The Ventura boys team's title leads host of local champs at CIF-SS Track and Field Finals

The wait is over.

The Ventura High boys track team put together the performance for which it had been longing, winning the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 title on Saturday at Moorpark High.

“It’s so awesome,” said Micah Grossman, who delivered two huge performances in the distance races to score for the Cougars. “We’ve always had the capability to do this in cross country and track and we haven’t quite put it together. It would meant a lot.”

Ventura won the meet with 65 points, holding off Canyon Country-Canyon (54) and Westlake (48) for its third section championship.

Grossman finished third (4:06.42) in the 1,600 meters and second in the 3,200 meters (9:01.98).

Erik MuroMurillo won the shot put title with a throw of 55 feet, 5.50 inches, and finished third in the discus (157-5).

“I’ve been chasing that since my sophomore year,” MuroMurillo said of the shot put crown. “I finally did it. It feels really good. I took a safe one in the first round and just built up with every throw.”

Anthony Fast Horse was second in both the 800 (1:54.25) and 1,600 (4:05.26).

“We’re fighting for it,” Fast Horse said after the 1,600 meters.

Luke Carnaghe was second (39.72) in the 300 hurdles, fourth (15.09) in the 110 hurdles and eighth (20-10.50) in long jump. Antonio Di Silvestri finished sixth (13-7) in the pole vault. Ventura also took seventh (3:23.10) in the 4x400 relay.

Calabasas amassed 64 points to win the Division 2 girls team title for the second time in three years.

The championship was founded on success in the relays. The Coyotes set the meet record of 46.16 seconds in the 4x100 relay and won the 4x400 relay in 3:46.46.

Zoe Ray was second (55.30) and Lahala Ray was fourth (55.62) in the 400. Marley Scoggins finished third (11.78) in the 100 and fourth in the 200 (24.27). Paige Porter took fifth (24.57) and Zoey Ray was sixth (24.73) in the 200. Malia Rainey was fourth (11.87) in the 100. Arielle McKenzie was third (2:11.91) and Arden Keeton was eighth (2:13.63) in the 800.

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

Defending state champion Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura won her third straight Division 2 girls 1,600 title in 4:46.86.

After setting the national record in the mile at the Mt. SAC relays, Engelhardt continues to use the high school postseason to work towards qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 1,500 meters.

Her goal is to peak after the state meet, during the first week of June.

“I took a week off of workouts to mental reset,” Engelhardt said. “This is my second full week that I’ve had of workouts. We’re just trying to gear up towards the week after state.”

Defending state champion Niya Clayton of Oaks Christian set a Division 3 record in the girls 100-meter dash by winning in 11.61 to repeat as champion.

“I just want to end my season with a bang,” Clayton said.

Clayton dropped the hurdles from her schedule due to a hamstring strain she suffered to her trail leg at Mt. SAC.

“I’m just trying to relax a bit because I got a little setback in one of my races,” Clayton said. “I’m just trying to get back in proper health and try to hold my title.”

Quincie Richards of Royal won the Division girls triple jump in 39-6. She is Royal's first girls track section champion since 1974 and only third in program history. She also placed third (17-10.75) in the long jump.

After finishing second at the Coastal Canyon League finals, Thenuk Chandrasekera of Royal won the Division 2 title in the boys 100 in a school-record 10.68.

“Honestly, I might have just been the pressure," said Chandrasekera. "I kept my head down lower."

It is the first section title in the event for the Highlanders. Chandrasekera was also fourth in the 300 hurdles in 40.64.

Valentina Fakrogha of Ventura repeated as the Division 2 girls high jump champion at 5-6. She was also third in 400 in 55.44.

"I've been feeling a little fatigued," said Fakrogha, who is committed to UCLA. "I was a little bit nervous. I was really just trying to focus on form and all the work I’ve been putting in.”

Trinity Tipton of Camarillo repeated as the Division 1 girls discus champion with a throw of 142-9. She tied for third in the shot put at 39-6.

Madison Thai of Thousand Oaks won the Division 3 girls high jump at 5-6.

Oaks Christian sophomore Rayah Rodriguez came from behind to win the Division 3 girls 400 in 55.96, repeating as sectional champion after debuting in Division 4 as a freshman. She also finished fourth in the 200 in 24.76.

"It really great just to be able to win again, especially because we’re in a different division," Rodriguez said. "I had to chase people down in the last 100. I gave it all I had. It was a really close race, so that was fun.”

Cade Sommers of Westlake won the Division 2 boys pole vault with a clearance of 16-1. He was also ninth in long jump (20-2.25).

Claudia Turner of Westlake tied for the Division 2 girls pole vault title by clearing 12-1.

Royal won its first section boys 4x100 title, running 41.86 to win the Division 2 title.

Oaks Christian won the Division 3 girls 4x100 relay in 46.77. The Lions also placed fifth in the girls 4x400 relay in 4:01.46.

DIVISION 1

Rio Mesa’s Jackson Knowles finished fourth in the boys high jump (6-4).

Hueneme’s J.R. Lesher placed seventh in the boys 3,200 (9:12.27).

For Oxnard, Mikayla Oliver placed ninth in the girls long jump (16-11), Luis Aguilera was ninth in boys shot put (46-7), and the 4x100 girls relay team took seventh (48.78).

DIVISION 2

For the Ventura girls team, Tiffany Sax was second in the 3,200 (10:40.96) and fifth in 1,600 (4:51.46). Aelo Curtis took third in the 1,600 (4:50.21) and ninth in the 3,200 (11:07.20). Isabella Di Silvestri was ninth in the pole vault (10-7). The Cougars placed third in the 4x400 relay in 3:52.63, the second-fastest time in school history.

