Many of the top track and field athletes in the CIF-SS small schools divisions will be competing at the 95th Russell Cup at Carpinteria High on Saturday.
The meet annually draws competitors that are contenders for CIF titles and possibly state titles.
The boys field features Malik Cyphers of Oaks Christian, one of the top sprinters in CIF Division 4.
Other Division 4 standouts include St. Joseph’s Eli Malfo in the 800, Nipomo’s Kendrick Keszler in the triple jump, Joaquin Castellanos of St. Joseph in the pole vault and Patrick Gonzalez of Sierra Canyon in the shot put.
Sahm Bazargan of Oak Park is one of the fastest miler in Southern California and Kyle Brown of Maranatha is the defending Russell Cup champion in the 400.
Peter Ramos of Carpinteria is a leading qualifier in the discus.
Sierra Canyon’s Zoe Goss leads the list of top girls competitors in the meet. Goss is the defending CIF champion in the long jump and a state meet qualifier.
Kyra Meko of Nipomo is the No. 2-ranked girl in the Division 4 1600, while Brittany Blackwell of Oak Park is fifth in the Division 3 1600 and 3200, and is the defending Russell Cup champion in the 3200.
Alex Cerise of La Reina is the Russell Cup record holder in the 300m hurdles and the defending CIF champ.
Other standouts include 100m hurdlers Rataeja Sholes (Valley Christian), Jontelle Cabral (Oaks Christian), Asha Culhane (Oaks Christian); Sierra Emrick (Morro Bay) and Shannon McMillan (Nordhoff) in the high jump; Emrick, the No. 1 pole vaulter in Division 4 and St. Joseph throwers Devon Beebe (shot put) and Hannah Copeland (discus).
