The562’s coverage of track and field is sponsored by Bryson Financial
The city of Long Beach had an excellent day of qualifying at the CIF Southern Section Track and Field prelims on Saturday. Of the 102 entries into Saturday’s prelims, 58 made it through to next weekend’s championship meet, which will be held at Moorpark High.
Long Beach Poly had 26 entries out of 37 qualify for the Finals, most of any team in Division 1–the Jackrabbits will have a legit shot at a team double title next Saturday. Poly got top qualifying marks out of Xai Ricks (200 and 400), Cameron Rhone (800), and Jillene Wetteland (5-4) plus high marks from several others.
Ricks looks like one of the most special talents to have come through the city in the last few decades. He was the top qualifier in the 200 and the 400, but it raised eyebrows when Poly didn’t put him up in the 800 at league finals, since he also currently has the No. 2 time in the nation in that event. A junior with elite sprint and middle distance speed is a rare thing indeed, and Poly chose to focus on the 200 and 400 with Ricks with an eye towards preserving him for the State meet, where he could be needed in the 4×400 and 4×800 relays.
So far that decision is paying off–if Ricks can bring home big points in the 200 and 400 at CIF-SS Finals, it would be a big part of the puzzle for the Jackrabbits’ quest to win the CIF-SS title.
On the girls’ side, Poly was projected at No. 2, but a strong day of qualifying will have them in the mix. Kennadi Reed and Anise Becker got through in both hurdles races, and Jaylin Hunter made it in the 200 and 400, while Poly looks strong in both relays as well.
Wilson put 16 entries through, including top marks in three of the four relays (girls’ 4×100 and both 4x400s), but they’re not just strong in the collaborative races. Kaylin Edwards was the top mark in the 100 hurdles, and the Bruins got top three marks from Aujane Luckey (200, 400), and Jae’Ron Harris/JT Kraemer, who went two/three in the 400.
The Bruins’ girls’ were favorites to win the D1 title next week and with strong relays performances they’re still looking good, especially with Luckey and Edwards likely to put up big points. Their closest competitors are likely to be Poly in what could be a thrilling finish at Moorpark next weekend.
Jordan stepped up from Division 2 to Division 1 this year and the Panthers’ qualifying took a hit from last year as a result, as they got eight entries through compared to 12 last year. Of course, with sprint star Jordan Washington they will be favorites to win the 100 and the 200 next week. The Panthers also got both boys’ relays through, as well as field competitors in the jumps.
Lakewood had five entries compete at prelims and qualified all five for Finals, as sprinters Jai’ya Jones and Amaya Rice both made it through in the 100 and 200, and the Lancers’ 4×100 relay qualified seventh.
Millikan had several prelims entries in the distances, and Jason Parra was able to get through to the Finals running a 9:08 3200 for the second-best mark of the day.
St. Anthony had a pair of entries qualify for the Finals, as their school record-setting 4×100 made it through, as did football sprinter Drelonde Johnson in the 100.
Long Beach Poly (Division 1: 26 entries)
Girls’ 4×100, 2nd, 47.12
Boys’ 4×100, 5th, 42.27
Boys’ 1600: Cameron Rhone, 6th, 4:16.63
Girls’ 100 Hurdles: Kennadi Reed, 3rd, 14.52
Girls’ 100 Hurdles: Anise Becker, 8th, 14.62
Girls’ 400: Jaylin Hunter, 6th, 57.92
Boys’ 400: Xai Ricks, 1st, 47.04
Boys’ 400: Noah Smith, 4th, 49.20
Girls’ 100: Ari’yona Smith, 9th, 12.05
Boys’ 100: Malachi Dawson, 8th, 10.61
Boys’ 100: Javon Hampton, 9th, 10.73
Girls’ 800: Camille Lindsay, 9th, 2:17.48
Boys’ 800: Cameron Rhone, 1st, 1:52.16
Boys’ 800: Lamarr Kirk Jr., 2nd, 1:52.49
Girls’ 300 Hurdles: Kennadi Reed, 4th, 44.57
Girls’ 300 Hurdles: Anise Becker, 7th, 43.71
Girls’ 200: Jaylin Hunter, 7th, 24.69
Boys’ 200: Xai Ricks, 1st, 21.10
Boys’ 200: Noah Smith, 7th, 21.66
Boys’ 200: Malachi Dawson, 8th, 21.76
Girls’ 4×400, 5th, 3:57.85
Boys’ 4×400, 2nd, 3:21.10
Girls’ High Jump: Jillene Wetteland, 1st, 5-4
Girls’ Shot Put: Mai Ricks, 2nd, 40-9.75
Boys’ Long Jump: Jadyn Robinson, 7th, 21-10.5
Boys’ Long Jump: Javon Hampton, 8th, 21-6.75
Wilson (Division 1: 16 entries)
Girls’ 4×100, 1st, 46.82
Girls’ 100 Hurdles: Kaylin Edwards, 1st, 14.20
Girls’ 100 Hurdles: MaNia Tidwell, 5th, 14.79
Girls’ 400: Aujane Luckey, 3rd, 55.86
Girls’ 400: Brooke Blue, 8th, 57.40
Boys’ 400: Jae’Ron Harris, 2nd, 48.78
Boys’ 400: JT Kraemer, 3rd, 49.16
Boys’ 400: Marcel Francis-Mitchell, 5th, 49.30
Boys’ 800: Marcel Francis-Mitchell, 4th, 1:55.30
Girls’ 300 Hurdles: Kaylin Edwards, 2nd, 43.68
Girls’ 300 Hurdles: MaNia Tidwell, 6th, 44.74
Boys’ 300 Hurdles: Ethan Bartee, 8th, 39.28
Girls’ 200: Aujane Luckey, 3rd, 24.18
Girls’ 4×400, 1st, 3:51.02
Boys’ 4×400, 1st, 3:18.48
Girls’ Long Jump: Loren Webster, 5th, 18-1.5
Jordan (Division 1 8 entries)
Boys’ 4×100, 7th, 42.08
Boys’ 100: Jordan Washington, 2nd, 10.44
Boys’ 300 Hurdles: Darryll Stevens, 4th, 38.75
Boys’ 200: Jordan Washington, 2nd, 21.18
Boys’ 4×400, 6th, 3:25.41
Girls’ Triple Jump: Makayla Williams, 7th, 35-9.75
Boys’ High Jump: Jerman Simms Jr., 8th, 6-1
Boys’ Triple Jump: Jermar Andrews, 8th, 44-8.75
Lakewood (Division 1, 5 entries)
Girls’ 4×100, 7th, 47.29
Girls’ 100: Amaya Rice, 3rd, 11.99
Girls’ 100: Jai’ya Jones, 5th, 12.21
Girls’ 200: Jai’ya Jones, 5th, 24.40
Girls’ 200: Amaya Rice, 6th, 24.47
Millikan (Division 1, 1 entry)
Boys’ 3200: Jason Parra, 2nd, 9:08.18
St. Anthony (Division 4, 2 entries)
Boys’ 4×100, 3rd, 43.03
Boys’ 100: Drelonde Johnson, 7th, 10.65
