Paloma Valley triple jumper Arthur Stringer ranks second in CIF-SS and third in the state. (Photo courtesy Juan Merida)
Elite track and field athletes from four Menifee area high schools will compete on Saturday in the CIF Southern Section prelims. Here’s a look at athletes competing for each school:
Paloma Valley: Division 1 at Trabuco Hills High School
Arthur Stringer will take one of the state’s leading marks into the triple jump competition. He qualified for the prelims with a leap of 47-8 in winning the Ivy League championship. Stringer’s personal best of 48-3 ranks second in CIF-SS and third in the state. He also qualified in the long jump with a mark of 22-2 at league finals.
“His relentless work ethic and bounce make him special,” coach Juan Merida said about Stringer. “His numbers are amazing, considering his height (5-foot-9).”
In addition, Dylan Eneim qualified in four events: The 4×100 relay, 4×400 relay, 200 meters (PR of 21.88) and 400 (50.7). Austin Allan qualified in three events: 4×100 relay, high jump (5-9) and long jump (PR of 22-8).
The 4×100 relay team consists of Chris Adams, Eneim, Allan, and freshman Nathan Ortiz. The qualifying mark was 43.52. The 4×400 relay team is Deion Robinson, Ortiz, Michael Jenkins, and Eneim (Erick Urquieta is an alternate). Their qualifying mark is 3:29.3.
For the Wildcat girls team, Leyna Anderson won the Ivy League championship in the triple jump at 33-11 to qualify. Also qualifying was the 4×400 relay team of Priscilla Lyons, Alex Gallegos, and freshmen McKenna Cameron and Isabella Davis. Brooke Sergeant is the alternate. Their qualifying time was 4:08.
Liberty: Division 1 at Trabuco Hills High School
Carson Rawls qualified in two events for Liberty. (Photo courtesy Andrew Ellis)
The Bison qualified in 16 individual events and two relay races. The long list includes:
Carson Rawls (1600 and 800)
Jaeda Moore (100 hurdles)
Elijah Bennett (110 hurdles and 300 hurdles)
Autumn McCalebb (200 and 400)
Mason Bush (400)
Faise Tamale (100 and 200)
Carson Alvarez (100)
Asha Digiambattista (800)
Aiden Quintanilla (300 hurdles)
Andriea Ellis (3200)
Laiah Jackson (long jump)
Jaeda Moore (long jump)
Catalina Loven (high jump)
Kamari Tibbs (high jump)
Simmeon Blunt (shot put)
Landon Alvarez (shot put)
Boys 4×100 relay
Boys 4×400 relay
Faise Tamale was the girls 100 and 200 Ivy League champion with a 100m time of 11.75 and a 200m time of 24.60. Both are school records. Elijah Bennett was the boys 300m hurdles Ivy League champion with a time of 39.72 (school record).
Simmeon Blunt was the boys shot put Ivy League champion with a throw of 47-11.5 (school record). Catalina Loven was the girls high jump Ivy League champion with a jump of 5 feet.
The Liberty girls track and field team was the Ivy League champions. This is now the fourth league title in a row for the girls, said coach Andrew Ellis.
Heritage: Division 1 at Trabuco Hills High School
Samuel Chavez qualified for the shot put with a toss of 41-11. (Photo courtesy of Rich McClure)
The list of Heritage boys track qualifiers includes Samuel Chavez, who was the Inland Valley League champion in the shot put (41-11) and discus (121-08). Also qualifying were Anthony Robles (10:25,68, first in the 3200) and Javon Butler (51.44, second in the 400). The Heritage boys finished second at league finals.
The girls, who finished first in the league, will be led in the prelims by Sophia Gordon (12.76 in the 100), Makyilah Cash (27.21 in the 200), and Jade Cruz (103.01 in the 400). All three were Inland Valley League champions.
Also qualifying was the 4×100 relay team (Cash, Gordon, Kamyrah Jimenez and Tamryn Mosely) and the 4×400 relay team (Cash, Alyssa Jewett, Moriah Coggins, Cruz).
Santa Rosa Academy: Division 4 at Carpinteria High School
Santa Rosa Academy is promoting the “family” concept. (Photo courtesy of John Hernandez)
The Rangers qualified in 12 individual events and five relay races, especially significant for a program that is still developing in its early years. The list includes:
Girls 4×800 relay (Mya Sullivan, Elli-Jonelle Hernandez, Scarlett Oakley, Riley Alcantara)
Girls 4×100 relay (Blakely Chatman, Cambria Dierks, Elena Marlow, Evangeline Aitchison)
Boys 4×100 relay (Ian Taylor, Chris Ramirez, Blake Lovell, Orlando Landa-Wells)
Scarlett Oakley (1600, 800, 3200)
Brody Sather (110 hurdles)
Blakely Chatman (100)
Elena Marlow (300 hurdles)
Ben Judnick (300 hurdles)
Girls 4×400 relay (LaNijah Burris, Scarlett Oakley, Lailah Battle, Mya Sullivan)
Boys 4×400 relay (Ben Judnick, Zachary Colley, Kai Sierra, Cole Ballinger )
Taelen Thompson (ju8mp jump)
Evangeline Aitchison (triple jump)
Jayleen Mendoza (high jump)
Anthony Sullivan (shot put, discus)
Alena Gibas (discus)
“This has been such an incredible and magical season, one I’ll treasure forever,” said coach John Hsernandez. “The dedication these kids and coaches have shown since January has been truly remarkable. We set three ambitious goals at the start of the year: Grow the program, win both league championships, and send a record number of SRA Rangers to CIF. And we’ve accomplished every single one of them.
“Everything that comes next is just icing on the cake. But what matters most to me is this: I am deeply proud of my coaches and my kids! In just two short years, we’ve built something special, a program constructed with heart, sweat, and unwavering belief in one another. A program built on ‘family.’ We’re no longer the small school trying to keep up.”
