Top 10 storylines heading into the 103rd CIF Track and Field Championships
One would be hard pressed to find a better high school sporting event than the CIF Track and Field Championships.
The two-day bonanza, at Veteran's Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School in Clovis, features many of the top track and field athletes — many who star in other sports — from the nation.
The 2023 edition of the meet — Friday featuring trials and Saturday finals — is the 103rd running. The event goes back to 1915 and before the two-year hiatus due to the pandemic (2020 and 2021) there had been only one three-year gap from 1942-45 due to World War III.
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Among the most famous to participate over the years are Olympic gold medalists Evelyn Ashford, Allyson Felix, Marion Jones, Carmelita Jeter, Calvin Harrison and Alvin Harrison.
More compelling often are the less famous athletes, from the smallest schools, who emerge as champions.
There's no divisions in the CIF Track and Field championships. All comers from throughout the large Golden State that features more than 100,000 track and field participants annually.
Tickets can be purchased at GoFan HERE and a live stream in NFHS is HERE
Here are 10 top storylines heading into Friday's trials, which begin at 3 p.m. (field events) and 5 p.m. (running); Saturday's finals begin at 4:30 p.m. (field events) and track at 5:45 p.m.
1. Will Rodrick Pleasant double again?
The Oregon-bound football standout chose the Ducks largely because he can star on the track as well. He won last year's 100 meters and 200 in 10.30 seconds and 20.56, respectfully. Both were wind-aided. He's gone much faster, the last two years qualifying at the Southern Section Master's Meet in a state-record 10.14 seconds. He's also gone 10.09 this season, but that was wind-aided.
Rodrick will attempt to be the fourth male to double in the event two consecutive years, with the other three all occurring in the last 15 years. He'd join most recently by Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks' Khalfani Muhammad (2012-13), Covina's Ramontay McClain (2010-11) and Cathedral-Los Angeles' Randall Carroll (2008-09).
Though Pleasant is the solid favorite, watch for Long Beach Jordan junior Jordan Washington (10.24) and seniors Anthony Flowers (10.33), of South Torrance, and El Cerrito's Robert Stitts (10.35) threaten.
With a record dozen 100-meter runners with times of 10.50 or faster this spring, this could be the fastest short sprint race in state history.
Rodrick Pleasant stands tall on top of podium at last week's Southern Section Masters Meet at Moorpark High School. From L-R: Long Beach Jordan's Jordan Washington, Pleasant and Anthony Flores of South Torrance. Photo: Nick Koza.
2. How about those versatile football standouts?
Pleasant may be the headliner, but there are several more who star on the gridiron and the track or field. Here's a quick list of nine more who will be in Clovis.
3. What will MacKenzie Browne do for an encore
The JW North senior already gave one after backing up her stunning state 800 title last year by a more stunning performance at the Arcadia Invitational where she broke the 55-year meet record with a winning time of 2:03.07, the national best time of the year and a PR by more than five seconds — at the 2022 state meet in 2:08.66. (See video at top of page).
4. Clash of the national leaders
Browne, with a qualifying mark of 2:07.49, will be the favorite, but the most dangerous runner in the field is Ventura sophomore Sadie Engelhardt. The ultra-talented and versatile runner owns the national lead in the 1600 at 4:34.50, more than eight seconds faster than anyone in the state. She's gone 2:06.71 in the 800 but will have the difficult task of running two qualifying races Friday, then the 1600 final before the 800 final. It might be too tough a task even for Engelhardt, who also has the state's top 3200 time of 9:51.49. She skipped the 3200.
Sadie Engelhardt, of Ventura, at last week's Southern Section Masters Meet. Photo: Nick Koza.
5. Will they repeat?
Pleasant, Browne and Engelhardt are just three of the eight returning champions. The others: Brenden See (JSerra Catholic, boys discus (203-10 winning mark last season), Reign Redmond (Carson, girls 100, 11.56), Brazil Neal (Serra-Gardena, girls 200, 23.68), Hanne Thomsen (Montgomery-Santa Rosa, girls 3200, 10:06.89), Nailea Fields (Caruthers, girls discus, 157-01), Hanna Glover (Los Gatos, girls high jump, 5-6) and Sydnie Vanek (Clovis, girls long jump, 20-8.50).
