Women's Preview

Last season had a thrilling finish that ended up in a tie for first between SCC powers Mt. SAC and ECC, who will win this time?

All Preview Photos by Dean Lofgren

Women

LA Valley had the dominant sprinting corps in the state.

100

Last season, LA Valley’s Jasmine Woods was one of the sole freshmen in the event.  However, that made little difference as she beat a sophomore laden field to home the title.  Woods would also be an important part of LA Valley’s championship 400 relay team.  Antelope Valley’s Ashley Le Grand and Cerritos’ Vernasha Poole could also be factors.

200

Last season, Shale Garland of El Camino dominated this event.  She has graduated, leaving Jasmine Woods as the favorite.  Woods placed 2^nd in last year’s event.  After Woods, Riverside’s Camille Bowen would be the next athlete to keep an eye on.

Shale Garland had a banner year for ECC last season.

400

Shale Garland also was the dominant force in this event last season.  Once again, an LA Valley athlete, Alva Castillo, will be the top returning athlete.  Riverside’s Breyonna Arnwine, could also make an impact.

Meghan Foley (right) was 2nd in last year's state meet 800.

800

Danielle Low of Trade Tech ran away from the field in 2011.  This season, OCC’s Meghan Foley, who placed 2^nd in last year’s event will be one to watch.  Bailey Henshaw of College of the Sequioas, who placed 4^th overall, is the other returning athlete from last year’s state meet.

Casey Urman of Cuesta is one of the top returners from last season.

1500

Like many of the distance events, the 1500 was a sophomore event.  There are two main athletes returning, Glendale’s Alyssa Selve, who had a fine cross country season as well as Cuesta’s Kasey Urman who placed 6^th overall.

5000

In the 5k, the power this year will rest in the deep south, as Southwestern has two very good athletes in Aylin Mejia who took 2^nd and Ayded Reyes who took 3^rd.  After that, Evonna Ramirez of Saddleback would be the top returner.

Southwestern's Reyes (left) is going to be looked at closely in the 10k.

10,000

The 10k only had 3 freshman athletes involved in 2011.  Reyes, who placed 3^rd in the 5k took 2^nd in the 10k.  After that you have to move all the way down to 11^th place, where American River’s Julie Scully is the next highest returner.

100 hurdles

Northern sprint power, Laney dominated this event in 2011.  Lauren Rose and Victoria Johnson took 1-2 and they will both be back in 2012.  Both will be back this year, giving Laney a chance at some big time points.   Mt. SAC’s Kenya Hardge could also be a factor.

400 hurdles

In 2011, the top seven finishers were all sophomores, with American River’s T’Keyah Birkley leading the way.  The only returners from last season made up numbers 6 through 9.  Modesto’s Jazveen Brar would be the top returner from last year’s state meet.  Lily Trinh of Cerritos could also be a major player.

3000 steeplechase

Cecilia Nicholas of Glendale continues the great legacy of steeplechasers to come out of GCC.  Nicole Rietveld of Moorpark could also challenge for top honors as well as  De Anza’s Kristine Talbot.

High Jump

Last season, Lydia French gave Moorpark reason to cheer as she took the blue ribbon at the State Championships.  She will return to defend her title.  Abbrieana Reyna of Shasta could make some noise as well.  Shawnta Barnes of East LA could also be one to watch.

Rachel Murphy looks to add to Cuesta's pole vault coffers

Pole Vault

Last season, Jenna Yowell of American River took top honors.  She will be moving on, however, Ferrin Peterson of Sacramento, who placed 2^nd overall, will be back.  No pole vault list would be complete without an athlete from Cuesta.  This year is no different, with Rachel Murphy returning after a fourth place finish last season.

Mt. SAC's T'Keya Gray could be a factor in the long jump.

Long Jump

Riverside’s Amber Sanford won this event last season, and will be back to defend her title this year.  So will third place finisher Ronisha Vallery of El Camino.  Mt. SAC’s T’Keya Gray who placed 4^th will also return as well as Jaci Powell of Golden West and Kemi Olonade of West LA.

