Local athletes take home a ton of titles at CIF-SS Track and field finals
The runway to a historic championship wasn’t exactly clear for Lily Shadden.
The Foothill Tech senior had spent the past year recovering from a surgery to repair the damage suffered by a dislocated kneecap. Then her high school soccer career ended suddenly when she broke an arm in the playoffs in February.
Three months later, Shadden became the first Foothill Tech athlete to win a CIF-Southern Section girls track title Saturday, winning the Division 4 girls high jump by clearing 5 feet, 2 inches.
“If you would have told me last season that I would have won CIF, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Shadden said. “Dealing with injuries, I was in a really bad place. The recovery has been a really long journey.”
Shadden, who is headed to Southern Utah University on a soccer scholarship, cleared every height on her first attempt.
“My mindset got me through,” Shadden said. “I just want to keep going. I don’t want to hang up the spikes yet.”
Shadden’s dominant performance was the first of 21 section titles for area athletes Saturday at the CIF-SS Divisional Finals at Moorpark High.
That figure included a pair of dominant doubles by distance stars Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura and Payton Godsey of Oaks Christian.
Engelhardt, just a sophomore, defended her Division 2 titles in the girls 1,600 (4:49.66) and 800 (2:08.48), before anchoring a 4x400-relay team that qualified for the CIF-SS Masters meet in 3:52.31.
“I think I went through with my plans pretty well,” Engelhardt said. “First race, I just kind of wanted to chill and then last 200 go. In the 800, I just wanted to draft off the top two. I felt pretty good going into the last lap, but I just had to restrain myself until the last 100.”
Godsey won the Division 4 title in the 1,600 in 4:55.56, before defending her title in the 3,200 in 10:29.28. But the junior was focused on the points she won in her team’s quest to regain the Division 4 team title.
“I got the points I needed,” Godsey said. “I was glad I was able to do that. … The team title is so special, in my mind.”
Returning to the top
After finishing runner-up to Gardena-Serra a year ago in both the boys and girls meets, Oaks Christian returned to the top of the team podium in both Division 4 meets.
“The coaches had a little heart to heart and said, ‘We have to make sure we coach through all the details,’ ” Oaks Christian coach Wes Smith said. “We wanted to make sure. I might have been squeezing it a little bit.”
Oaks Christian won the Division 4 boys team title with 89 points, a 34-point margin over second-place Sierra Canyon. It was the program’s eighth section title.
Oaks Christian won the Division 4 girls team title with 133 points, the highest team total of the meet and a 48-point margin over second-place Serra. It was the program’s seventh section title.
As the stadium emptied under the setting sun, the Lions took to the podium as a team for a group photo.
“Sometimes you have to lose a little bit to realize how special it is,” Smith said. “I think they were bought in. We have a lot of new kids in the program who came right to where we’re at in terms of training and mindset.”
Sophomore Chase Hansen, who missed last year’s postseason with a broken collarbone, won the boys 400 meters by running his exact personal record of 47.89.
“I pushed it pretty hard in the first 200,” Hanson said. “I was actually feeling pretty good, pushing my hardest.”
The relay team of Lexington Leffall, Isaiah Green, Davon Benjamin and Deshonne Redeaux won the boys 4x100 relay in 41.28. The relay team of Green, Aram Sarkissian, Prince Williams and Hansen won the boys 4x400 relay in 3:22.79.
The Lions showed depth. Redeaux may have finished second in the 100 meters (10.42) and 200 meters (21.32), but he only followed Serra speedster Roderick Pleasant, who won both events and broke his own state record in the 100 in 10.09.
Ethan Bergman was second in the pole vault at 14-3. Ethan Smith took third in the 1,600 in 4:20.31. Leffall was fourth in the 100 (10.64) and 200 (21.71). Sarkissian placed fourth in the 400 in 50.73. Benjamin finished fifth in the 200 in 22.00. Mateo Romero was fifth in the pole vault at 11-3. Christian Yoder placed fifth in the 3,200 in 9:43.64 and Cooper McNee was eighth in the 3,200 in 9:53.98.
Junior Niya Clayton also piled up the points for the girls team, winning the 100 in 11.56, which was the eighth-best time in the event by an area sprinter.
“My goal was to get really fast out and really pay attention to my mechanics and make sure I was lifting and putting a lot of force quickly into the ground,” Clayton said.
Clayton was also third in the 200 in 24.37, fourth in the 100 hurdles in 14.30 and anchored the 4x100 relay team, which finished second in 47.82.
“My top-end speed isn’t really the strongest, but I’ve been getting a lot stronger at it this season,” Clayton said. “I think you could see it, based off of the times I’ve been running.”
Sophomore Eleanor Borchard defended her title in the girls 300 hurdles, running a personal-record 43.76, and was sixth in the 100 hurdles in 15.33.
“It was a really great day,” Borchard said.
Freshman Rayah Rodriguez won the girls 400 in 54.41 and was second in the 200 in 24.13.
