Juan Hills, placed sixth in the 55-meter hurdles in 7.83 seconds. He went head-to-head with Grant Bayr, a senior at Dana Hills, in a preliminary, clocking 7.80 to Bayr’s 7.97.
Dakarai Barnett, a junior from Fountain Valley, placed fourth in the long jump with a best of 22 feet, 6.25 inches.
Silviu Bocancea, a junior at Corona del Mar, placed third in the weight throw with a mark of 62-5.50.
Newport Harbor senior Hope Bender placed fifth in the 55 hurdles (8.38) and the 300 meters (42.67). Huntington Beach junior Cassie Durgy placed third in the 600-yard run (1:27.20.).