Over the past several years, it was Mira Costa’s boys and Redondo’s girls that dominated the South Bay Track and Field Championships. In last Saturday’s 2016 edition, it went the other way as the Mustangs won the girls’ title, while the Sea Hawks captured the boys.
Mira Costa was led by Shante Robinson who won the 110-meter high hurdles at 14.51 seconds. Teammate Emily Jones took the 800-meter run clocking two minutes and 21.57 seconds. The Lady Mustangs also had a second place finish by Jaylin Herrera in 59.33 to place behind winner Autumn Wright from Carson (58.05). The Mustangs also had a 1,600-meter title from Elizabeth Chittenden (5:08.28). That helped Mira Costa win with 92.5 points to 75.5 for second place Carson. Redondo was third with 67.
The Colts, behind four Long Beach Poly transfers, continued to prove dominant in the sprinting events. Kaelin Roberts, who has one of the United States’ best 400-meter times timing 53.47 she did two weeks earlier at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational, won the 100-meter dash in a wind-aided time of 11.57 and her teammate, Kenyla Miles, was second clocking 11.85. Both also helped Carson’s 4×100 relay team to victory in a blazing time of 46.64, nearly two seconds ahead of second place Mira Costa (48.56). Redondo was third at 49.76. Saindria Martin (46.28) and Tyjai Boyle (49.22) finished first and second, in order, in the 300 hurdles.
Palos Verdes recorded a one-two-three sweep in the 3,200 behind winner Grace Catena (11:09.24), runner-up Lauren Bourgeois (11:09.68) and third place Alexandria Regan (11:26.21). In the girls’ pole vault, it was Jacqueline Ahrens of Peninsula that won at 12-6, while Brigette Grau (Mira Costa) and Kaitlin Heri (Redondo) tied for second at 12 feet. Ahrens set the meet record with that mark. Redondo’s Akaylah Hall won the triple jump at 37-2.
In the boys’ meet, Redondo was led by junior Tate Curran who surpassed his own meet record of 15 feet he set last year with a 15-6 performance. Curran already owns one of the best heights in California at 16-5 he did a few weeks earlier at the UCLA Invitational. The Sea Hawks also had a title by Jaden Allen in the long jump with a leap of 20-9.
Another meet record was accomplished by West Torrance’s Carson Bix as he won the 800 clocking 1:55.14 to break the previous record of 1:56.93 set by Justin Sardo in 2013. Bix was able to edge Redondo’s runner-up Ryan Wadhams who was also under the meet record in 1:56.81. Carson’s Patrick Washington won the 300 intermediate hurdles timing 38.87, followed by runner-up Chance Davis from El Segundo (39.71). Washington also won the 110 highs in 14.94. Jaye Washington from North Torrance won the boys’ triple jump at 41-4.
Redondo captured the meet with 59 points to 53 for co-runner ups Mira Costa and West Torrance.
With the Sea Hawks and Mustangs winning the boys’ and girls’ titles, respectively, both also have unbeaten Bay League dual meet records. The two schools will show down for the league title at Mira Costa Thursday at 5 p.m. Last year, Redondo won both the boys’ and girls’ crowns for the second straight season. For the Lady Sea Hawks, they bring a string of five consecutive league titles to the meet.
There are other good league finals that also include West Torrance and Torrance in the Pioneer League today at 2:30 p.m. at Zamparini Field in Torrance. All will be preparing for the CIF-Southern Section and Los Angeles City Section meets that will be held throughout May, preceding the California State Championships on June 3 and 4 at Buchanan High’s Memorial Field in Clovis.