For Royal, Olivia Kirk set school records in the girls 100 and 200 while taking second in both events. Kirk finished in 11.68 in the 100 and 23.86 in the 200. Her 200 time is the sixth-best in county history. Sean Sandwick was eighth in the boys shot put (47-0). Preston Binns finished fifth in the boys 200 (21.98). Asher Lee placed sixth in the boys 800 (1:55.41). Graham LaBass was fifth in the boys pole vault (13-7). Ava Hermanson took sixth in the girls pole vault (10-7). The Highlanders were fifth in the girls 4x100 relay (48.29), eighth in the girls 4x400 relay (4:02.82), and ninth in the boys 4x400 relay (3:34.29).

For Westlake, Ylian Ostojic placed third in the boys 400 (48.33) and was fourth in the 200 (21.80). Ife Orekoya was sixth in the boys 400 (49.06) and eighth in the 200 (22.42). Lawson Grace finished fourth in the boys shot put (48-8.50). Jai Bell was fifth in the boys 300 hurdles (41.00). Dante Deshautelle was seventh in the high jump (6-4). The Warriors were second in boys 4x100 relay (41.93), fifth in the boys 4x400 relay (3:22.00), and eighth in the girls 4x100 relay (49.76).

For Newbury Park, Amav Shetty finished fourth in the boys 3,200 (9:05.29). Micah Dickran was eighth in the boys 800 (1:56.45). Abigail Pace placed second in the girls 100 hurdles (a school-record 14.88) and eighth in the 300 hurdles (46.94). Olivia Healy was ninth in the girls high jump (4-8). Kaia Duben was fifth in the girls pole vault (a school-record 11-1). Sophia Grant finished eighth in the girls 1,600 (4:58.89).

For Moorpark, Caitlyn Dougherty was fifth in the both the girls 100 hurdles (15.65) and 300 hurdles (45.30). Davis Benson took second in the boys high jump (6-6).

For Simi Valley, Abigail Degnan placed seventh in girls shot put (34-10.50) and Avery Estelle was seventh in the girls discus (109-2).

For the Calabasas boys team, Kingston Celifie placed third in the 200 (21.68) and fifth in the 100 (10.79). The Coyotes finished third in the 4x400 relay (3:20.95).

DIVISION 3

For Buena, Maddie Easter took second in the girls 100 (11.86) and second in the 200 (24.21). Taylor Murphy was ninth in the girls 200 (12.63). Grant Molina was seventh in boys high jump (6-0). Maxwell Daniel was ninth in the boys 300 hurdles (42.65). The Bulldogs finished third in girls 4x100 relay (48.05).

For Thousand Oaks, Morgan Quinn of Thousand Oaks was third in the girls 400 (56.59). Jordyn Brown placed sixth in the girls long jump (17-2.25). Cassidy Kajita (11:15.40) and Maggie De la Rionda (11:26.83) were sixth and seventh in the girls 3,200. Taya Frodis and Taylor Dominguez placed fifth and sixth in the girls pole vault as both cleared 11-7. Kaelyn Walsh finished ninth in the girls high jump (5-0). Liam Papavasiliou placed fifth in the boys 1,600 (4:16.01). Andrew Simon-Lacombe was sixth in the boys long jump (20-8). Powell Williams finished seventh in the boys triple jump (42-3.75). The Lancers placed ninth in the boys 4x400 relay (3:31.03).

For Oaks Christian, Grace Geyer took fourth in the girls 1,600 (4:59.18) and fifth in the 3,200 (11:03.17). Sophia Colebrooke was fifth in the girls 100 hurdles (15.58). Kyra Terry was fifth in the girls 100 (12.12) and fifth in the 200 (24.95). Imani Clayton took eighth in the girls 100 (12.31). Delaney Napierala was eighth in the girls 3,200 (5:10.97). Cooper McNee (9:14.57) and Christian Yoder (9:16.91) placed fifth and sixth in the boys 3,200. Prince Williams was fifth in the boys 300 hurdles (40.29). Pierce Brittain (13-7) was fifth, Greyson Westmore (13-1) took sixth and Mateo Romero (12-7) finished eighth in the boys pole vault.

For Agoura, Darrick Jacob was eighth in the boys 800 (1:56.01) and Sarah Najibi was ninth in the girls 200 (25.54).

Fillmore’s Anthony Tafoya finished sixth in the boys discus (142-06).

Santa Paula’s Lissett Magana finished ninth in the girls 400 (60.51).

DIVISION 4

St. Bonaventure’s Christian Diaz finished second in the boys 100 (10.70).

For Foothill Tech, Merric Bayless was third in the boys long jump (20-1.50). Conor White placed fifth in the boys 1,600 (4:24.30). Chance Leandro was sixth in the boys 3,200 (9:52.24). Cody Bondy took sixth in boys discus (129-8). Elijah Spencer finished fifth in the boys shot put (45-2.25). Viggo Bortolin (2:00.16) and Braeden Elliott (2:00.43) were fifth and sixth in the boys 800. Bennett Rodman placed second in the girls high jump final (5-2). The Dragons finished third in the boys 4x400 relay (3:28.55).

For Nordhoff, Eva Sobenes was sixth in the girls pole vault (10-1) and Crystal Ramirez placed sixth in the girls 800 (2:29.13). Corbyn Mitrany took fifth in the boys 200 (22.41) and Ryker Blake was ninth in the boys pole vault (8-7).

Santa Clara’s Makaio Thompson finished fifth in the boys 100 (10.97) and sixth in the 200 (school-record 22.44).

La Reina’s Sadie Harbour was seventh in the girls high jump (4-10).

Thacher’s Arinze Okigbo was seventh in the boys 100 (11.08) and Taylor Gudebski placed eighth in the girls 1,600 (5:28.75).

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura team's title leads host of local champs at CIF-SS track finals