PREP TRACK & FIELD
ATHLETES TO WATCH
Boys returning state qualifiers:
100: Jalil Tucker, Lincoln, 10.80.
200: Aiden Lippert, La Costa Canyon, 21.70; Kafui Douet, Orange Glen, 21.73.
400: Eric Parker, Helix, 47.91; Aiden Lippert, La Costa Canyon, 48.31.
800: Drake Prince, CV High Tech, 1:53.22.
3,200: Caleb Niednagel, La Costa Canyon, 9:01.76.
110HH: Jarel Sayles, Steele Canyon, 14.63.
300IH: Levi Knobloch, Granite Hills, 39.28.
Pole vault: Zach Volpe, San Marcos, 15-9; Garrett Brown, La Costa Canyon, 16-0.
Long jump: Ramahn Yokley, El Capitan, 22-113⁄4; Deandre Smith, Central, 22-103⁄4.
Triple jump: John Gibbs, Oceanside, 47-43⁄4; Richard Harriswilliams, Granite Hills, 46-41
Discus: Joshua Boamah, Scripps Ranch, 162-1; Cesar Salazar, Sweetwater, 157-8.
Girls returning state qualifiers:
100: Aysha Shaheed, Madison, 11.71; Jaymie Ruskovich, Scripps Ranch, 11.98; Kalah Bateman, Eastlake, 12.09.
200: Aysha Shaheed, Madison, 24.21; Jaymie Ruskovich, Scripps Ranch, 24.30; Elizabeth Hatton, Sage Creek, 24.74. 400: Katriina Wright, University City, 53.93; Madeline Cramer, Bishop’s, 55.60; Alyssa Bean, Poway, 56.16.
800: Alaina Zamorano, Christian, 2:15.00.
1,600: Jacey Farmer, Rancho Bernardo, 4:52.75; Bella Longo, Mission Vista, 4:55.94.
3,200: Carlie Dorostkar, Canyon Crest, 10:26.15; Skyler Wallace, Sage Creek, 10:33.10.
100H: Charlize James, San Diego, 14.81; Emelliah Vaught, Steele Canyon, 14.97.
300H: Madilyn Mayo, Grossmont, 44.32.
4x100r: Scripps Ranch, 46.51.
4x400r: Scripps Ranch, 3:50.63.
High jump: Cheyenne Roberts, Westview, 5-6; Cailey Beaudoin, Westview, 5-4; Lilly Vaal, Imperial, 5-4.
Pole vault: Ashley Callahan, Rancho Bernardo, 13-6; Katerina Adamiec, Poway, 13-0; 10. Maya Grudman, Sage Creek, 12-6. Long jump: Elise Miller, San Pasqual, 18-101
Triple jump: Elise Miller, San Pasqual, 40-23⁄4; Kalani Hardyway, Oceanside, 39-01
Shot put: Brandy Atuatasi, West Hills, 45-11 San Diego, 41-91
Discus: Miranda Nichols, Christian, 130-4; Natalia Hiatt, Rancho Buena Vista, 126-7.
Kaylah Mcnairy,
SEASON STORYLINES
State champs: A record seven state champions were crowned a year ago and 23⁄4 of them return. In addition to RB pole vaulter Ashley Callahan, University City’s Katriina Wright, now a junior, impressively captured the 400 in 54.17. The Scripps Ranch’s girls 4x100 relay team loses only Brianna Sproles, meaning junior Jaymie Ruskovich, senior Aubree Bell and sophomore Aaliyah Mccormick return.
Distance double? Can the San Diego Section make it back-toback girls state champions at 3,200 meters? Canyon Crest’s Carlie Dorostkar is certainly expected to be in the mix after a sensational cross country season that saw her post the best overall time at the state championships and the highest California finish (6th) at the Nike Nationals. Dorostkar is hoping to equal the 2019 gold medal run by La Costa Canyon’s Kristin Fahy, who set a section record 10:11.38.
Voice from above: Though Don Jones has stepped down as the head track coach at Rancho Bernardo, he will still be a presence as he is one of the state’s top announcers, so expect to hear him at meets like the Bronco Invitational, Sundevil Invitational, Arcadia Invitational and the section prelims and masters meets.
Already soaring: La Costa Canyon’s Garrett Brown, now a junior, soared 16 feet last year and got off to a blazing start in 2020 by clearing 16-2 at the National Pole Vault Summit in Reno. Brown also won the Simplot Games indoor meet in Idaho, clearing 15-13⁄4 and won the California Winter Championships at Arcadia, topping 15-8.
All-around talent: One of the top all-around returning athletes is San Pasqual’s Elise Miller, who finished third in the state triple jump with a best of 40-23⁄4 and ninth in the long jump at 18-101⁄2. She also runs both hurdle events and the relays.
Top speed: Madison’s Kenan Christon, who swept the state 100 and 200 for the first time by a San Diegan since 1977, has moved on to USC, where he is expected to run track. But there are still some speedsters to watch this year. Jalil Tucker, who has transferred from St. Augustine to Lincoln, turned heads at the state championships, where he ran a wind-legal 10.80. On the girls side, another Madison Warhawk, Aysha Shaheed, placed fourth in the 100 and sixth in the 200 at state. Her times of 11.71 and 24.21 are among the state’s best returning this year.
Big future: Keep an eye on West Hills junior Brandy Atuatasi. Her best of 45-11 in the shot put is No. 6 all-time and clearly within range of the section record of 48-31 by Mount Miguel’s Laulauga Tausaga in 2015. Tausaga is now one of America’s premier discus throwers and one of the favorites to make the U.S. Olympic team this summer.
Top meets: The Meb Keflezighi Invitational hosted by San Diego High has moved to the first week of the invitational season — Saturday. It’s the same day now as the traditional opening Mt. Carmel Field-distance meet. The section’s biggest invitational, featuring local and top out-of-town teams, the Sundevil Invitational at Mt. Carmel, will be held March 28. The Arcadia Invitational is April 11 and the Mt. SAC Invitational returns to the recently rebuilt Mt. SAC campus on April 18.