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CIF Division 2 Prelims

Published by
Scott Joerger   May 13th 2012, 3:51pm
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  • By Derry Eads
  • Posted May 12, 2012 at 9:24 p.m.

  •  

    To satisfy his curiosity, Roger Evans sorted through various high school track and field web sites.

     

    Was his girls team good enough to be a section championship contender, the Simi Valley High girls coach wondered?

     

    Were there rewards beyond the program's first Marmonte League title in 28 years?

     

    Qualifying athletes in events for the section finals out of Saturday's CIF-SS Division 2 Prelims at Moorpark High, the answer is affirmative.

     

    "I have known for about three weeks that we would have a chance," Evans said. "I looked at top performances in the section and began identifying Division 2 schools. It has been really exciting."

     

    At the top of Simi Valley's list of qualifiers is double-event favorite Sarah Baxter. The two-time state cross country champion had a personal-best time in the 1,600 (4 minutes, 51.16 seconds) and was the fastest qualifier in the 3,200 in 10:21.17. She was never seriously challenged in either event.

     

    Also expected to score well next week are Madisen Richards, who qualified in four events and will be one of the long jump favorites, and Amanda Hamilton in the 300 hurdles and triple jump.

     

    "We want Simi Valley to be known as an overall team," Richards said.

     

    Last fall, Simi Valley won the Division 2 girls cross country title and placed fourth at the state championship.

     

    Richards did her part, qualifying in the 100 (12.03), 200 (25.07), long jump (18-2) and as a member of the 4x100 relay (48.06). Hamilton is ranked in the top 20 in the state in her specialties.

     

    Thirty-five Ventura County athletes qualified in individual events for the section final at Mount San Antonio College.

     

    Richards was nervous.

     

    "You can have a great season," she said, "but this is the meet that determines your season."

     

    Being one of fastest freshman sprinters in the nation can only be trumped by the stuff of dreams.

     

    "It's great to know that my sophomore year is ahead of me," Westlake's Abigail Smith said. "I have a chance to run so much faster."

     

    Smith, ranked No. 2 in the state and No. 14 in the nation among all classes in the 100-meter dash, won her heat in 11.93.

     

    "The season is just beginning," said Smith, who also qualified in the 200 and as a member of Westlake's 4x100 relay.

     

    It's been rare that the first-year sprinter has been overlooked this spring. She was in the shadow of Oak Park's No. 1-state ranked Sydney Lewis at the Ventura County Championship, where Smith bettered the meet record in the 100. But since she was runner-up to Lewis, Smith's achievement didn't get the recognition it otherwise might have received.

     

    "She is quite a talent as a freshman," Westlake coach Jim Benkert said. "What makes it special is that she has a great work ethic."

     

    While the 100 is Smith's best event, Benkert believes the 200 could eventually become her specialty.

     

    "Abigail can run the curve better and finish better," Benkert said.

     

    Room to get better? Smith ranks eighth in the state at 24.49 in the event.

     

    County champion Karsen Sper of Thousand Oaks was the second-fastest in the girls 100 hurdles qualifier at 14.56. She was one of three Ventura County hurdlers to advance.

     

    Beginning a bid for a third straight state meet appearance, Thousand Oaks' Caitlin Turner won her 800 heat in 2:15.73.

     

    Joel Gonzalez of Camarillo, ranked No. 7 in the state in the boys 1,600, easily advanced with a 4:19.95. Also making the championship race was Ventura's Edwin Herrera, who ran 4:20.56.

     

    County champion Kyle Medina of Ventura won his heat in the 800 in 1:56.51 to qualify with Thousand Oaks' Tommy Lopez and Newbury Park's Kendall Esparza.

     

    Ahmed Obed of Camarillo was a double qualifier, advancing in the boys 100 (11.06) and 200 (21.81).

     

    State-ranked boys high jumper Shane Ryan was at the top of the list of qualifiers after clearing 6-4, four inches below his personal best.

     

    Newbury Park freshman Kendall Mader qualified in the girls shot put (40-4) and discus (127-8), as did Camarillo's Geraldynn Leaupepe.

     


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