CLOVIS – Followers of track and field knew from the first month of the season that Trabuco Hills’ Sean Lee was a state title contender.
The frustrating thing for fans was that they rarely got to see the sophomore high jumper’s full arsenal. He conquered the 7-foot bar twice in March, never to be seen again.
That was until Saturday night.
Lee placed third after matching the winning clearance of 7 feet in the high jump final of the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Buchanan High.
Darius Carbin of Mt. Pleasant claimed the title, going without a miss until the 7-2 bar.
Lee went without a miss until reaching the 7-foot height, which he cleared on his second attempt. That was the difference.
Mustangs coach JT Ayers praised Lee’s mental preparation, stressing that misses mean as much as clearances in the state meet.
“Sean was prepared to clear … every height,” Ayers said. “He knew that he needed to compete against himself because he was his best advocate and also his worst enemy.
“At the very end, there were three guys over 7 feet, and one more make over 7-2 would have made him the state champion.”
The boys team title went to Vista Murrieta with 54 points. Esperanza was third with 21 points, 20 of which came from Bronson Osborn’s victories in the shot put and discus.
“It definitely felt great,” Osborn said of the dual titles. “That was what I was hoping was going to happen.”
Los Alamitos’ Alison Parsons achieved a podium finish, taking fifth in the long jump at 19 feet, 63/4 inches.
Maliyah Medley (El Toro) topped the county’s 400 sprinters, finishing third in 53.99 seconds. Griffins senior Ashley Willingham completed the race in 55.16 for seventh.
Podium showings were also had by Dana Hills’ Jake Ogden in the 1,600 (4th, 4:06) and Newport Harbor’s Emma Kratzberg in the 300 hurdles (5th, 42.59).
Daniel Sun (Woodbridge) was seventh in the boys 300 hurdles.
