The CIF Southern Section will hold its annual track and field all divisions championship meet Saturday at Moorpark High School.
At last weekend’s preliminary meets, athletes had to battle the heat, with temperatures nearly reaching triple digits at two locations. The Division 3 prelims included a delay of nearly four hours because of the heat. The conditions will be far more comfortable this Saturday, with projected temperatures in the 60s.
The action starts with field events at 10:30 a.m. Running events begin at 1 p.m. Tickets: $14 adults, $7 for children and students with ID. Parking is $10.
Top performers will return to Moorpark High School next week for the section’s Masters Meet, which acts as the qualifier for the CIF State Championships.
The Southern Section this year has expanded the Masters Meet to include 18 qualifiers in each event. In recent years, athletes with the top nine times in track events and top 12 marks in field events advanced. This season, event champions in the four divisions are guaranteed a spot for the Masters Meet. The next best times and marks across divisions will determine the other qualifiers. Tiebreakers will be used in field events to limit the field to 18 athletes.
Here is a closer look at the Inland area’s top boys and girls track and field athletes to watch at this year’s section championships.
DIVISION 1 OUTLOOK
Santiago’s Rylee Blade is the two-time defending champion in the girls 3200-meter run, and a three-peat could be in the cards after Blade broke the Division 1 section record when she ran a time of 9 minutes, 58.46 seconds during the prelims. Blade also won the 2023 Division 1 title in the 1600 meters. She did not compete in that event last season, but another double could be possible as Blade also posted the top qualifying time last week (4:46.61).
Blade’s teammate Braelyn Combe is the defending champion in the girls 800 and 1600, and she advanced with the No. 2 time in the latter (4:50.69) and No. 3 time in the former (2:15.66).
Chaparral’s Keelan Wright will be looking to defend her championships in the girls sprints. Wright qualified first in the 200 meters (23.39) and second in the 100 meters (11.52).
Temecula Valley’s Jack Stadlman and Summit’s Amira Whitehead have been the breakout stars from the Inland Empire this year. Stadlman is the state leader in the boys 400 meters (45.69) and he had the top qualifying time in the 200 (21.03). Whitehead is the state leader in the girls 400 meters (53.77) and was second to Wright in qualifying in the 200 (23.80).
Yucaipa’s Benjamin Lingenfelter leads a strong group of Inland boys throwers and he will look to sweep the titles in the shot put and discus. Lingenfelter had a personal-best mark in the discus last week (194 feet, 10 inches). Three others Inland throwers will be competing in both events: Ayala’s Benjamin Lin and Joshua Komrosky and Etiwanda’s Drew Harisay. King’s Andrew Dixon is among the state leaders in the discus.
Two of the busiest athletes at Saturday’s finals will be Riverside Poly’s Kylani Gaines and Rancho Cucamonga’s Ndiah Hall. The duo will compete in the girls 100 and 300 hurdles and the long jump.
Etiwanda’s Brandon Andrade, Orange Vista’s Terrence Whaley and Alta Loma’s Quishawn Stanford advanced in both of the boys hurdling events. Andrade is the state leader in the 300 hurdles (36.79).
The boys sprints should produce fast times, and Rancho Cucamonga’s Rodney Sermons and Murrieta Mesa’s Darryl Conyer III advanced in both the 100 and 200 meters. Sermons was second to Stadlman in the 200 (21.08) and qualified third in the 100 meters (10.44).
Cajon’s 1600 relay had the top qualifying time (3:14.95) and Beaumont was second (3:16.16). Another Cajon athlete to watch is Keith Cotlage, a contender in the boys horizontal jumps.
Thirteen additional Inland athletes qualified for the finals in two individual events.
On the boys side: Rancho Cucamonga’s Jayden Saldana (200, 400); King’s Maximo Zavaleta (1600, 3200); Chaffey’s Daniel Reza (1600, 3200); Valley View’s Evan Nahuat (1600, 3200); and Ayala’s Nathaniel Baca (high jump, triple jump).
On the girls side: Ayala’s Obioma Emechete (100, 200) and Jenna Morales (high jump, long jump); Murrieta Mesa’s Bella Cablayan (200, 400); Temescal Canyon’s Megan Crum (1600. 3200); Hemet’s Kaycia Carridice (100, 100 hurdles); Beaumont’s Amira Jones (shot put, discus) and Daneira Pellum (long jump, triple jump); and Rancho Cucamonga’s Khalia Phyfier (100, long jump).
