NORWALK- Mater Dei junior Tara Radan entered Friday’s 400 race hoping to simply qualify to the CIF State Track and Field Championships.
She ended the race looking like one of the state’s title favorites, producing a stirring comeback victory to win the title at the CIF-SS Masters Meet on Friday at Cerritos College.
Radan trailed entering the final 100 meters, but used a powerful close to clock a time of 55.76, edging out Serra senior Chimere Ezumah (55.79).
“I was nervous being in lane eight and was just hoping to qualify,” Radan said. “In the last 100, I noticed that I was catching up to Ezumah and just gave it my all.”
Radan also helped both the Monarchs 400 relay (seasonal best 47.41) and 1,600 relay (3:49.46) advance to the state meet.
It was a better week of competition in the pole vault for Santa Margarita sophomore Kaitlyn Merritt, who failed to clear 13 feet for the first time in a non-dual or qualifying meet last week at the CIF-SS Division 3 Finals.
Merritt was the lone pole vaulter to clear 13 feet this week, winning the Masters title with a clearance of 13 feet, three inches.
“I did better than last week, but there is still room for improvement,” Merritt said.
Merritt also ran a leg on the Eagles state meet qualifying 1,600 relay team, which clocked a time of 3:51.80.
Dana Hills senior Sierra Hansen and JSerra senior Caitlin Nilssen each cleared 11 feet, 9 inches to finish fourth and fifth respectively and qualify automatically. Mater Dei senior Grace Boyer earned the final spot in a jump off and was credited with a clearance of 11 feet, 6 inches.
After leading for a portion of the 800, Capistrano Valley junior Natalie Herberg (2:12.74) crossed the finish line second.
“I wanted to stay in the front and hold my ground,” Herberg said. “Heading into the state meet, all I can do is my best.”
Dana Hills senior Paige Canterbury ran to a seasonal best and school record time of 4:53.66 to place third in the 1,600.
“I focused on third lap because that’s the hardest lap,” Canterbury said. “Making the state meets means a lot to me.”
Tesoro freshman Amanda Gehrich (4:55.36), Canyon senior Rianna Goins (4:55.44), and Laguna Hills senior Alana Jones (4:56.12) also made the state meet.
Dana Hills senior Brenna Barker will compete next weekend, as she produced a fourth place effort in the triple jump (38-2).
“I thought about how much today meant and was focused coming in,” Barker said. “I realized that I didn’t want to end my season here at Masters, and in the last three jumps, it was all about will power.”
Aliso Niguel senior Danielle Darden earned automatic qualification to the state meet in both sprints. She was fifth in the 100 (11.70) and sixth in the 200 (24.24).
“My legs felt smooth and I executed my races,” Darden said.
Huntington Beach junior Susannah Oleson will represent the county in the high jump, as she cleared the state qualifying mark of 5 feet, five inches on her final attempt.
“It was a bit nerve-wracking, but I’ve been pretty consistent at clearing that height,” Oleson said.
