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Sacramento Meet of Champions
Meet Preview

Saturday, April 29th, 2006
At Sacramento CC

Meet Preview - State and National Leaders Take the Spotlight

The 26th Annual Sacramento Meet of Champions (SMOC) looks to be one of the most outstanding editions of this annual Northern California affair. With a record 168 high school participating, this year’s competition will be highlighted by national leaders freshman Jordan Hasay of Mission College Prep (San Luis Obispo, CA) and senior David Klech from California (San Ramon, CA). Although at opposite ends of their high school careers, they both are seasoned veterans at both the state and national levels. As the weather final heats up after one of northern California’s wettest winters, these stellar athletes along with over 900 other participants hope to be “burning” up the track and field with a bevy of seasonal and personal bests.

Girls Track Events: Following in the footsteps of a long line of distinguished sprinters from Logan (Union City), senior Kristina Davis leads the entries in the 100 Meters (M) with a 2006 best of 11.63 (CA #3). Recording her seasonal best for the 100M at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational, Davis will again be facing some of northern California’s best female speedsters. Junior Charrelle Garrett (Mt. Eden, Hayward) at 11.64 (CA #4) and senior Sherina Lofton (Fairfield) with a seasonal best of 12.02 (CA #11) should challenge in the 100M. In the 200M, Garrett finished a strong second at last week’s Bay Area Top 8 Meet in recording the state’s #2 200M time with a scintillating 23.87 (US #3, CA #2). She should be challenged by Kristina Davis with a seasonal best of 24.28i (CA #5) and Benicia “super-soph” Amber Purvis with a best of 24.74 (CA #12). Amber Purvis leads a strong 400M field with the 54.79 (CA #7) she recorded in winning the Stanford Invitational. Fairfield senior Keshia Baker, second to Purvis at the Stanford Invitational in her seasonal best 55.26 (CA #8) and Logan (Union City) junior Jackie Harrison should be in the mix with her seasonal best of 56.11 (CA #13). The 100M Hurdles field should be very competitive with four of the state’s top ten hurdlers entered. Sophomore Julian Purvis (St. Elizabeth, Oakland) leads an impressive group with her 14.17 (CA #3) followed closely by junior Ke’Nyia Richardson (Holy Names, Oakland) with her 14.26 (CA #5), senior Teirra Ward (Logan, Union City) at 14.35 (CA #7), and junior Jamesha Youngblood (Hercules) (14.60 – CA #10). Youngblood leads a strong group in the 300M Hurdles with a seasonal best of 43.86 (CA #5). Seniors Teirra Ward (Logan, Union City) with a seasonal best mark of 44.09 (CA #6) and Tia Jones (Franklin, Elk Grove) at 45.59 (CA #19) should challenge for spots on the awards podium. The always-exciting “passing of the baton” will provide a fitting beginning and ending to the girls’ track events. Logan (Union City) has the leading marks in both the 400M Relay at 45.97 (US #2, CA #2) and the 1600M Relay with a 3:45.14 (US #5, CA #3). In the 400M Relay, Fairfield has raced to a quick 47.26 (CA #8) and Mt. Eden (Hayward, CA) has turned in a 48.04 (CA #10) to provide Logan with some formidable competition. Fairfield ranks second in the 1600M Relay with a swift 3:46.38 (CA #5) recorded at last week’s Bay Area Top 8 Meet with Deer Valley (Antioch) under the “four-minute” barrier with a seasonal best of 3:58.56 (CA #18).

For the first time this season, super juniors Alex Kosinski (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills, CA) and meet record holder (4:47.62) Mel Lawrence (Reno, NV) are scheduled to go toe-to-toe with freshman Jordan Hasay (Mission College Prep, San Luis Obispo) over 1,600M. Silver medalist for the third straight year at the Footlocker National Cross Country Championships, Lawrence (the Silver State’s best distance runner) appears to have regained her track legs after spending the early part of the track season preparing to represent the USA at the World Junior Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan on April 1. At last week’s West Valley-Chico Invitational she raced to a seasonal bests of 4:50.01 (1,600M) and 10:34.57 (3,200M). The smooth running Alex Kosinski (4:48.37 – US #5, CA #3) has continued her excellent running capturing the Stanford Invitational and finishing second at the Arcadia Invitational this year. While Jordan Hasay’s 1600M efforts have been in unchallenged victories, she has still recorded a 4:44.93 (US #2, CA #2). Watch out for the rapidly improving Davis junior Chelsea Reilly who captured the Woody Wilson Invitational in a seasonal best 4:58.85 with powerful last lap finish. Kosinski (all-time PR of 2:11.38 and 2:14.63 in 2006 [CA #9]) will double-back to defend her 800M SMOC title. She will be challenged by junior Ashley Hodges (Deer Valley, Antioch) who recorded a seasonal best 2:11.66 (US #5, CA #3) in winning the Mt. SAC Relays, junior Jami Hardy (Logan, Union City) at 2:13.14i, and senior Lindsey Kirschman (Enterprise, Redding) with a seasonal best of 2:14.65 (CA #10). Both Hasay and Lawrence are scheduled to double back in the 3200M where Lawrence is the defending SMOC champion. During last Fall’s harrier campaign, Jordan Hasay captured the Footlocker National Championship as a freshman and has continued her winning ways with an solo 3200M victory at the Arcadia Invitational in a meet and national freshman record of 10:07.56 (US #1, CA #1). Lawrence appears to be ready for an excellent run after victories at Mt. SAC in the 5,000M and 3,200M at the West Valley-Chico Invitational. Another factor in this race should be Buchanan (Clovis) junior Lauren Saylor who recorded a seasonal best 10:37.12 (CA #4) while finishing seventh at the Arcadia Invitational.

