by Doug Speck and Mike Kennedy
Girls 60 Meter Dash
A great group will battle Sarah Matthews (Colorado Flyers TC/Niwot, Colo), who has blazed 7.54 this winter for the #2 mark in the nation and leads the country in the Long Jump at 20-08.5, both marks achieved at high altitude. Ebony Collins (Teekay TC/LB Wilson), 3rd in last year's State Meet and the #3 returnee nationally in the 100m at 11.57 will hook up with the Coloradan. Khrystal Carter (South Bay Express/Valley Christian HS, SJ) the CCS runner-up at 100m and 200m champ there, who improved to 11.89 during the summer in the 100 should be strong, with fellow CCS star Jeneba Tarmoh (Cardinal TC/Mt. Pleasant HS) the 2005 National 200m leader indoors at 24.45 at altitude. DeAna Carson (Teekay TC/LB Wilson) 11.95, State Finalist Kristina Davis (James Logan TC) 12.02 (although she ran 11.86 two years ago), Kristen Holmes (So Cal Cheetahs/Claremont HS) 11.95, Samantha Tansil (Van Dyke Elite TC/Vallejo HS) 11.92 last summer, and Janice Nsor (Team of Purpose/Kennedy HS, La Palma) 12.11 give the California contingent a "zoooming sense" about them. Dynamite crew!!!
Girls 200 Meter Dash
Bianca Knight (Ridgeland, Mississippi) is one powerful lady! Last year as a frosh she was 23.06 for 200m and 52.96 for 400m, with the banked turns at Simplot probably to her liking! Knight has raced 24.46 this year for 200m on a flat track. A super crew of Californians will test her. Jeneba Tarmoh (Cardinal TC/Mt. Pleasant HS) is the National 2005 leader at 24.45, but she will have to go faster to win here. Sa'de Williams (West Coast Heat/Rancho Cucamonga HS) was 23.91/23.67w outdoors last year, with Ebony Collins (Teekay TC/LB Wilson) 24.02 close behind on the clock! CCS champ Khrystal Carter (South Bay Express/Valley Christian HS, SJ) was 24.23 last summer, with Tiana Hood (Teekay TC/LB Wilson) 25.19 last spring. Yasmin Woodruff (Quiet Fire TC/St. Mary's Academy, Inglewood) was 12.04/24.24.63 last year as a Middle Schooler in age-group action as one of the nation's top 8th grade sprinters.
Girls 400 Meter Dash
Bianca Knight (Ridgeland, Ms) 52.96 will stretch out here and meet Nicole Leach (Mach I TC/West Catholic, Philadelphia) the 2005 National leader at 53.48 indoors and the second fastest indoor runner of all-time with her 52.19 in 2004! Jeavon Benjamin (Awesome Power Track/Far Rockaway, NJ) was 54.04 outdoors last spring and Elan Hilaire (Zzyzx TC/Park School, Baltimore, Md.), who ran 54.90 outdoors as an 8th grader in 2004, help make up the front end of a dynamite event! Nicole Stone (West Coast Heat/Rancho Cucamonga HS) was 56.10 in 2005 and will lead the California charge along with Monica Young (Teekay TC/LB Wilson) 57.71 from last spring. Leah Richmond and Jasmine Minor (Speed City/LB Poly), Willa Porter (EOYDC/Holy Names HS), and all-arounder Jamesha Youngblood (Van Dyke Elite TC/Hercules HS) will hope to place high in the field.
Heidi Houle (left - John Dye) - Libby Jenke (middle - Dave Casper)
Evelyn Wing (right - Margaret Gallagher)
Girls 800 Meter Run
This contest became very hot last weekend when Heidi Houle (Bruin TC/Mountain View HS, Orem, Ut) raced 2:09.6 on an oversized indoor track to lead the nation. Libby Jenke (Heritage TC/Menlo School) has run 2:12.86 for the nation's #3 undercover time this winter and will have a race on her hands! Another runner to watch is junior Stacy Slight (Cody TC, Wy.) a two-time state champion with a best of 2:12.59 outdoors. Gabrielle Bournes (Speed City/LB Poly) 2:14.57 and Samantha Allen (Speed City/LB Poly) 2:17.71 along with Nicole Chaltry (Tracy Flyers TC/Merrill West HS) 2:16.72 will add to the front end depth from California.
Girls 1600 Meter Run
Evelyn Wing (Heritage TC/Valley Christian HS, SJ) is at 4:56.24 for 1600m and hot off a 2:11.71 outdoor 800 last weekend! Rolanda Bell (Zzyzx TC/NY/Sacred Heart, Hempstead, N.Y.)) was the National JO age 17-18 1500m champ last summer at 4:38.22, with Gabi Rios-Sotelo (St. Mary’s Panthers/St. Mary's HS, Berkeley) 4:55.49 last spring for the 1600 distance.
Girls 3200 Meter Run
Alma Escobar (Running Panthers/Corona HS) is listed as the leader among entries but is not scheduled to compete.