Borchard, Godsey, Danielle Irvin and Rodriguez combined to win the 4x400 relay in 3:52.28.
It was part of a total team effort for the Lions. Sophia Colebrooke finished sixth in the 300 hurdles in 47.36. Grace Geyer was third in the 1,600 in 4:59.88. Imani Clayton placed third in the high jump at 5-0 and seventh in the 100 in 12.18. Irvin was third in the long jump at 18-5.75. Delaney Napierala placed fifth in the 800 in 2:21.59 and was eighth in the 1,600 in 5:21.37. Anna Reed tied for sixth in the pole vault at 9-9. Alexandra Reierson placed sixth in the 800 in 2:22.59.
Earning the hardware
The Westlake boys team entered the final event of the meet needing a top-two finish in the 4x400 relay to earn its first sectional plaque in program history.
Then an injury forced senior KC Barber to run a relay leg moments after finishing seventh in the 3,200 meters in 9:21.16.
“Which is never the plan,” said Westlake co-coach Troy Burns. “That was a different order than we’ve run all year.”
Brandon Orlow, Barber, Ifeoluwaleyi Orekoya and Marcus Nortey won the event in 3:20.40. The event vaulted Westlake over Ventura into second place in Division 2 boys.
“We had a lot of ups and downs today,” Burns said. “Some things didn’t go right. But at the end, we needed a second in the relay to get second and they won it.”
Orekoya won the boys 400 in 48.97 to become Westlake's first section champion in the event. He also placed ninth in the 200 in 22.98.
Orlow finished fifth in the 200 (22.12), Nortey took sixth n the 400 (49.67), Adam Laycock was fourth in the discus (154-0) and fifth in the shot put (52-7.50), and Cade Sommers placed second in the pole vault (14-9) for the Warriors.
Ventura finished third in the Division 2 boys meet with 51 points and fourth in the Division 2 girls meet with 41 points.
Champions
Ventura senior Wyatt Schrader of Ventura won the won the Division 2 boys shot put at 56-6.
Ventura junior Valentina Fakrogha overcame an “off day” to capture the the Division 2 girls high jump at 5-6.
“It was kind of scary for a little bit,” Fakrogha said. “I was having an off day. My mark wasn’t working. My approach just wasn’t really working for me. But on the last attempt at 5-2, I was just like, ‘This is it. Just go for it.’ That’s when I was able to make it.”
One the edge of elimination on her fourth attempt, Camarillo sophomore Trinity Tipton responded to win the Division 1 girls discus at 138-5.
“It felt really nice,” said Tipton, who also placed eighth in the shot put (35-11). “I knew I had to push myself for the last one because I was behind. I was about to fall out.”
Shadden’s win in the high jump was the first of three Division 4 sectional titles for Foothill Tech.
Early riser Cole Dinkler, a senior, won the boys pole vault at 14-9.
“I got here around 9,” Dinkler said. “I like to get up early, get to the track and warm up early, just to get in the mindset of jumping and jumping well.”
Dinkler failed on his first attempt at 13-3.
“From then on, I knew I had to make every jump count,” Dinkler said. “No wasted jumps.”
His ultimate goal is to qualify for state next week at the Masters.
“I have cleared 15-2 before,” Dinkler said. “I’m hoping to hit that next weekend. … State is the No. 1. That’s where I want to be.”
Senior Jonah Billings won the boys 3,200 in 9:18.12.
“My dream goal was to go to low and qualify for Masters,” Billings said. “I went out on that pace. I’ve done it in workouts. I’ve done the prep. But the cards just didn’t fall my way. The last mile was really dog it out and get to the finish line. In the end, I made it work and got to the finish line. I’m super proud of what I’ve accomplished this season. I went into it knowing that today could be the last day. I’m proud of the effort that I put out.”
Pryce Edwards of Thousand Oaks won the Division 2 boys 300 hurdles in 38.05. He was the first Lancer to win a section title in the event and moved to seventh on the all-time area list. He also finished second in the 110 hurdles in 14.27.
Simi Valley won the División 2 boys 4x100 relay in 41.51 for its first sectional title in the event. Jaelon Barbarin, who finished second in the 100 in 10.45 and second in the 200 (21.41), anchored the winning relay of Thenuk Chandrasekera, Sean Brown and Logan Pollard.
"It felt good to be able to bring a win for my team," Barbarin said. "I'm getting faster every week. That’s all I can wish for myself."
Luke Sawyer of Calabasas won the Division 2 boys 800 in 1:56.13.
Top finishers
Division 1 girls
Ava Crouse of Camarillo finished second in the shot put (40-0) and fifth in the discus (124-0).
Camarillo’s Laynie Tuimaualuga took second in the discus (133-8).
Kyra Terry placed eighth in the 200 (24.95) and Ailish Hawkins was fourth in the 3,200 (10:38.65) for Newbury Park.
Division 1 boys
Jaden Washington was fifth in the discus (155-7) and Jackson Knowles placed sixth in the high jump (6-4) for Rio Mesa.