DIVISION 2 OUTLOOK
The Claremont girls team could be among the contenders for the runner-up plaque Saturday. Grace Smith ran the fastest time at prelims in the 800 meters (2:13.99), and her teammate Isla Bulmer had the top time in the 1600 meters (5:01.94).
Norco’s Kaylee Best won the Division 2 girls triple jump title in 2023 and the division’s long jump title last season. She will be among the title contenders in both events after posting the top mark in the triple jump (39-0 1/2) and second-best mark (19-0 1/2) in the long jump at prelims.
Bonita’s Daiveon Woodley registered the top time during prelims in the 400 meters (48.13), and he also will compete in the 200. Norco’s Tristan Cephas had the fastest time in the boys 800 meters (1:54.86). Murrieta Valley’s 400 relay team had the top qualifying time (41.68).
Elsinore’s Nicolas Alexis will be among the favorites in the boys horizontal jumps after posting top marks at prelims in the long jump (23-7) and triple jump (48-10 1.2). Redlands’ Julien Scarbrough is another top contender in the long jump.
Chino’s Arelle Middleton recorded the top mark at prelims in the girls shot put (41-1 3/4). Su’Riah Williams of Redlands will be a title contender in both of the girls throwing events.
Redlands’ Michael Cullen will be the favorite to win the boys pole vault title. Two athletes to watch in the boys high jump are Grand Terrace’s Exzavior Oliver and Rancho Verde’s Edward Moody. Tahquitz’s Jonah Arbuckle advanced in both of the boys sprints.
Murrieta Valley’s Taylor Anyansi won the 2023 Division 1 title in the girls 100-meter dash. She should contend for the title in that event this season, and also will compete in the 200. Anyansi’s teammate Jordin Lieberman is another runner to watch in the girls 1600 meters.
Chino’s Geanne Phillips advanced in three girls events: the 100 and 300 hurdles and the high jump. Elsinore’s Tsubaki Yamakita will compete in the girls 100 hurdles and the triple jump.
DIVISION 3 OUTLOOK
Jurupa Valley’s AB Hernandez is the favorite to sweep the girls horizontal jumping titles. Hernandez holds the state’s top marks in the long jump (20-1 1/2) and triple jump (41-4). Hernandez also will compete in the high jump.
Damien’s Jaxson Gates has been among the state’s top sprinters this season. He posted the No. 4 qualifying time in the 100 meters last week (10.64) but ran a wind-aided 10.39 earlier this season. Damien’s 400 and 1600 relay teams also could have strong finishes.
San Gorgonio’s Daron Tyson is another contender in the 100 meters.
Hailey Lutz of San Dimas advanced in the girls 100 hurdles as well as the long jump.
DIVISION 4 OUTLOOK
Big Bear’s Aiden Brewer is the two-time defending champion in the boys 110-meter hurdles, and he is in position for a 3-peat after clocking the fastest time at last week’s prelims (14.65). Brewer also advanced in the 300 hurdles and the high jump.
Woodcrest Christian’s Eyan Turk is the defending champ in the boys 3200 meters and ran the fastest time in prelims (9:12.50).
San Jacinto Valley Academy will be well represented in the girls hurdles races. Twin sisters Braidyn and Jaidyn Thomas advanced to the 100 and 300 hurdles finals, and Braidyn also is competing in the high jump. Kaahliyah Lacy advanced in the 100 hurdles and also competes in the 400-meter dash.
There are two other Inland sibling acts to follow within this division. Rim of the World twin sisters Ali and Ava Holtzen both advanced in the girls 3200 meters. Western Christian’s PJ Hib is a contender in the boys throws, while his sister Elizabeth competes in the girls discus.
California School for the Deaf-Riverside’s Darius Zarembka is among the favorites in the boys high jump and looks to become CSDR’s first track and field champion since 1987.
Arrowhead Christian Academy’s Jeanna-Marie Lotz qualified second in the 3200 meters and fourth in the 1600 meters. Notre Dame’s Kaden Tennyson should compete for the boys shot put title, and Linfield Christian’s Charli Calas competes in both girls throws.
Western Christian’s Gabriella Petrucci should contend in the girls sprints. Western Christian’s Jonah Maningo advanced in both the boys 110 hurdles and triple jump. Webb’s Sienna Burke also qualified for two girls finals (300 hurdles, high jump).