Girls Field Events: The field events will be highlighted by a number of high caliber horizontal and vertical jumpers. Junior Amber Purvis (Benicia) leads a strong long jump field with a seasonal best of 19' 2.00" (CA #4). She will be challenged by Hercules junior Jamesha Youngblood at 18’ 10.25” (CA #6) and Tracy Stewart (Logan, Union City) with a seasonal best of 18’ 9.75”i (CA #8). In the triple jump state leader Ke’Nyia Richardson (Holy Names, Oakland) has a best of 42’ 2.25”i and will be up against the Logan (Union City) duo of senior Tracey Stewart at 41' 3.25" (CA #3) and sophomore Brianna Stewart (38’ 10.00” – CA #8). Jamesha Youngblood should also be a factor here with a seasonal best of 38’ 8.50” (CA #9). Senior Mindy Wiley (Sonoma Valley, Sonoma) at 5' 10.00" (US #3, CA #2) will be jumping against a strong field led by up and coming juniors Susan Jackson (Napa) at 5’ 6” (CA #10t) and Nicole Williams (Laguna Creek, Elk Grove) (5’ 6” – CA #10t) who topped 5' 9.00" last year in winning the Woody Wilson Invitational. In the pole vault St. Francis' (Mt. View) Natasha Bartel topped 12’ 8” last week at the CCS Top 8 Meet and appears to be the favorite in the event. Seniors Stephanie Bagan (Granite Bay) and Taylor Franklin (St. Francis, Mt. View) have scaled 11’ 8” (CA #9t) at the Reno Pole Vault Summit in January, but have not reached that height outdoors. Seniors Tessa Fraser (Lodi), Jenna Holmes (Los Lomas, Walnut Creek), and Amandie Louie (Del Oro, Loomis) have scaled 11’ 6” outdoors (CA #12t) and could be factor in the competition. With the current SMOC record standing at 12' 9.00" set by former national record holder Kira Costa (San Joaquin Memorial; Fresno) - watch out for a possible meet record by the talented Natasha Bartel. In the throws, junior Miranda Wilson (Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland) leads the throws fields with a shot put best of 44' 6.00" (CA #3) and a best discus mark of 155' 6" (US #5, CA #2). Her competition in the shot put should come from seniors Jeanette McConnell (Saugus) at 43’ 6.75” (CA #6), Colleen Lenehan (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills) at 42' 10.00" (CA #7), and Jaleesa Jeffery (Logan, Union City, CA) with a seasonal best of 42' 1.00" (CA #10). In the discus, rapidly improving junior Lauren Guerreri (Davis, CA) at 151’ 3” (CA #4), Selai Pena (St. Francis, Mt. View) at 148' 4" (CA #6) and Jeanette McConnell (Saugus) at 145' 6" (CA #8) should provide Wilson’s major competition along with a major update of the SMOC all-time discus list.

