Dai Sugano/Mercury News
One of the top middle-distance runners in CSS
history, Ben Sitler of St. Francis, will be a conender in the 3,200 at
the state meet. "Beng injured last season was a driving force for me
this season," he says.
The days when Central Coast Section athletes stood in awe of the competition at the state track and field championships appear to be over.
Talent in the CCS, particularly among girls, is as strong as any other region in the state. Last year, four girls captured state titles, the most in section history. This year, at the meet Friday and Saturday at Cerritos College in Norwalk, there is a chance to equal or exceed that number.
To get an idea of the ability that would require, consider that California is the only state that does not break its championship meet into enrollment divisions. The best of California's 1,393 schools are thrown into one pool, and only the exceptional emerge as winners.
``The California state meet is no joke,'' Mt. Pleasant Coach Steve Nelson said. ``The marks are better than some national championships.''
There have been 15 state girls champions from the CCS since 1999, and any of the following could add to that list:
• Tori Anthony, Castilleja: The junior has broken the section pole vault record three times this season, and her best of 13 feet, 4 inches is highest in the state. There are two other 13-footers in the field -- 2005 state runner-up Tori Pe�a of Edison-Huntington Beach and Newport Harbor's Allison Stokke (2005 best of 13-5 3/4) -- but Anthony beat both at the Arcadia Invitational and the Mt. SAC Relays.
``Those meets gave me a little bit of confidence,'' said Anthony, who was fourth in the state last year. ``But it really depends on the meet and what happens that day. It's probably going to take a first-attempt clearance at 13-0, or a 13-5, to win.''
• Natasha Barthel, St. Francis: The junior pole vaulter has finally been rounding into form after breaking her foot at Raging Waters in September, causing her to miss several months of training. Her best is 12-10, but she has been on the verge of 13 feet in recent meets. If Barthel clears that height in Saturday's final, she should be in the running to become the section's first state champion in the event.
• Khrystal Carter, Valley Christian: Carter, who will run at Texas A&M next season, will face virtually the same field in the 200 meters that she beat last year. Though she enters the meet with only the sixth-best time (24.07 seconds, indoors), that might be misleading. Coach Greg Marshall said Carter did not stress 200 training until late in the season, and he expects her times to drop.
A third-place finisher in the 100 last year, Carter has the fourth-best time in that field (11.60 seconds), but there are many who figure to be in the mix.
• Mia Lattanzi, Palo Alto: The rebuilding of Stanford Stadium may have contributed to the sophomore's emergence in the 800. After winning the CCS title in the 400 last year, she credited the team's brutal bleacher runs there for giving her the strength to pull it off. With the stadium torn down last fall, Palo Alto lost a valuable training site, and Lattanzi said it may have affected her speed in the 400. Without her fast times of a year ago in that event, the decision was made to drop it in favor of the 800. Lattanzi's time of 2 minutes, 9.65 seconds at the CCS finals leads the state.
• Renisha Robinson, Archbishop Mitty: The junior scolded herself for allowing Lattanzi to set the pace at CCS and was unable to switch gears for a final burst, finishing second in 2:11.22.
``I'm used to going out hard,'' she said. ``I should keep it that way.''
In what usually is a tactical race, Robinson could set herself apart by using the style that worked for her at the Arcadia Invitational, where she led wire to wire.
• Jeneba Tarmoh, Mt. Pleasant: Since a string of impressive indoor victories against top competition in February and March, the junior has stamped herself as one of the most exciting sprinters in the state. Her CCS sweep over Carter, including a wind-aided 11.39 in the 100 that was a section record for all conditions, only added to the stir.
``I think the others are looking at me very hesitantly,'' said Tarmoh, who was third in the 200 last year. ``A lot of people know I have a really good start. They know it's going to be a good race.''
Among state contenders for the boys:
• Ben Sitler, St. Francis: Last year, Sitler finished 18th in the 3,200 meters after hurting his knee before the CCS finals. He is healthy and confident heading into this weekend.
One of the top middle-distance runners in CCS history, Sitler ran a season-best time at Arcadia (8 minutes, 53.47 seconds). The time is third-best in the state this season, behind those of 2005 champion Michael Cybulski of Royal High School-Simi Valley (8:52.24) and A.J. Acosta of El Camino-Oceanside (8:51.30).
Sitler, who won the 1,600 and 3,200 races at the CCS finals, will run only the 3,200, which does not have a preliminary heat. Acosta is set to run both races, meaning three grueling runs over two days.
Sitler trained by running more 800 races to sharpen his kick in the 3,200.
``Being injured last year was a driving force for me this season,'' Sitler said. ``Now I want to make the most of my last chance to mix it up at the state meet.''
• Casey Roche, St. Francis: Roche is pumped up about the pole vault competition. The junior won his first CCS title by clearing 16 feet, 2 inches. His personal best is 16-7.
Two-time defending state champion Scott Roth (17-5) and his Granite Bay teammate Ryan Shuler (17-4), who prevailed as a freshman, make this perhaps the toughest field in state history.
• Kyle Mills-Bunje, St. Francis: He no-heighted in the pole vault at the CCS qualifying meet, but Mills-Bunje could medal in the long jump. The senior had the two best jumps of his career (a wind-aided 23 feet, 6 1/4 inches, and a wind-legal 23-4) at the CCS meet. A groin injury hurt his performance at state last year, but now he is in top shape.
``The goal is to have a good time, clear 23 feet and set a personal best,'' Mills-Bunje said.
Sport: Track and field.
Events: Sprints. Class: Junior.
Accomplishment: Tarmoh established herself as the fastest female in the Central Coast Section with wins in the 100- and 200-meter finals Friday at San Jose City College. The junior outdueled rival Krystal Carter of Valley Christian in both events as well as the 4x100 relay, where the two faced each other in the second leg. Mt. Pleasant took first in the relay with a CCS- and meet-record time of 46.55 seconds, bettering Archbishop Mitty's 1999 mark of 46.84. Tarmoh edged Carter by .04 seconds in the 100 with a wind-aided time of 11.39 that set a section record for all conditions. In the wind-aided 200, Tarmoh jumped out to an early lead that Carter -- last year's state champion -- was unable to erase. Tarmoh's time (23.47) was fourth-best in the country under all conditions, and she beat Carter by .28 seconds. ``If either of those races had gone the other way, it would have changed the whole meet,'' Mt. Pleasant Coach Steve Nelson said. The Cardinals had six individual victories and earned their fifth team title in seven years.