Punxsutawney Phil signaled that Spring will come late this year, but Speed has shown up early this year. The Sprints at this years VS Winter Championships are loaded and more than full. The marks were made tougher and still more sprinters hit qualifying marks this year than ever before.
In the Boys 150m there were two qualifiers running faster than the Championship record set by Max Thomas of Servite three years ago. Double State Champion Junior Brandon Arrington ran 15.67 to qualify while Senior Jack Stadlman ran 15.79. But keep an eye on the other top 5 qualifiers: Prince Babalola-Buchango, Benjamin Harris and Justin Hart. Arrington also has the top mark in the 60m (6.86) and Stadlman who was a CIF-SS Finalist last season leads the field in the 300m (33.47).
Its no different on the Girls side of the sprints too. Junior Christina Gray is the top qualifier in both the 60m (7.45) and the 150m (17.64). Gray is a CIF-LA Champion and State finalist. Junior Rayah Rodriguez (7.59), Senior Kaitlyn Williams (7.60) and Freshman Maliyah Collins (7.61) are close behind at the 150m distance. Collins also ranks #6 in both the 150m and 300m.
Collins isn’t the only 9th grader getting off to a quick start. Azra Gercek is the number two qualifier in the 600m behind State Finalist senior Anne Elise Packard (1:33.80 and 1:34.79).
The jumpers are in late-season form early, too. CIF-SS Champ Jillene Wetteland has the top mark in the high jump at 5 feet 9 inches and State Meet Finalist Lelani Laruelle qualified with a leap over 5’ 8”. Starting the season right where he left off last season at the Masters meet, Sophomore Davis Benson qualified, jumping 6’ 8”.
Cameron Smith and Nic Alexis both qualified for the triple jump leaping over 47 feet. With Smith going 47’7.5” and Alexis 47’2”, both are eyeing the record of 48’9” set back in 2020.
State Meet Finalist Megan Crum comes into the Championship with an impressive 4:39.01 in the 1500m and the number two time in the 3200m just behind Junior Charlotte Hopkins (10:03.40 and 10:04.60).
Junior Dylan Yarbrough has already surpassed his lifetime best with his qualifying mark of 16’1” in the pole vault. Senior Joseph Sbuttoni who qualified for the State meet last season equaled his personal best qualifying at 15’6”. Vet Le also vaulting a PR with a clearance of 15’5”, just three inches away from the school record.
The Northern California boys lead the way into the weight throw again. Seniors Joseph Garcia, Zane Commins and Junior Matthew LaMarca come in with tosses of 64’4”, 59’11 and 58’11 respectively.
Rain is in the forecast throughout the State for the week but the weather outlook looks to clear for Saturday's VS Winter Championship, leaving the sky as the limit for everyone.
