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Check out the Top 50 SJ County high school track stars for the 2024 season

Shannon Mia Belt, The Stockton Record
·10 min read

Spring in San Joaquin County means primetime season for high school track and field here in the 209.

Athletes across the county have been competing all season long, setting personal records all in pursuit of qualifying for the 2024 Sac-Joaquin Section Track and Field Masters.

Throwers, runners and hurdlers have until May 17 to prepare for a shot at the Masters. Before that, they’ll have the SJS Track and Field Division Championships held between May 7-10.

With the postseason around the corner here are the Record’s picks for the Top 50 SJ County track and field athletes for the 2023-24 season. The athletes listed are just a preview of the talent in the area and include athletes from the San Joaquin Athletic Association, Southern Athletic League, Tri-City Athletic League, Trans Valley League, Valley Oak League, and Western Athletic Conference.

Edison's Shayne Harris prepares for a race during the Vikings 2023-24 track and field season.
Edison's Shayne Harris prepares for a race during the Vikings 2023-24 track and field season.

(Athletes listed in alphabetical order)

Mark Adkins, Lodi

Sophomore, Hurdler

Reason for selection: Is ranked fifth in the 110-meter hurler race in the SJS Division 1, running 15.77 seconds on March 6 at the TCAL Center Meet #1.

Kiah Aitken, Lodi

Senior, Distance runner

Reason for selection: Aitken is ranked third in the SJS and second in D1 in the 800-meter race. She ran the race in two minutes and 18.39 seconds.

Sebastian Arrizano, East Union

Senior, Shotput

Reason for selection: Threw 51 meters on April 4 at the VOL: River Island @ East Union meet putting him in third place in SJS D3.

Luke Bair, Ripon

Senior, Distance runner

Reason for selection: Bair is ranked second in the SJS D5 in the 800-meter race running it in two minutes and 0.90 seconds.

Ashonti Brown, Lincoln

Senior, Hurdler

Reason for selection: With a time of 15.08 seconds, Brown is ranked second in the SJS D1 in the 100-meter hurdles race. She set a personal record with that finish.

Members of St. Mary's high school boys' track and field team pose for a photo while showing off medals they won during a track meet in the 2023-24 season.
Members of St. Mary's high school boys' track and field team pose for a photo while showing off medals they won during a track meet in the 2023-24 season.

Asante Carter, St. Mary’s

Senior, Hurdler

Reason for selection: Typically a speedy running back for the Rams, Carter is ranked second in the SJS D1 in the 300-meter hurdler race. He ran a 40.17 on March 30 at the Delta College Mustang HS Invitational.

Syerra Cerrato, Bear Creek

Sophomore, Shot put/discus

Reason for selection: Cerrato is ranked second in SJS D2 in shot put with her best throw at 112’10 meters. She is also ranked 4th in the division in discus.

Abigail Chapman, Sierra

Senior, Hurdler

Reason for selection: At the 11th Annual Eddie Hart Invitational on March 16 Champan ran the 300-meter hurdle race in 48.37 seconds ranking her fourth in SJS D3.

Lathrop's Mackenzie Collins runs in a distance race during one of the Spartans track meets during the 2023-24 season.
Lathrop's Mackenzie Collins runs in a distance race during one of the Spartans track meets during the 2023-24 season.

Mackenzie Collins, Lathrop

Freshman, Distance runner

Reason for selection: As just a freshman, Collins is ranked fifth in SJS D4 in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter races as one of the top distance runners for the Spartans.

Edison's Ezekiel Conley jumps over a hurdle during one of the Vikings track meets during the 2023-24 season.
Edison's Ezekiel Conley jumps over a hurdle during one of the Vikings track meets during the 2023-24 season.

Ezekiel Conley, Edison

Senior, Hurdler

Reason for selection: Conley ran a 15.94 in the 110-meter hurdle race to take the fifth fastest time in SJS D2. He set the record on Feb. 24 at the Viking Invitational.

Dominic Corral, Lathrop

Senior, Discus

Reason for selection: At the 2024 Arcadia Invitational on April 6, Corral finished the met throwing for 151’4 meters to be ranked second in SJS D4.

