The CIF Southern Section will hold its annual track and field Masters Meet event Saturday at Moorpark High School.
The Masters Meet serves as a qualifying event for the CIF State Championships. And this season, there are more opportunities to earn the trip to Clovis.
In past years, the top nine times in running events and top 12 marks in field events from the Southern Section division finals moved onto the Masters Meet. This season, however, there are 18 qualifiers in each event (all four of the division champions, plus the next best times and marks across the divisions).
In running events, the six fastest times in the first heat will qualify for the state meet. The six best marks in field events also advance to next week’s meet, provided they meet the standard. Others athletes can advance to the state finals by hitting at-large standards in their respective events.
Field events begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, with running events starting at 1 p.m. Tickets: $14 for adults, and $7 for children (5-13) and students with ID. Parking is $10 (cash only). The stadium will open to spectators at 10 a.m.
Here is a look at some of the Inland athletes and relay teams that could contend for Masters Meet titles.
BOYS EVENTS
Sprints
Rancho Cucamonga’s Rodney Sermons swept the Division 1 titles in the 100 and 200 meters last week and is among the favorites Saturday. He is tied for second in the state in the 100 (10.30) and ranks second in the state in the 200 (20.88). Temecula Valley’s Jack Stadlman has the state’s top time in the 400 meters (45.69) and ranks sixth in the state in the 200 (21.03). Damien’s Jackson Gates is another Inland runner to watch in the 100 (10.43 best).
Distance
Riverside Poly’s Beckett Sullivan ranks fourth in the state in the 800 meters with a time of 1:51.37, Great Oak’s Jack Paradise is fifth in the state at 1:51.50. King’s Maximo Zavaleta has the No. 6 time in the state in the 1600 meters (4:07.15). Woodcrest Christian’s Eyan Turk is one to watch in the 3200 (8:59.63 best).
Hurdles
Etiwanda’s Brandon Andrade posted the state’s fastest time in the 300 hurdles (36.79) at the Mt. SAC Relays. Orange Vista’s Terrence Whaley is closing out the season strong and is No. 8 in the state this season in the 110 hurdles (13.99).
Relays
Great Oak holds the state’s fastest time in the 4 x 800 relay, a 7:35.01 at the Mt. SAC Relays. Riverside Poly (7:46.93) and King (7:47.23) are sixth and eighth, respectively. Rancho Cucamonga (3:13.56) and Cajon (3:14.95) are among the top eight in the state in the 4 x 400 relay. Murrieta Valley’s 4 x 100 relay (41.34) ranks ninth in the state.
Jumps
Nicolas Alexis won the Masters Meet title in the long jump last season while competing for Great Oak. He is with Elsinore this season and ranks second in the state in that event (23-11) and third in the triple jump (49-2 3/4). Cajon’s Keith Cotlage is the state leader in the triple jump (50-7) and will compete in the long jump, as well. Ayala’s Nathaniel Baca went 6-10 in the high jump at last week’s Division 1 finals, tied for the second-best mark in the state. Grand Terrace’s Exzavior Oliver is tied for 10th in the high jump (6-8). Redlands’ Michael Cullen is tied for sixth in the state in the pole vault (16-3).
Throws
Yucaipa’s Benjamin Lingenfelter will be the favorite in the discus after hitting 200 feet for the first time in his career at the Division 1 finals. King’s Andrew Dixon ranks third in the state in the discus (187-9), while Etiwanda’s Drew Harisay is No. 8 in the state in the shot put (60-1).
GIRLS EVENTS
Sprints
Chaparral’s Keelan Wright is the defending champion in the 200 meters, and she posted the state’s best time (23.32) at last week’s Division 1 finals. Wright also ranks second in the state in the 100 (11.50). Summit’s Amira Whitehead ran the state’s best time in the 400 meters (53.77) at the Mt. SAC Relays. She also is No. 5 in the state in the 200 (23.80).
Distance
Santiago’s Rylee Blade is the two-time defending champion in the 3200 meters, and she has the No. 3 time in the state this season (9:58.46). Murrieta Valley’s Jordin Lieberman is No. 3 in the state in the 1600 (4:43.08), and Claremont’s Grace Smith ranks fourth in the 800 (2:08.55). Santiago’s Braelyn Combe is among the state’s top 10 in the 800 and 1600.
Hurdles
Riverside Poly’s Kylani Gaines has posted the No. 7 time in the state in the 100 hurdles (14.05).
Relays
The Inland area’s best chance at state qualifiers in the relays will be the 4 x 800. Santiago ranks third in the state (9:04.20). Claremont and King have top seven times in the section.
Jumps
Jurupa Valley’s AB Hernandez is the state leader in the triple jump (41-4) and also ranks second in the state in the long jump (20-1 1/2). Norco’s Kaylee Best qualified in both of the horizontal jumps, as well, and ranks sixth statewide in the long jump (19-8 1/2) and eighth in the triple jump (39-2 1.2). Ayala’s Jenna Morales is No. 5 in the state in the long jump (19-9). Chaparral’s Katelyn Suemnick is tied for seventh in the state in the pole vault.
Throws
Redlands’ Su’Riah Williams ranks first in the state in the discus (173-3) and seventh in the shot put (43-4). Chino’s Arelle Middleton is 10th in the state in the shot put (42-6 1/2).