Aaron Cantu placed sixth (9:13.27) and Amav Shetty was ninth (9:42.59) in the 3,200 for Newbury Park.
Division 2 girls
Madison Thai of Thousand Oaks was second (5-4), Agoura's Paloma Kastenberg finished fifth (5-0) and Agoura’s Natalie Whittle took sixth (4-10) in the high jump.
In the 4x100 relay, Buena finished second in 48.08 and Thousand Oaks was sixth in 49.36.
In the 4x400 relay, Calabasas finished third (3:49.14), Ventura was fourth with a school-record 3:52.19 and Thousand Oaks was fifth (3:56.66).
Paige Porter of Calabasas finished fifth (12.20) and Noosha Hosseiniyar of Calabasas was seventh (12.35) in the 100.
Maddy Easter of Buena placed sixth (25.09), Porter of Calabasas was eighth (25.27) and Morgan Quinn of Thousand Oaks finished ninth (25.47) in the 200.
Zoe Ray of Calabasas was fourth (57.04), Quinn of Thousand Oaks was fifth (58.16) and Ryan Mendez of Ventura was sixth (58.74) in the 400.
Melanie True of Ventura took sixth (2:13.08), Arielle McKenzie of Calabasas finished seventh (2:14.67) and Kenna Bradley of Westlake was ninth (2:17.89) in the 800.
Charlie Updegraff of Thousand Oaks was fourth in the 300 hurdles (45.06).
Taylor Dominguez of Thousand Oaks placed fifth (10-9) and Claudia Turner of Westlake was seventh (10-9) in the pole vault.
Quincie Richards of Royal placed fourth in the triple jump (36-6.25).
Ariella Per of Westlake was seventh in shot put (36-5).
Alexandra Farfaras of Thousand Oaks was eighth in the discus (118-2).
Division 2 boys
Caleb Stuart of Buena was fourth in the 100 (10.64).
Grant Baysinger of Ventura was fourth (1:58.23) and Luciano Siracusano of Agoura placed seventh (2:00.14) in the 800.
In the 1,600, Anthony Fasthorse of Ventura finished third (4:13.37), Ventura’s Micah Grossman took fourth (4:14.18), Royal’s Noah de la Rionda placed eighth (4:24.00) and Royal’s Jonah Bazerkanian was ninth (4:25.78).
Ian Hughes of Ventura took second in the discus (165-6) and fourth in the shot put (53-0).
Ventura’s Erik MuroMurillo placed sixth in the discus (153-5) and sixth in the shot put (51-3).
Kaylon Miller of Calabasas finished seventh in the shot put (50-7).
Brown of Simi Valley was fourth (14.42) and Jeremy Frank of Thousand Oaks placed fifth (14.45) in the 110 hurdles. Frank was also fourth in the 300 hurdles (38.79).
Ellie Toumeh of Ventura finished sixth in the long jump (21-3) and ninth in the triple jump (42-7).
Antonio DiSilvestri of Ventura was sixth (13-3) and Graham LaBass of Royal finished seventh (12-9) in the pole vault.
Ventura placed ninth in the 4x100 relay (43.47).
Thousand Oaks was sixth in the 4x400 relay (3:25.95).
Division 3 girls
Kymara Brodie of Oak Park finished third in the 200 (24.43).
Ella Heathcote of Moorpark was seventh in the high jump (5-0).
Moorpark placed fourth in the 4x400 relay (4:05.09).
Division 3 boys
Victor Ezike of Moorpark took third in the high jump (6-4), fourth in the long jump (21-5) and fifth in the triple jump (43-7).
Cade Larson of Moorpark placed sixth in the shot put (49-11) and sixth in the discus (147-2).
Carson Zeedik of Moorpark was ninth in the long jump (20-0).
Alex Vincelette of Moorpark placed seventh in the 300 hurdles (42.11).
Division 4 girls
Maycie Duston of Foothill Tech was sixth in discus (107-1).
Bennett Rodman of Foothill Tech tied for sixth in pole vault (9-9) and finished eighth in the high jump (4-10).
Foothill Tech placed eighth in the 4x100 relay (4:10.49).
Division 4 boys
Diego Amezcua of Fillmore finished third in the long jump (19-11.50) and eighth in the triple jump (39-7).
Merrick Bayless of Foothill Tech was seventh in the long jump (19-2.50).
Keanan Salazar of Beacon Hill placed fourth (6-0), Jacob Lombardo of Foothill Tech was fifth (5-10) and St. Bonaventure's Andrew Driver was ninth (5-6) in the high jump.
Anthony Tafoya of Fillmore took sixth in the discus (128-5).
Daniel Kovalski of Foothill Tech was ninth in the 800 (1:59.94).
Foothill Tech was sixth in the 4x400 (3:34.46) and ninth in the 4x100 (44.54).
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Athletes take home a ton of titles at CIF-SS Track and field finals