Tamea Crear, St. Mary’s

Freshman, Runner

Reason for selection: The freshman runner is ranked second in SJS D1 in the 100-meter race and third in the 200-meter race with times of 12.50 seconds and 25.60 seconds.

Bryson Davis, Manteca

Senior, Long jump

Reason for selection: Davis is ranked third in the section and first in D3 in the long jump event. The agile senior is also ranked fourth in D3 in the triple jump event.

Kyrrahlynn Dowell, Tracy

Junior, Hurdler

Reason for selection: Dowel ran a 46.80 in the 300-meter hurdle race to earn her fifth place in the SJS and third place in D1.

Rylee Agbayani-Duenas, Ripon

Junior, Runner

Reason for selection: Shining on the track for Ripon this season is Agbayani-Duenas who is ranked second in the 200-meter race and third in the 100-meter race in D5.

Chloe Farley, Escalon

Senior, Shotput/discus

Reason for selection: Farley ended the TVL Dual: Escalon @ Livingston meet on April 10 with a 101-meter throw to take second place in SJS D5. She is also ranked second in the division in shotput.

Ripon's Devin Fitzpatrick (center) and Luke Bair (right) run in a race during one of the Indians track meets during the 2023-24 season.
Ripon's Devin Fitzpatrick (center) and Luke Bair (right) run in a race during one of the Indians track meets during the 2023-24 season.

Devin Fitzpatrick, Ripon

Senior, Distance runner

Reason for selection: The Indian's top distance runner is Fitzpatrick who is ranked second in SJS D5 in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter races. He’s ranked third in the division in the 800-meter race.

Erin Foster, Mountain House

Sophomore, Runner

Reason for selection: Foster is ranked first in SJS D4 in the 100-meter race running it in 11.07 seconds on April 3 at the Tri Meet- Pacheco vs. Mountain House vs. Beyer.

Zach Galvez, Lincoln

Senior Hurdler

Reason for selection: The senior hurdler ran the 110-meter hurdle race in 14.96 seconds the third-fastest time in SJS D1.

Osani Gayles, St. Mary’s

Freshman, Long jump

Reason for selection: Gayles has been setting records all season long for the Rams and is ranked third in the SJS and first in D1 in the long jump event with a 22’11 score.

Members of St. Mary's High School girls' track and field team pose for a photo showing off their medals from a track meet during the 2023-24 season.
Members of St. Mary's High School girls' track and field team pose for a photo showing off their medals from a track meet during the 2023-24 season.

Geianna Gonzalez, St. Mary’s

Freshman, Runner

Reason for selection: The freshman is ranked first in SJS D1 in the 100 and 200-meter races. She is also ranked third in the division in the 400-meter race.

Alyssa Gorman, Mountain House

Senior, Hurdler

Reason for selection: Gorman sits at the top of the SJS D4 as she is ranked first in the 110 and 300-meter hurdle races with times of 16.12 and 48.01 seconds.

Ripon Christian's Carson Bunnell (right) and Brady Grondz (left) sign their letter of intent to play college football at Black Hills State University and Wheaton College.
Ripon Christian's Carson Bunnell (right) and Brady Grondz (left) sign their letter of intent to play college football at Black Hills State University and Wheaton College.

Brady Grondz, Ripon Christian

Senior, Runner

Reason for selection: With a personal record time of 11.26 seconds, Grondz is ranked first in the SJS D6 in the 100-meter race. He is also ranked fifth in the division in the 200-meter race.

Shanye Harris, Edison

Senior, Runner

Reason for selection: The fastest girl runner on this list is Harris who is ranked first in the SJS in the 200-meter race. She is also .01 seconds off from first place in the section for the 100-meter race.

Stephen Holbo, Lodi

Senior, Discus

Reason for selection: Lodi’s best discus thrower is Holbo who is ranked second in the SJS D1 by throwing for 152’11 meters on March 22.

