Ten individuals, five relay teams reach state track finals

Ten area athletes, five relay teams to go for CIF titles

• By Derry Eads
• Posted June 1, 2012 at 10:52 p.m.

CLOVIS — Pursuit of a 26-year-old record could carry Caitlin Turner of Thousand Oaks far today in the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Buchanan High.

Turner lowered her personal best for the second time in three weeks Friday night in the girls 800 prelims with a time of 2 minutes, 10.18 seconds, which was the fifth-fastest overall.

She is tantalizingly close to Ventura County record of 2:09.62, set by Desiree Joubert of Westlake in 1986.

"I am definitely right there," Turner said. "I would love to have my name as the county record-holder. That will be a big factor in the race.

"If I can do that, I'll do well in the race."

Turner was one of 10 area individuals and five relay teams to advance to championship finals.

One of today's premier races should be the boys 4x100 relay.

Right in the middle of the fray figures to be state leader Rio Mesa and defending state champion Oaks Christian. Rio Mesa had the fastest qualifying time with a 41.14, beating sprint power Long Beach Poly. Oaks Christian was close with a 41.36.

Both were hot in an afternoon of 103-degree heat. Don't forget about Serra and Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks as possible state relay champions.

Rio Mesa posted the second-fastest qualifying time in the boys 4x400 relay in 4:15.90.

Two of Ventura County's three girls high jump entries advanced to the final.

Raegan Nizdil of Rio Mesa and Buena freshman Erinn Beattie qualified at 5 feet, 5 inches. Thousand Oaks' Angelyn Caldwell also cleared 5-5, but did not make the 12-person final because of a miss on her second attempt.

Negative thoughts entered Nizdil's mindset.

In was at this track last year that Nizdil failed to clear a height in the finals. On Friday while attempting to clear 5-7, Nizdil rolled her left ankle.

"I will ice it all night," Nizdil said. "We'll see how it goes tomorrow."

For Beattie, reaching the final is reward enough.

"I am so glad just to be here," Beattie said.

And there's the a good vibe after one near-clearance of 5-7.

"It was my best jump ever at that height. I feel really good about tomorrow," Beattie said.

Ventura County has two entries in the boys pole vault final. County record-holder Connor Stark of Oak Park and Westlake's Luigi Colella were among nine vaulters clearing 15-9.

It was only three months ago that Newbury Park freshman Kendall Mader began throwing the discus for team points,

Already the school record-holder in the event, Mader qualified for the finals with a mark of 134-9.

"The shot put was my favorite event," Mader said. "Not any more."

Just making the state final "has been a dream," said Mader, who has no huge expectations.

Oaks Christian posted the fourth-best time in the girls 4x100 prelims with a time of 47.22. The school also qualified seventh in the girls 4x400 relay in 3:51.00.

Blake Selig of Rio Mesa reached the final of the boys 100 in 10.61.

Ranked third in the state in the girls 100, Oak Park's Sydney Lewis qualified in 11.82.

"It wasn't my best race," said Lewis, who experienced tightness in a quad before the start of her heat. "My goal is to run a personal best in the final."

Lewis was the state leader for most of the season with a time of 11.63.

Pacifica's Jazzelena Black had the fifth-best qualifying mark in the girls triple jump. On her last attempt, the Ventura County record-holder jumped 39-3.

Danni Alakija of Oaks Christian was second in her heat and fifth overall in the girls 400, qualifying in 55.22.Grant Weiss of Oxnard did not advance in the boys 110 hurdles after finishing in a time of 14.68.

In one of tonight's final events, Simi Valley sophomore Sarah Baxter will be the favorite to repeat as the state girls 3,200 champion, which would give her four state titles in cross country and track halfway through her high school career.

Ten of the nation's top 30 runners at that distance are among the 31 qualifiers.

Baxter owns the top two times this spring, including a personal-best of 10:08.11, set at the Arcadia Invitational.

Her main competition is expected to come from Laura Hollander of Marina. Hollander has been close to Baxter twice — at Arcadia and Masters meets.

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/01/ten-individuals-five-relay-teams-reach-state/#ixzz1weLm8gRA 
- vcstar.com