Triple Jump

El Camino continued its great performances in the jumps as Rukuyah Bent-Mikail won this event in 2011.  Good news for ECC, she will be back to defend that title.  Kemi Olonade of West LA, who also did quite well in the long jump, will also be back to challenge for the blue ribbon.

Luseane Makanesi won the blue ribbon last year.

Shot Put

Fullerton star Luseane Makanesi was the dominant figure last season but she will move on this year.  However, the next four placers at last year’s state meet were freshmen, including Cassandra Kennison of San Diego Mesa, Myshauna Alexander of El Camino, Brittany Brazille of Golden West and Priscilla Gardner of Cerritos.

Priscilla Gardner continues the tradition of great throwers at Cerritos.

Discus

Last year first and second place went to freshmen, Jazmin Porter of Shasta and Priscilla Gardner of Cerritos.  There is no reason why these two could not continue to dominate this event.  Alex Ballard of San Joaquin Delta could also move in to play a role in the final results.

Hammer

Once again, Porter of Shasta should be the one to watch in this event.  Tawnya Turton of Saddleback and Bullard of San Joaquin Delta should also be looked at to continue challenge throughout the year.

Javelin

Myshauna Alexander, who did well for ECC in the shot put, is the leading returner in the javelin, having won the event last year.  Jaci Powell of Golden West could also be one of the favorites as she took 4^th overall.  Compton Ashley Waldman will also be a tough competitor.

Jaci Powell could go back to back in the heptathlon.

Heptathlon

Golden West’s Jaci Powell and Mt. SAC’s T’Keyah Gray should be looked upon to renew their rivalry in 2012 as the they went 1-2 in last year’s championships.  East LA’s Shawnta Barnes, who took fourth overall could also move into the mix.

100  

Last year, there was no one that was going to touch Cerritos’ Ameer Webb in taking the 100 meters.  However, this year, the same may be said of American River's Diondre Batson who took 2^nd overall.  He is one of only 3 freshman last year who made it to the state finals.  The only other two were Riversides Yusef Merriweather and Mt. SAC’s Corbin Whalum.

200

Again, last year, this was the sole property of Ameer Webb, who had a blistering season best of 20.33.  Again, as in the 100, Batson of American River, looks to return to take his best shot at gaining an individual 200 meter title.  The other two athletes who could be a factor are both from Mt. SAC, Davelle Sanders and Corbin Whalum.

400

Unlike the 100 and 200, the 400 was a largely freshman affair, as the top four finishers were all freshman.  Cuyamaca’s Roland Brooks stunned many, winning the state meet in a blistering time of 46.77.  In the process, he defeated the favorite coming in, Compton’s Kivon Grant.  This race could turn into a rematch of those two athletes again.  However, you would also have to factor in Riverside’s Chris Chamness, who placed 3^rd overall.

Chris Low should be the favorite once again to win the 800.

800

Last season, freshman Chris Low was the favorite to take the 800 title and he did not disappoint, winning in a solid time of 1:52.11.  After he finished, there was a slew of sophomores coming through the line.  After that, the next freshman to cross the line was Butte’s Kyle Fales, who was over 2 seconds back.

David Cardona won both the 1500 and 5000 in dominating fashion.

1500

There was little doubt last year, after the amazing performances that he turned in all year, that El Camino's David Cardona, would dominate the 1500.  With a 3:47 to his credit, there was no one even close, and Cardona went on to prove the point, as he won the race going away.  Yet, with Cardona gone, there are some favorites that should make an impact in 2012.  American River’s Matt Airola, with a 3:52 to his credit, should be an athlete to look at, as well as Riverside’s Michael Davila, who took 5^th overall.

5000

Once again, Cardona was the favorite and once again, no one was close, as the ECC athlete went on to win by nearly 30 seconds.  However, after Cardona, this was largely a freshman affair.  Daniel Herrera of Cerritos College, had a spectacular state meet and took 2^nd overall, just edging out Orange Coast’s  Patrick Douglas.  Another athlete to look at would be American River’s Garrett Seawell, who won the state cross country championship and took 4^th overall in last year’s 5k.