Runners from Tokay, Lodi, St. Mary's and West high schools compete in the 1600 meters during a track meet at Tokay in Lodi on Thursday, Mar. 29, 2023.
Runners from Tokay, Lodi, St. Mary's and West high schools compete in the 1600 meters during a track meet at Tokay in Lodi on Thursday, Mar. 29, 2023.

Jonathan Hupman, West

Junior, Distance runner

Reason for selection: Hupman ran the 3,200-meter race in nine minutes and 23.07 seconds on April 5 to be ranked fifth in the SJS D1.

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Lynzy Johnson, Weston Ranch

Junior, Long jump

Reason for selection: Representing Weston Ranch is Johnson who is ranked second in the long jump event in SJS D2 with a score of 17’5.5.

Genesis Mailangi, Manteca

Senior, Shot put/discus

Reason for selection: Maliangi is ranked second in shotput in the SJS D3 and is ranked third in discus in the division with scores of 121’2 and 37’0.5.

Lathrop's Gavin Miller participates in the pole vault event during one of the Spartans' track meets during the 2023-24 season.
Lathrop's Gavin Miller participates in the pole vault event during one of the Spartans' track meets during the 2023-24 season.

Gavin Miller, Lathrop

Junior, Pole vault

Reason for selection: Miller has shined in the pole vault event for the Spartans and is ranked first in the SJS D4 with a score of 14’.

Julian Moncada, Manteca

Junior, Runner

Reason for selection: The speedy junior is ranked second in the SJS D3 in the 200-meter race with a time of 22.21 seconds on March 22 at the County Clash meet.

St. Mary's High School athlete Legend Moore has signed letter of intent to run track for San Jose State during a ceremony at the school in Stockton on Apr. 17, 2024.
St. Mary's High School athlete Legend Moore has signed letter of intent to run track for San Jose State during a ceremony at the school in Stockton on Apr. 17, 2024.

Legend Moore, St. Mary’s

Senior, Long jump

Reason for selection: Moore is an elite jumper for St. Mary’s this season and is ranked fourth in SJS D1 with his bet jump score being 22’4 meters.

Abhirami Nair, Mountain House

Junior, Triple jump

Reason for selection: On Feb. 24 at the Tracy City Meet, Nair finished the triple jump event with a 36’6 meter score to be ranked first in the SJS D4.

Lincoln's Jeffrey Overgaard runs in a long distance race during one of the Trojans' track meets during the 2022-23 season.
Lincoln's Jeffrey Overgaard runs in a long distance race during one of the Trojans' track meets during the 2022-23 season.

Jeffrey Overgaard, Lincoln

Senior, Distance runner

Reason for selection: With a time of one minute and 53.55 seconds in the 800-meter race, Overgaard is ranked first in the section.

Jameelah Pharms drinks in the applause from her supporters during senior night festivities at Stagg High School before their game against Cesar Chavez high in Stockton,CA
Jameelah Pharms drinks in the applause from her supporters during senior night festivities at Stagg High School before their game against Cesar Chavez high in Stockton,CA

Jameelah Pharms, Stagg

Senior, Triple jump

Reason for selection: Typically a speedy guard in basketball, Pharms is ranked first in the SJS D2 in the triple jump event with a score of 35’1 meters.

Lodi's Kaiden Merryman, left, and West's Yosef Poblano compete in the boys varsity 100 meters during a track meet at Tokay in Lodi on Thursday, Mar. 29, 2023. Athletes from Tokay, Lodi, St. Mary's and West high schools competed in the event. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD
Lodi's Kaiden Merryman, left, and West's Yosef Poblano compete in the boys varsity 100 meters during a track meet at Tokay in Lodi on Thursday, Mar. 29, 2023. Athletes from Tokay, Lodi, St. Mary's and West high schools competed in the event. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD

Yosef Poblano, West

Junior, Runner

Reason for selection: Poblano ran the 100-meter race in 11.13 seconds on March 30 at the Stanford Invitational meet to earn him the fifth-fastest time in the SJS D1.

Keily Ramirez, Lodi

Junior, Pole vault

Reason for selection: Ranked third in the SJS D1 in pole vault is Ramirez who threw for 10’6 meters on March 22 at the County Clash meet.

