Don’t let the division level fool you.
The level of athleticism that will be on display Saturday at Carpinteria’s Memorial Stadium in the CIF Division 4 Track and Field Prelims is of stratospheric proportions for high school.
Several athletes from this meet have what it takes to advance and win at the State Meet in Clovis in June. There are four state leaders in the girls competition and, in seven other events, Division 4 girls have marks in the top five.
On the boys side, four marks by D-4 athletes are among the top five in the state. In addition, one of the top football recruits in the country is competing in the meet.
“The girls meet is incredible,” meet director and Carpinteria track coach Van Latham said. “The number of top tier athletes for the smallest school division in CIF is remarkable. Though many of these athletes are from private schools, where school size isn’t as big a factor.
“Serra is obviously head and shoulders above the rest of the field in both boys and girls,” he added. “For the football fans, this is the second year in a row we have had one of USC’s top recruits at the Prelims. Last year it was Robert Woods, also from Serra.”
The nine competitors with the best marks in each field event will qualify for the finals. In the running events, each heat winner plus the next fastest time to total nine competitors advance to next week’s divisional finals in Cerritos.
The action starts at 11 a.m. with field events. The first running event (4×100 relay) begins at noon.
Here’s an impressive list of the prime-time athletes who will be showing their stuff at Carpinteria.
Starting with the girls, there’s Alexis Faulknor of Serra, the No. 1-ranked long jumper in the state at 19-6 and No. 5 in the 100 (11.91) and 200 (24.37).
La Toya Williams of Louisville: No. 1 in the 200 at 23.89; sixth in the 100 (11.92) and a state-best wind-aided 11.64.
Chimere Ezumah, a sophomore at Serra: the defending state champion in the 400 and the current state leader at 54.55.
Savannah Camacho of Templeton: No. 1 the 800 with a time of 2:08.30. She was runner-up in state last year.
Serra’s relay teams: The 4×400 is fastest in the state at 3:42.58, and the 4×100 is third (46.55).
Katherine Delaney of Orange County’s JSerra: Second in the 1600 (4:50.98) and fourth in the 800 (2:10.76).
Gianna Woodruff, St. Mary’s: fourth fastest in the 300 hurdles (43.23); finished sixth in the event at the 2010 State Meet.
Dani Alakija of Oaks Christian: No. 5 in the 400 (55.32).
Kate Barber, Louisville: Fifth in the high jump at 5-7.
St. Mary’s relay teams: Ranked third in the 4×400 (3:48.59) and fourth in the 4×100 (46.85).
Leading the boys entries is Serra’s George Farmer, USC’s No. 1 football recruit. His season-best time of 10.59 in the 100 is second best in the state. His 200 time of 21.56 is ranked ninth. He was state runner-up in the 100 last year.
Farmer’s teammate Marquise Lee is No. 2 in the long jump with a wind-aided mark of 24-0. He’s also run a 10.87 100.
Serra’s relay teams: No. 2 in the 4×400 (3:14.28), and No. 4 in the 4×100 (41.34).
Vinnie Saucer, a sophomore at Oaks Christian: A season-best of 10.87 in the 100 makes him the second fastest sophomore in the state. He’s also part of the Lions’ 4×100 relay team (42.18), which is ranked 13th in the state.
Locally, Connor Reck of Santa Ynez is among the state leaders in the 800 with a best time of 1:55.89. He’s also part of the Pirates’ 4×400 relay that has run 3:23.85.
Carpinteria athletes competing in the meet include returning CIF medalist Shelby Dunlap in the girls 100 hurdles 300 hurdles and high jump; Sally Lam in the pole vault; Travis Madden in the 800 and 4×400 relay; David Cornejo, 300 hurdles, long jump and relay; Alex Rodriguez and Aron Uribe in the relay; Andrew Hack, pole vault, and Wyatt Craddock, shot put.
