CIF State Track and Field Championships
What: Individual and team championships in 17 boys and girls events. The top nine finishers earn medals.
When: Friday and Saturday. Prelims start at 3 p.m. Friday, with finals starting at 4:30 p.m. SAturday.
Where: Veterans Stadium, Clovis
Tickets: $12 for adults, $7 for students and seniors. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time at GoFan.co. Parking is $10.
Watch online: NFHS Network
Weather: Projected highs of 103 degrees on Friday and 106 on Saturday.
Outlook: A year ago, the San Diego Section reaped a bounty of 10 championships. This year San Diego has state leaders in nine events.
Boys preview: The favorite in the 110-meter high hurdles is San Diego High freshman Jasir Fontenot, who leads the state with his San Diego Section-record time of 13.62 seconds. He has wind-aided times of 13.40 and 13.47. State No. 2 Sterling Bryant (13.81 windy) of Ramona could make it a 1-2 sweep for San Diego. In the pole vault, defending state champion Kai Anderson of University City is just 1 inch off the San Diego Section record with his best of 17-1, but Pittsburg’s Khaliq Muhammad is favored with a best of 17-2. State 800-meter leader Josiah Bowman of Sage Creek (1:50.39) is looking to break 1:50.
Girls preview: This weekend marks the last chance to see the Herbst Sisters wearing Carlsbad colors. Morgan Herbst became only the third high school girl to break 40 seconds in the 300 hurdles, setting a state and San Diego Section record of 39.95 in the section championships. Her twin sister Makenna also broke the section record and posted the No. 1 time in the nation when she ran 3:03.30 to win the 800. Headed to Arkansas, both are on the 4×400 relay team (3:46.95) that hopes to deliver the San Diego Section’s first gold medal in that event. San Diego High’s record-setting Anisa Bowen-Fontenot (13.16), Jasir Fontenot’s sister, is looking to defend her 100-meter hurdle crown and push Morgan Herbst in long hurdles. La Jolla’s Chiara Dailey is scheduled to try the difficult 1,600-3,200 double, while Eastlake’s Jaelyn Williams will try to defend her 3,200 title. Look for Paige Eschner of Del Norte to capture the pole vault, where her 13-10 leads the state by almost a foot. Canyon Crest’s Amaya Estes moved into the state Top 10 in the long jump with her 19-6 last week. She’s never broken 20 feet before.
— STEVE BRAND
