PREP TRACK AND FIELD: Masters meet turns into a warm-up for stars

NORWALK -- Harvard-Westlake's Cami Chapus and Amy Weissenbach, along with Simi Valley's Sarah Baxter, moved a collective step closer to defending their state titles Friday night at the Southern Section Masters track and field meet.

And they did so in convincing fashion.

The talented distance trio set themselves up for repeat performances June 2 in Clovis with impressive victories in the state qualifying meet, and they could have company atop the podium, with Notre Dame junior sprinter Khalfani Muhammad, Oak Park pole vaulter Connor Stark and Chaminade's boys' 4 x 400-meter relay team also adding victories at Cerritos College.

Weissenbach became the first female athlete in section history to win three consecutive Masters titles in the 800 meters, clocking a season-best 2 minutes, 5.55 seconds -- No. 3 nationally this season among reported marks -- to easily distance herself from a talented field that included fourth-place finisher Caitlin Turner of Thousand Oaks (2:11.95) and fifth-place qualifier Ashley Welker of West Ranch (2:13.05).

Bell Gardens' Michael Granville, the national high school record holder in the 800, is the section's only male athlete to three-peat (1994-96) in the 800 at the Masters meet.

"It's really exciting to know when you think about how many great athletes have been running in this section," Weissenbach said. "This is one of my favorite meets of the year and to be a part of that history in the record books really means a lot. When I won here two years ago, that was probably the most exciting race of my career, other than state last year."

 Chapus, who overcame severe blisters May 19 to win the Southern Section Div. III title in the 1,600 meters, felt more comfortable in winning her first Masters championship in 4:43.90.

Although a stiff headwind prevented Chapus and Weissenbach from producing faster times, they both demonstrated fitness levels that were too much for the competition to overcome.

"I was surprised with how much (energy) I had left at the end," Chapus said. "I knew I'd have two chances (at Masters and state) to run a really fast time, so why not use them both. I felt really good. I wasn't even thinking about my shoes and my feet. When I got on the line, I just blocked everything out and raced."

Chapus and Weissenbach also contributed to Harvard-Westlake taking second in the 4 x 400 (3:47.19) -- along with freshmen Shea Copeland and Imani Cook-Gist -- trailing Serra (3:46.83). Oaks Christian (3:51.11) also advanced.

Following a tough battle April 7 against Laura Hollander at the Arcadia Invitational, Baxter separated herself from the Marina senior with three laps to go in the 3,200 and repeated as Masters champion in 10:08.71.

Hollander was second in 10:17.28, with Saugus' Karis Frankian securing her third trip to state after finishing sixth in 10:31.44.

"I wanted to go out and win," Baxter said. "I felt really good during the race, better than I have felt all year. It was cool and comfortable, which was nice, but the wind did affect me a little bit. I'm excited about (state)."

Muhammad became the area's first male athlete to double in the Masters 100 and 200 meters, clocking 10.51 and 21.10. Rio Mesa's Blake Selig (10.65) and Notre Dame's Eric McDaniel (10.70) also qualified. Michael Davis became the first Glendale athlete since 1986 to qualify for the state meet, finishing third in the 200 (21.61).

Muhammad also helped Notre Dame place second in the 4 x 100 relay in 41.01, trailing Rio Mesa (40.95), with defending state champion Oaks Christian taking fourth 41.39 and Chaminade also qualifying for state prelims in 41.81.

"I really thought I had a 20-point (in the 200)," Muhammad said. "I thought I got out hard the first few steps (in the 200) and I finished the race strong, I just need to put it all together. But I've run two 21.10s, so I'm consistent with my times. I feel a big peak coming soon, so we'll have to wait and see."

Chaminade's Isaiah Bernard, Jared Dinowitz, Elijah Dunston and Terrell Newby capped the meet by winning the 4 x 400 in a state-leading 3:15.28, ahead of Southern Section Div. III champion Rio Mesa, which took third (3:16.37).

Stark led a group of three athletes to clear 15 feet, 9 inches in the pole vault to capture the title, with Westlake's Luigi Colella (15-9) taking third based on attempts. Harvard-Westlake's Ben Gaylord also qualified at 15-3.

Harvard-Westlake's Alex Florent and Rio Mesa's Raegan Nizdil both cleared 5-7 in the high jump, but Nizdil secured the title based on fewer attempts at 5-3 after they both cleared on the second attempt at 5-5. Thousand Oaks' Angelynn Caldwell also cleared 5-5 to advance.

Hart's Tim White (48-1 1/2) took second in the boys' high jump, with Desert Christian's Adam Ruggiero (22-7) advancing in the long jump.

Hart's Austin O'Neil moved on in the 1,600 (4:13.39) and Knight's Bryan Guijarro (9:06.42) qualified in the 3,200.

West Ranch's Nick Bultman (59-10 1/2) and Crespi's Amir Ali Patterson (59 feet) both moved on in the shot put.

Oak Park's Sydney Lewis advanced in the 100 (11.83), with Oaks Christian's Danni Alakija qualifying in the 400 (55.47), the 4 x 100 relay (47.24) and 4 x 400 relay.

Canyon's Tiffini Stone (18-4 1/4) advanced in the long jump, Alemany's Nia Britt qualified in the shot put (44-11) with teammate Tylnn Carter also advancing in the 400 (56.58), and Newbury Park's Kendall Mader (137-10) secured a berth in the discus.