Returning relay champions are the Cathedral-Los Angeles boys 1600 (3:13.87), the Serra-Gardena girls 400 (46.08) and Clovis North girls 1600 relay (3:45.38).
Montgomery sophomore Hanne Thompson, in front, will have a tough time repeating at 3200 because, unlike last season, she is attempting to double in the 1600. Photo Eric Taylor
6. More speed
Though all eyes will be on Pleasant and the boys deep and fast 100 field, the girls sprints will also garner much attention.
Redmond looks to become the first Los Angeles City sprinter to repeat as 100 champion and the first in 44 years to sweep the 100 and 200. She'll have steep competition from Neal in the 200 along with Adonijah Currie of Quartz Hill, Niya Clayton of Oaks Christian and Meagan Humphries of Castaic.
With a 3.9-meters-per-second aiding wind, Neal won a brilliant Southern Section Masters 200 in 23.36, over Currie (23.41), Humphries (23.55) and Joelle Trepagnier (23.55), of Culver City.
Serra's Brazil Neal (middle lane) and Niya Clayton, of Oaks Christian's Niya Clayton, right, figure to be in the mix for a terrific 200. Photo: Nick Koza
7. New event
One thing about track and field. It's a sport highly regimented, simple in structure and little nuance. Get to the line first, jump the highest and longest and throw the shot or discus the furthest.
Simple.
For the first time California will include the 3200 relay (4x800) with 15 qualifying teams, for both boys and girls, and it will be run as a final only between the open 200 and 3200 races on Saturday.
The top girls qualifier is the Southern Section's Claremont with the team Kaitlyn Smith, Denise Chen, Isla Bulmer and L'Mio Edwards having gone 9:07.84. JSerra (9:10.59) and Chino Hills (9:11.50) are the next two top qualifiers.
The top boys qualifier is also the Southern Section Masters winner San Clemente. The team of Brett Ephraim, Jackson Brownell, Pierce Clark and Taj Clark had the top makr of 7:45.93, followed by Long Beach Wilson (7:48.79) and Long Beach Poly (7:50.18).
Forty-five other states run the race in their state finals. California is a little late to this party.
"It's long overdue," Arcadia Meet Director Rich Gonzalez said last month.
8. Stanley Steamer and band of Highlanders
Garden Grove Charter senior Dijon Stanley has had a remarkable senior year, from rushing for nearly 2,800 yards and 33 touchdown on a LA City champion football team to his national leading 400 mark of 45.92 while winning at the prestigious Arcadian Invitational.
He can complete the banner school year by not only winning the 400 individually — he placed third last year — but leading the Highlanders to a state title. They have the team to do it as they proved at Arcadia.
Along with Jordan Coleman, Jayden Smith and Kanye Martin, Garden Grove has by far the top qualifying 400 relay time of 40.68 and the same foursome have the third best time in the 1600 relay (3:17.61). the top team from Long Beach Poly of Noah Smith, Caliph Johnson, Lamarr Kirk Jr. and Xai Ricks appear untouchable in the 4x400 with a time of 3:13.86.
If Stanley can win the 400, place in the 200 and lead the relay teams to victory, the Highlanders should have enough to win the boys team title.
Dijon Stanley winning at Arcadia in a national best of 45.92 last month. Photo: Joe Bergman
9. One-woman show
Even if Humphries doesn't win the 200, she might very well be the star of the meet.
According to Gonzalez, Humphries might win the meet herself because she could also win/score big points in the long jump (best of 20-0.25), high jump (5-10.25) and triple jump (40-8.75).
"Humphries) conjures up memories of the incredible Wendy Brown, who scored 38 points by herself to win the state title for Woodside (in 1984)," Gonzalez wrote.
10. Upland hurdles goes for No. 8
Davis Davis-Lyric could be the eighth Upland hurdle champion if he holds serve and wins the 110s. He has the state's top qualifying time by a wide margin at 13.85 over Pleasant Grove's Stephen Dahdoug (13.94).
Kai Graves-Blanks won the 110 high hurdles last season in 13.57 and Davis-Lyric was second.
Other Upland 110 hurdle champions were Gerimi Burleigh (1994, 13.93), Joseph Anderson (2016, 13.59; 2017, 13.33). Upland hurdlers to win the 300s are Anderson (2017, 36.02), Caleb Lutalo Roberson (2018, 36.61; 2019, 36.32) and Delaney Crawford (2022, 37.11).