Women's 60 Meter Hurdles
A super group of California athletes will be challenged by the nation's 2005 best indoors, with Kira Robinson (Colorado Flyers/Mullen HS, Denver) 8.46 for the 60 meter highs distance to lead the nation this winter! Robinson was 13.86 at altitude for the 100 meter barrier distance outdoors last year in the spring, with Coach Tony Wells of the Colorado Flyers among the nation's best short sprint/hurdle coaches of all-time. A group of leading Golden State flyers will be ready to challenge. DeAna Carson (Teekay TC/LB Wilson) at 14.01, Shana Woods (Speed City TC/LB Poly) 14.05, Kimyon Broom (Quiet Fire TC/Serra HS, Gardena) 14.06, Shevell Quinley (Tracy Flyers TC/Merrill West HS) 14.30, and Meia Tezeno (Van Dyke Elite TC/Hercules HS) 14.51 all had fine 2004 spring seasons and should be raring to go at this late winter date! Super all-arounder Jenna Utrecht (Aquinas TC/St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fl) was 14.31 last spring for this event.
Relays
California clubs will be in the thick of the action in all the relay events, with some super action assured at the 4x200, 4x400, 4x800, and Sprint Medley Relay distances. Eastern teams Zzyzyx and Awesome Power will try and keep the California teams honest.
Chelsea Taylor and Coach Tony Wells (Donna Dye)
High Jump
Chelsea Taylor (Colorado Flyers TC/Montebello HS, Denver) has the nation's #2 jump indoors this winter at 5-10, and she was a 6-footer last spring outdoors! Jenna Utecht (Aquinas TC/St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fl) shows up here at 5-08 from last spring. Vashti Thomas (Cardinal TC/Mt. Pleasant HS), Monique Spencer (Speed City TC/LB Poly), and Jasmine Clark (Mustang TC/Muir HS) will try to make the awards stand in this event.
Pole Vault
12-footers K.C. Dahlgren (Missoula, Mt), Lauren Cruzan (Copper State Elite, Az), and Anya Wechsler (Sheridan TC, Wy) should battle in state favorites Annelise Bertleson (Team Idaho/Borah, Idaho Falls, Id.) and Kasie Scott (Rigby TC, Id.). No California entrants are over 10-00 thus far in their careers.
Long Jump
Very possibly the event of the meet, it will feature three dynamite leapers. Sara Matthews (Colorado Flyers TC/Niwot HS, Colo) leads the nation indoors, jumping 20-08.5 (with 1½ inch foul at 21-3½) at altitude from a mid-February meet. Brittany Daniels (Tracy Flyers TC/Merrill West HS) is second to Matthews indoors at 20-01.5 and was out to 20-07.75 outdoors last spring. Shana Woods (Speed City TC/LB Poly), the defending champion with a national indoor sophomore record of 19-11 ¾ last year, looks be ready after leaping 19-06.5 last weekend in an All-Comers affair. Last year Woods was ranked No. 1 in the world in her age-group (under 17) with her best of 20-7¾ at the State meet.
All three athletes are elite performers in a number of events. Matthews is a leading sprinter, currently #2 nationally at 60m at 7.54, Daniels is the national prep Triple Jump record holder at 44-11.75 and Woods, has best of 11.62 for 100 meters, 14.05 for 100 hurdles and 41.74 in the 300 low hurdles (not to mention the heptathlon where she is ranked No. 2 in the world in the under 17 division). What we have her are three athletes looking for a big 2005 starting right here!! WOW!!
A flock of other Golden Staters add to excellent depth here! DeAna Carson (Teekay TC/Wilson HS) 19-00.75, Kristen Holmes (So Cal Cheetahs/Claremont HS) 19-00.5 and Galina Becker (Cardinal TC/Mt. Pleasant HS) 18-11 were state finalists last June, with Shevell Quinley (Tracy Flyers TC/Merrill West HS) 19-04w. DeContee Kaye (James Logan TC/James Logan HS) was 19-03 last weekend in All-Comers action, with Ashika Charan (So Cal Cheetahs/Claremont HS) 18-08.5 last summer.
Triple Jump
National outdoor record holder Brittany Daniels (Tracy Flyers TC/Merrill West HS) at 44-11.75 will look to put the meet record out of sight (it's 41-06.25 in case you are wondering), after posting the nations leading indoors this winter at 42-10.75. The national indoor record is 43-11.5 by Juliana Yendork (Walnut, Calif) from way back in 1991, so it is hoped the facility will be in good shape! Galina Becker (Cardinal TC/Mt. Pleasant HS) was 40-05.75 two years ago in this event, with Tracey Stewart (James Logan TC/James Logan HS) 39-03.75 (40-01.5w) last year. Sophomore KeNiyia Richardson (EOYDC/Holy Names HS) has been over 39 feet in all-comers action already this winter, with DeContee Kaye (James Logan TC/James Logan HS) 39-03.75 last year. The national indoor freshman record of 39-00.50, set by Jodi Schlesinger (West Nyack, N.Y.) in 1996, could be seriously challenged by Briana Stewart (James Logan TC, Union City), who has already leaped 39-00 outdoors this year. In addition there are six more Californians over 37-00. Another very hot event!!
Shot Put
Michaela Wallerstedt (Burke HS, Omaha, Ne) leads the nation this winter at 46-06.75, with 40-footers Monica Gomez (Cardinal TC/Mt. Pleasant HS) and Jalesa Jeffrey (James Logan TC/James Logan HS) hoping for a spot on the awards stand.
Weight Event
Sarah Cardinal (Blackfoot, Idaho) heads the event with a 49-07 best from last winter. Team Kraychir (Casey and Katie), and Monica Gomez (Cardinal TC/Mt. Pleasant HS) will hope for high places on the awards stand.
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