Daniel Herrera, Augustin Alva and Ansu Sowe should all challenge for the 5k and 10k title in 2012.

10,000

The 10k was a largely freshman dominated event, as the top 3 finishers were 1^st year athletes.  Southwestern’s Ansu Sowe won the event, and once again, as he did in the 5k, Daniel Herrera placed 2^nd overall.  LA Trade Tech’s Augustin Alva could also be a factor as he placed third overall and had a solid cross country season this year.

Elijah Mohammed of Southwestern won the 110 highs in 2011.

110 High Hurdles

Last year, Southwestern’s Elijah Mohammed controlled the field on his way to victory.  Yet, he moves on, leaving Riverside’s Joshua Hemphill as the top returning athlete.  San Diego Mesa’s Maurice Strickland could also be one to watch.

400 Hurdles

Once again, sophomores dominated the long hurdle event.  The top returning athlete would be Saddleback’s Vince Fusco who took 4^th overall.  Cerritos’ Seth George could also be another athlete that could challenge as he took 6^th overall.

Travis Nemchick made a splash in the steeplechase last season.

3000 Steeplechase

The top 4 positions went to sophomores last season with Travis Nemchick of San Bernardino Valley, taking top honors.  Southwestern’s Leonardo Banales is the top returning athlete, followed by American River’s Josh Gruver.

High Jump

Sacramento’s Darius Bell took the championship last season and will be back this year to defend his title.  Chaffey’s Aaron Hale, who took 4^th last season at the state meet, followed by Fresno’s  Michael Staab who placed 5th, could also be factors.

Pole Vault

Cuesta has long been known as a haven for vaulters and last year was no different, with Derick Hinch winning the event.  Mt. SAC, also known as a vaulters powerhouse, have the returning Michael Simms, who placed 2^nd overall, to challenge for the title again this year.

Julian Young is one of the top returners in the long jump.

Long Jump

The top 4 jumpers at last year’s state meet were sophomores.  San Diego Mesa’s Julian Young, who took 5^th is the main returner from last year in an event which should have an entirely different field of challengers than in 2011. 

Derion Taylor of ECC was the champion in last years triple jump.

Triple Jump

El Camino’s Derion Taylor took the championship last year, but has moved on.  Yet, unlike the long jump, several different high level finishers from 2011 are back, including 2^nd place Ryan Sanders of Mt. SAC.  Third place finisher, Taylor Allsup of Fresno, is also set to return.

Shot Put

Willy Irwin of Fresno won last season’s shot put and will be back in 2012.  Irwin, was the only athlete at the state championships to throw over 17 meters.  Austin Harlicker of Butte, placed third overall and should be a challenger in 2012.

Discus

While the winner of this event, Derek White of De Anza, was a sophomore,  the next 4 a spots went to athletes who will be back in 2012.  Josh Peck of Siskiyous is the top returning athlete from last year’s state meet.  Willy Irwin of Fresno, who won the shot put, should also be a factor in this event.  Aaron Tombleson of Sacramento should be watched as well.

Hammer

Remy Conatser of Saddleback, is the sole returning athlete in the top five from last year’s state meet, placing 2^nd overall.  After that, Riverside’s Lindon Voglezon, who placed 5^th, should make an impact on this year’s standings.

Adam Bianchessi let it fly in the javelin in 2011.

Javelin

Mt. SAC’s Adam Bianchessi, won the javelin in 2012.  Yet, he has graduated, leaving room for a new champion in 2012.  Siskiyous Ty Slater, who placed 2^nd is the top returner.  Lindon Voglezon of RCC, who did quite well in the hammer, should also be looked at to contribute this season.

Decathlon

The decathlon is always a tough event to predict as so much can happen during ten grueling events.  That being said, Monterey Peninsula’s Nicholas Pfeiffer, who placed third last season, will be back and should be the one to beat.  Ventura’s Tomek Czerwinski, who placed 4^th, should also be dangerous.