The562’s coverage of track and field is sponsored by Bryson Financial
As expected, there will be a strong Long Beach contingent in Clovis this weekend for the CIF State Track & Field championships.
A whopping 32 entries will compete in Friday’s prelims, hoping to advance to Saturday’s Finals, with individual and team glory at stake. The Long Beach Poly boys and Wilson girls are favored to take second place in the team competition, while several athletes or relays will be in the mix for an individual gold.
For Long Beach Poly, a city-leading 15 entries include four relays, as the Poly boys will compete in the first-ever 4×800 at the CIF State meet, as well as both 4×100 teams and the Jackrabbits’ boys’ 4×400. Junior Xai Ricks looks to score big in the 400 and on the relays, while Lamarr Kirk Jr. continues his excellent senior season in the 800. On the girls’ side, Mai Ricks and Jillene Wetteland qualified as individuals in field events, while senior hurdler Kennadi Reed will compete in the 300 hurdles.
Poly will also get a boost from senior Gabe Tyler, who is competing in the ambulatory 100, 200, 400, and shot put events. The ambulatory events will score points in the team race this season.
Wilson’s girls’ have got plenty of roads to compete for the silver or to take the top spot as a team should the favorites falter. Senior ASU signee Aujane Luckey will compete in the 200 and 400, while Kaylin Edwards and MaNia Tidwell are both in the 300 hurdles. The Bruins’ girls’ 4×100 and 4×400 will compete, while the boys 4×400 was DQed at Masters for contacting another team.
All eyes will be on Jordan junior Jordan Washington as he tries to unseat Serra’s Rodrick Pleasant in the 100 and 200, while Lakewood’s Jai’ya Jones makes history as the first Lancers to qualify in the 100, and Millikan’s Jason Parra will compete for the 3200 state title.
Long Beach Poly (15 entries)
Girls’ 4×100, 46.89
Boys’ 4×100, 41.93
Boys’ 400, Xai Ricks, 46.50
Boys’ 400, Noah Smith, 48.19
Boys’ 800, Lamarr Kirk Jr., 1:53
Girls’ 300 Hurdles, Kennadi Reed, 43.94
Boys’ 4×800, 7:50.18
Boys’ 4×400, 3:13.86
Girls’ High Jump, Jillene Wetteland, 5-5
Girls’ Shot Put, Mai Ricks, 41-08.50
Boys’ 100 Ambulatory, Gabe Tyler, 14.92
Boys’ 200 Ambulatory, Gabe Tyler, 33.26
Boys’ 400 Ambulatory, Gabe Tyler, 1:17.59
Boys’ Shot Put, Gabe Tyler, 21-04
Wilson (10 entries)
Girls’ 4×100, 46.28
Girls’ 400: Aujane Luckey, 52.71
Boys’ 400: JT Kraemer, 48.50
Boys’ 800: Marcel Francis-Mitchell, 1:53.50
Girls’ 300 Hurdles: Kaylin Edwards, 43.69
Girls’ 300 Hurdles: MaNia Tidwell, 6th, 43.55
Girls’ 200: Aujane Luckey, 24.12
Boys’ 4×800, 7:48.79
Girls’ 4×400, 1st, 3:43.19
Girls’ Long Jump: Loren Webster, 3rd, 18-09.75
Jordan (4 entries)
Boys’ 4×100, 42.04
Boys’ 100, Jordan Washington, 10.24
Boys’ 300 Hurdles, Darryll Stevens, 37.72
Boys’ 200, Jordan Washington, 20.81
Lakewood (2 entries)
Girls’ 4×100, 47.33
Girls’ 100, Jai’ya Jones, 11.87
Millikan (1 entry)
Boys’ 3200, Jason Parra, 8:58.06
