Poly's Ariyoa Augustine, Paramount's Micqwuan Wright claim CIF-SS titles

NORWALK >> For the first time since 2007, someone other than Long Beach Poly hoisted the CIF Southe Section Division 1 girls track and field championship plaque on Saturday at Cerritos College.

That honor went to Great Oak whose 49 points (mostly from the distance races where Destiny Collins doubled in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters) were more than enough for gold. The Jackrabbits claimed fifth with 36 points.

Poly’s streak of eight championships came to an end as a result of the departure of several prominent ruers who transferred to other programs, and injuries sustained this year (including a hamstring injury to Arizona-bound sprinter Maya Perkins).

Still, the Jackrabbits had a great day by just about any other program’s standards, as sophomore sprinter Ariyoa Augustine proved the team still has some young guns by wiing two championships in the sprints. Augustine’s wind-legal personal bests of 11.64 seconds in the 100 and 23.47 in the 200 qualified her for Friday’s Masters Meet at Cerritos College in both events, and were particularly impressive since only one other sophomore competed in either race.

“I’ve been working hard to get to state and I’m excited for the competition,” said Augustine, who the Poly coaches believe is the first sophomore to double in the sprints at Poly. “Hopefully I can get to state and hopefully we come back strong next year.”

The Poly girls 4x100 relay team finished third (47.25) and Zhane Smith was fifth in the long jump. The Jackrabbits did have a shot at the team title but took a major stumble in the 800, where they had the top qualifier and three ruers racing. Poly’s trio of Brenda Rosales, Melissa Tanaka, and Danielle Scott finished fifth, seventh, and ninth, respectively, to score six points.

Also in the “what could have been” department, St. John Bosco’s 4x100 relay team would have been one of the premier squads in the state this year had the Braves been able to run the quartet they’d plaed on in September. Instead, Sean McGrew (third place in the 100 at the state finals last year) withdrew from the school to enroll early at Washington, and one of the fastest sophomores in the nation, Re’Al Mitchell, has been hampered by injury.

The Braves had some missteps in the 4x100 on Saturday and finished last in the Division 3 final. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t still plenty for Braves fans to cheer about, as another pair of football players had nice finishes.

Sophomore Jaiden Woodbey was second in the Division 3 110 hurdles (14.61).

“It’s always nice to get away from football for a little bit and run,” said Woodbey.

Senior Jared Harrell finished third in the 100 (10.72).

“It’s hard not having all the guys we wanted on the relay, but at the same time everyone has to step up and work harder as a result,” he said. “Everything happens for a reason.”

Advertisement

Paramount’s Micqwuan Wright had a stellar day, claiming the CIF-SS title in the Division 1 triple jump, besting his competitors by nearly a foot with a best effort of 47 feet, 10 inches, far enough ahead of the field that he could pass his final attempt.

The Los Alamitos program overall had an excellent showing, with two top-10 team finishes (eighth for the girls and fifth for the boys), as well as qualifying five for Friday’s Masters Meet, including Jose Rubio (110 hurdles and long jump), Andrew Fowler (pole vault), Thomas Heib (400), Ashley Willingham (400), and Faimalie Sale, who took second in the shot put.

St. Joseph’s Larisa Enriquez had a day to remember. Last year she injured her hamstring during a powder puff football game and missed almost the entire track season, only coming back for league finals and CIF-SS competition, where she doubled in the sprints.

On Saturday, Enriquez ran a 12.03 in the Division 3 100 to finish fourth and then took fifth in the 200 (24.75).

“Even still, my hamstring is iffy, but it’s not to the point where I can’t run,” she said. “It’s great to go out like this, it’s my best season health and ruing wise.”

The Moore League showed well in the boys races, with Poly and defending 4x400 state champion Wilson battling it out for second in the mile relay, with Olympic qualifier Michael Norman leading Vista Murrieta to an easy win. Poly edged Wilson for second at 3:17.84 to Wilson’s 3:19.48. Poly’s Zion Bowens (who anchored the mile relay) qualified for Masters in the 400.