LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Poly and Wilson track and field teams had strong showings Thursday in the Moore League Finals at Wilson High.
Poly and Wilson dominated the sprints, mid-distance, relays and field events, combining to win 25 of the 32 track and field events.
The Wilson girls team is aiming to win a third consecutive CIF State title.
“We have the talent to (repeat),” Wilson coach Shannon Fisher said. “Now whether they’ll execute from week to week, as coaches we have to make sure that they’re properly trained and that they’re focused going into CIF.”
“From this point it’s just give us another week,” Fisher continued. “That’s the whole motto. It’s not about winning. It’s about getting another week all the way to the state championship, and then it’s give me another day and if you get to the finals then I’m done coaching. They have to go out there and want it.”
Meanwhile, Poly coach Crystal Irving believes her boys squad has what it takes to win a second consecutive CIF State title.
“I just feel that they need to run to their capability,” Irving said. “They need to continue to stay mentally strong, spiritually strong and just go out there and compete and not doubt themselves. Know that they’re just as good as anyone else and it doesn’t matter what someone did last week, it matters what you do today and when they step to the line, step to the line with confidence and go out there and handle their business.”
Wilson was led by senior Kaylin Edwards, who won the 100 hurdles in 13.79 seconds and 300 hurdles in 41 seconds flat. The Arkansas signee’s 100 hurdles time is a personal best time, the No. 1 time in the CIF-SS and the No. 2 time California this season.
“The confidence is really high,” Edwards said. “Long Beach Wilson has a high name, a high legacy so our coaches instill it in us to make sure that we live up to that.”
Edwards also anchored Wilson’s 4×400 relay to victory in 3:47.71. The race came down to the final 250 meters, and Poly finished second in 3:50.43.
Poly junior sprinter Brooklyn Lee defended her Moore League crown in the 100 and won in a personal best time of 11.69.
“I’m so happy,” Lee said. “I’ve been wanting this so bad. The fact that I got it (Thursday), it just gave me so much more confidence because I’ve been stuck at 11.8, so it’s up from here.”
Lee, who finished fifth in the 200 in 24.75, also anchored Poly’s 4×100 relay to a winning time of 47.15. Wilson was second in 47.68.
The Moore League’s fastest girl said winning the 100 gives her humble confidence before the CIF Southern Section Division 1 prelims, which will be held at Trabuco Hills High on May 10.
“Running for Poly it’s a very amazing thing,” Lee said. “It gives you a lot of push to do better, reach really good times, so it’s definitely a push and I love it. I’m incredibly grateful to be running with all these amazing people from Moore League and my team.”
The Moore League finals saw dozens of area athletes qualify for the CIF-SS prelims and move closer to their personal and team goal’s of winning CIF-SS and CIF State titles.
The Bruins had five athletes run faster than 15.33 in the 100 hurdles and qualify for CIF-SS prelims.
Lakewood’s Amaya Rice won the 200 in 24.12, which was the only girls track event out of 10 races that was not won by Wilson or Poly.
Poly senior Jaylin Hunter won the 400 in 56.26. The 400 had five Moore League athletes run faster than 57.67, which is the CIF-SS prelims at-large standard time. Hunter finished second in the 200 in 24.38.
Wilson sophomore Shirayah Lewis Williams won the 800 in 2:14.98.
Wilson junior Nadia Mejia won the 1,600 in 5:04.68 and the 3,200 in 10:59.09.
Wilson senior Loren Webster, the defending CIF state champion in the long jump, won the league title with a jump of 18 feet and 3 inches. Webster, who signed with Oregon, finished second in the triple jump.
Cabrillo’s Lauren Farr won the shot put (36 feet, 1 inch) and the discus (98-11).
Poly sophomore sprinter Julius Johnson won the 100 in 10.52 and the 200 in 21.44.
“I’m really looking forward to CIF,” said Johnson, who helped the Jackrabbits cruise to victory in 4×100 relay in 41.18. “It’s competition with my boys, just like practice.”
Poly junior Malachi Dawson was second in the 100 (10.52) and 200 (21.60).
Poly junior Noah Smith won the 400 in 47.35. Smith anchored the Jackrabbits 4×400 relay to victory in 3:13.82, holding off Wilson’s time of 3:13.87.
Wilson junior Wyland Obando, who finished second in 800 at last year’s CIF State Meet, won his signature event in 1:52.41. Wilson’s Jordan Kincherlow (1:54.42) and Cash Obando (1:55.03), finished second and third, respectively.
Millikan senior Maximiliano Ramirez won the 1,600 in 4:31.77 and 3,200 in 9:47.90.
Poly junior Lynnox Newton won the 110 hurdles in 14.15 and the 300 hurdles in 39.42.
Poly senior Jonathan Weston won the long jump (22-5) and the triple jump (42-7).
The CIF-SS Finals will be held at Moorpark High on May 17 and the Masters Meet will be at Moorpark on May 24.
The CIF State Championships will take place on May 30-31 at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
BOYS RESULTS
First-place finishers
(All race distances in meters)
4×100 relay: Long Beach Poly, 41.18
4×400 relay: Long Beach Poly, 3:13.82
100: Julius Johnson, Long Beach Poly, 10.52
200: Julius Johnson, Long Beach Poly, 21.44
400: Noah Smith, Long Beach Poly, 47.35
800: Wyland Obando, Wilson, 1:52.41
1,600: Maximiliano Ramirez, Millikan, 4:31.77
3,200: Maximiliano Ramirez, Millikan, 9:47.90
110 hurdles: Lynnox Newton, Long Beach Poly, 14.15
300 hurdles: Lynnox Newton, Long Beach Poly, 39.42
Long jump: Jonathan Weston, Long Beach Poly, 22-5
Triple jump: Jonathan Weston, Long Beach Poly, 42-7
Shot put: Cesar Gomez, Millikan, 45-10
Discus: Jaden Akens, Long Beach Poly, 152-7
High jump: Marqice Simmons, Lakewood, 5-11
Pole vault: Roan Alexander, Long Beach Poly, 11-0
GIRLS RESULTS
First-place finishers
(All race distances in meters)
4×100 relay: Long Beach Poly, 47.15
4×400 relay: Wilson, 3:47.71
100: Brooklyn Lee, Long Beach Poly, 11.69
200: Amaya Rice, Lakewood, 24.12
400: Jaylin Hunter, Long Beach Poly, 56.26
800: Shirayah Lewis Williams, Wilson, 2:14.98
1,600: Nadia Mejia, Wilson, 5:04.68
3,200: Nadia Mejia, Wilson, 10:59.09
100 hurdles: Kaylin Edwards, Wilson, 13.79
300 hurdles: Kaylin Edwards, Wilson, 41.00
Long jump: Loren Webster, Wilson, 18-3
Triple jump: Journii Spencer, Wilson, 37-6.50
Shot put: Lauren Farr, Cabrillo, 36-1
Discus: Lauren Farr, Cabrillo, 98-11
High jump: Jillene Wetteland, Long Beach Poly, 5-8
Pole vault (tie): Gabrielle Cason, Long Beach Poly, 9-6, Hannah Turnoff, Wilson, 9-6
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