Jacob Ray, Tokay

Junior, High jump

Reason for selection: Ray is representing the Tigers as their top high jumper who is ranked third in the SJS and second in D1 in the event with a 6’5 jump.

Dario Rodriguez, Manteca

Senior, Distance runner

Reason for selection: At the Lancer Invite meet on April 6, Rodriguez ran the 800-meter race in two minutes to take fifth place in the SJS D3.

Lathrop's Jacqueline Pena Santillan runs during one of the Spartans' track meets during the 2023-24 season.
Lathrop's Jacqueline Pena Santillan runs during one of the Spartans' track meets during the 2023-24 season.

Jacqueline Pena Santillan, Lathrop

Sophomore, Distance runner

Reason for selection: With a time of 13 minutes and 2.42 seconds in the 3,200-meter race, Santillan is ranked fourth in the SJS D4.

Lathrop's Adonis Siga jumps over a hurdle during one of the Spartans' track meets during the 2023-24 season.
Lathrop's Adonis Siga jumps over a hurdle during one of the Spartans' track meets during the 2023-24 season.

Adonis Siga, Lathrop

Senior, Hurdler

Reason for selection: One of the best hurdlers in the county is Siga who is ranked first in the SJS in the 300-meter hurdle race with a time of 38.35 seconds. He’s also ranked fifth in the section in the 110-meter hurdles.

Jeramiah Singleton, Stagg

Senior, Shotput

Reason for selection: In the shotput event, Singleton is ranked third in the SJS D2. He threw for 49’9 meters on March 29 at the MJC HS Invitational to earn this ranking.

Aiden Simon, St. Mary’s

Senior, Runner

Reason for selection: Simon runs the fastest 200 meters for the Rams this season with a time of 22.06 seconds putting him in third place in the section and second in the SJS D1.

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Terrell Simpson, McNair

Senior, Long jump/triple jump

Reason for selection: Representing the Eagles is Simpson who is ranked third in the SJS D2 in the triple jump event and fourth in the division for the long jump event.

Ripon's Jenna Skavdahl runs in a race during one of the Indians' track meets during the 2023-24 season.
Ripon's Jenna Skavdahl runs in a race during one of the Indians' track meets during the 2023-24 season.

Jenna Skavdahl, Ripon

Senior, Distance runner

Reason for selection: The senior runner is ranked fourth in the SJS D5 in the 800-meter race with a time of two minutes and 32.31 seconds.

Ripon's Starla Skiles jumps over a hurdle during one of the Indians' track meet during the 2023-24 season.
Ripon's Starla Skiles jumps over a hurdle during one of the Indians' track meet during the 2023-24 season.

Starla Skiles, Ripon

Junior, Runner/hurdler

Reason for selection: Skiles has shined in the 400-meter race and the hurdle races for the Indians. She is ranked first in the SJS D5 in the 110 and 300-meter race with times of 15.23 and 47.15 seconds.

Chance Smith, Kimball

Senior, Triple jump/ long jump

Reason for selection: Smith has all the hops as he is ranked third in the SJS in the triple jump event and first on the D3 level. He is also ranked third in the SJS D3 in the long jump event.

Jade Thommes, Ripon

Senior, High jump/pole vault

Reason for selection: Thommes is an elite high jumper and pole vaulter and is ranked in both events in the SJS D5. She’s ranked first in the pole vault and second in the high jump event.

Borislava Tomova, Mountain House

Sophomore, Distance runner

Reason for selection: Tomova is ranked fourth in the SJS D4 in the 800-meter race by running it in two minutes and 34.37 seconds on March 22 at the County Clash meet.

Emmanuel West, Chavez

Junior, Runner

Reason for selection: The Titans’ faster 400-meter runner is West who is ranked fifth in the SJS D2. He ran the race in 51.34 seconds on March 9 at Grant Welton “Moe” Moore Relays/Invitational.

Briyanna Word, Chavez

Junior, Runner

Reason for selection: Word holds the section’s fastest times in the 100-meter race running it in 11.74 seconds. She’s also ranked fifth in the section in the 200-meter race.

Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Top 50 SJ County high school track stars for the 2024 season