Boys Track Events: The boy’s sprints will feature most of Northern California’s top sprinters. Defending champion and meet record holder Devin Mays (Lincoln, Stockton – 10.71 [CA #6]) returns to defend his title against a formidable group that includes junior Jahvid Best (Salesian, Richmond) at 10.65 (CA #4) and senior Cameron Island (Skyline, Oakland) with a seasonal best of 10.77 (CA #8). The 200M will have one of the meet’s strongest sprint fields with four of the state’s top five athletes. Jahvid Best leads with a seasonal best of 21.16 (US #4, CA #2) followed by Franklin (Elk Grove) junior Robert Colvin (21.78 – CA #3), defending champion and meet record holder Devin Mays ranked third at 21.85 (CA #4), and Logan (Union City) senior Pearson Crichlow at 21.90 (CA #5t). Look for a close race in the 400 M where the top four are separated by 0.10 seconds. Robert Colvin (Franklin, Elk Grove) leads with a 48.77 (CA #13) followed by senior Alex Goldberg (Lodi) at 48.82 (CA #16), Laguna Creek junior Roman Gray (48.85 – CA #17), and junior Quentin Powell (Logan, Union City) at 48.87 (CA #18). The 800M and 1,600M should be exciting as some of the nation’s top middle distance specialists are entered. Senior Scott Crawford (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills) captured the Arcadia Invitational with a huge 1:51.60 (US #2, CA #1). He should be challenged by Lower Lake’s surprising senior Mike Perez (1:52.13 – US#5, CA #4) and Benicia senior Richard Jones at 1:52.88 (CA #6). Scott Crawford (4:11.78 – US #6, CA #5) will be running the 1600 M first and should be challenging the meet record of 4:10.25 set by Livermore’s Micheil Jones in 1996. Mike Perez is the event leader off the 4:09.91 (US #4, CA 3) he recorded in defeating senior Ben Sitler (St. Francis, MV) (4:11.45 – US #5, CA #4) at last week’ Bay Area Top 8 Meet. Watch out for Franklin (Elk Grove) senior Marlon Patterson who will be focusing on the 1,600 M this evening and posted a swift 1:52.09 (US #4, CA #3) for 800M last week. In the 3200M defending champion and senior Jake Mathews is the fastest qualifier off his 9:10.95 (CA #8). Potential competition could come from Mt. Shasta senior Austin Fritzke (9:22.35 – CA #19) and Mike Perez (9:22.52 – CA #20). The 110M High Hurdles (HH) will provide the first opportunity to see UCLA-bound David Klech (California, San Ramon). Klech‘s best time this year (13.86) ranks him second in the nation, first in California, and a threat to take down the meet record of 13.88 established by Charles Ryan (McClymonds, Oakland) in 1999. Providing Klech’s major competition will be Logan (Union City) junior Ray Stewart (14.44 – CA #7) and Drew Johnston (Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach) at 14.58 (CA #9). In perhaps his best individual event, the 300M Intermediate Hurdles, Klech leads the nation with a 35.45 the fourth best time in US history. Franklin (Elk Grove) senior Alex Wilright comes into the competition with a seasonal best of 37.34 (CA #2) followed by Mira Costa’s Drew Johnston at 39.02 (CA #15). In relay action, Logan (Union City) leads in the 400M Relay with a best of 42.05 (CA #4) followed closely by Franklin (Elk Grove) at 42.13 (CA #6) and Lincoln (Stockton) with a seasonal best of 42.34 (CA #10). Logan (Union City) also heads the 1600M Relay field with a qualifying mark of 3:18.03 (CA #5) with Franklin (Elk Grove) at 3:20.06 (CA #7) and Pittsburg (3:23.56 - CA #19) rounding out the top three.

Boys Field Events: As on the girls’ side, the field events will be highlighted by a number of national caliber horizontal and vertical jumpers. Franklin (Elk Grove) senior Zuheir Sharif leads the long jump with the CA #3 mark at 23' 1.25". David Klech ranks second off his seasonal best of 23’ 0.00” (CA #5), although last year he stretched out to a personal best of 24’ 7.50”. Tulare Western’s Tevin McDowell is ranked third with a seasonal best of 22’ 5.50” (CA #13). Franklin’s Zuheir Sharif has dominated the triple jump competition this year coming in with a best of 50’ 2.00”, which exceeds the meet record of 49’ 5.00, set in 1987 by Cordova’s Joel Smith. Seniors Neelon Greenwood (Fairfield) and Tevin McDowell round out the top three with marks of 47’ 0.50’ (CA #5) and 46’ 02.50” (CA #10), respectively. In the high jump Argonaut’s Casey Ryan and San Ramon Valley’s Brandon Sheppard lead the way with bests of 6’ 8.00” (CA #7t). The pole vault should be an outstanding competition with the "aero-dynamic" duo of seniors Scott Roth (Granite Bay) at 17' 0.00" (US #2t, CA #1) and Ryan Shuler (Granite Bay) at 16' 1.00" (CA #5). Between them, these two athletes have captured the last three California state titles. Countering the Granite Bay "vault factory" will be their San Francisco Bay counterpart St. Francis (Mt. View). The Lancers with three SMOC qualifying vaulters – seniors Kyle Mills-Bunje (16’ 6.00” - CA #3) and Ben Sheehan (14’ 6.00” – CA #20t) and junior Casey Roche (16' 0.00" - CA #6) should provide a formidable challenge to the Grizzlies. San Leandro senior Sir William McKenzie leads the shot put with a mark of 57' 4.00" (CA #9) with senior David Wernick (St. Francis, MV) and junior Christopher Krychev (Monte Vista, Danville) checking in with seasonal bests of 55' 3.00" (CA #18) and 54’ 1.00”, respectively. In the discus, West Valley (Cottonwood) junior Jake Fuller has the top throw with a heave of 180’ 3” (CA #6). McClymonds’ (Oakland) junior Thomas Byrd checks in with a best of 169’ 8” (CA #15) with Rocklin senior Brennen Phipps ranked third with a seasonal best of 166’ 2” (CA #21).
Notes: National rankings were obtained from the most recent lists on DyeStat.com compiled by Jim Speir. California rankings were obtained from the most recent lists on DyeStatCal.com compiled by Mike Kennedy (girls) and Rich Gonzales (boys). Photo credits to Margaret Gallagher (Alex Kosinski, David Klech), Victah Sailer (Jordan Hasay), and Rich Gonzales (Scott Roth).