Davis increases haul to nine career section titles

Rancho Verde and Servite boys, along with Westlake girls celebrate first CIF Southern Section team titles; Mission Viejo secures first boys championship since 1998

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Whether it was a Tiffany necklace for her 18th birthday present, a helicopter ride from Long Beach to Santa Barbara and her senior prom or winning the long jump, triple jump and 100-meter hurdles, good things came in groups of three Saturday for Agoura star Tara Davis.

It was fitting for an athlete who won three CIF Southern Section Division 2 titles for the third consecutive year, increasing her career total to nine individual championships, trailing only former Thousand Oaks and Rio Mesa standout Marion Jones (1990-93), who won 10 titles in her career.

Aside from the post-meet activities, the highlight at Cerritos College was Davis’ showcase in the long jump, producing a wind-aided leap in the third round of 22 feet, 3.75 inches (6.80m), a state record and No. 2 all-time prep performance under all conditions in U.S. history.

Only the 22-5 (6.83m) by future Georgia teammate Kate Hall at the 2015 New Balance Nationals Outdoor remains in front of Davis in her pursuit of both national high school indoor and outdoor records.

Americans Brittney Reese and Quanesha Burks are the only two long jumpers in the world this year with better marks under all conditions than Davis, who also won the triple jump with a mark of 39-11 (12.16m) into a -6.3 headwind and prevailed in the 100 hurdles in 13.59 seconds running into a -2.7 headwind.

Jones had equaled the No. 2 performance in U.S. prep history at the division prelims May 13 by running a wind-aided 12.89, trailing only the national high school record 12.84 by Tia Jones of George Walton Comprehensive GA set at last year’s USATF Junior Outdoor Championships in Clovis.

Three was also a significant number for the Santa Margarita girls team, but perhaps more so was 112 points, the most accumulated by any of the eight team champions Saturday and a Division 3 scoring record, regardless of gender, surpassing the 90-point effort of San Luis Obispo in 2009.

Calabasas, despite winning both relays in 46.02 and 3:48.02 along with De’Anna Nowling, Janiah Brown and Kyla Robinson-Hubbard combining to win four individual events, took runner-up for the second year in a row with 82 points.

Santa Margarita, which scored in 13 events including victories from Kate Thomas (12-9) in the pole vault and Liana Edgar (5-5) in the high jump, became the first Division 3 girls program to win three in a row since Muir 2003-05 and became the eighth girls team to surpass 100 points at the section championship meet.

Oaks Christian produced its third sweep of Division 4 team titles in four years, with the girls overcoming the loss of Oregon-bound Lauren Rain Williams because of a hamstring injury to capture their fourth consecutive title with a 64-51 victory over Serra, the last team to win four in a row in the division from 2009-12.

Cassidy Palka cleared 5-5 to become the first female high jumper to win four consecutive years since former Costa Mesa standout Sharon Day-Monroe achieved the feat in Division 3 from 2000-03. Carolyn Wilson added a title in the 400 (54.93) and anchored the Lions’ victorious 4x400 relay (3:49.81).

The Lions became the fourth boys program in section history to eclipse the 100-point barrier at the finals, cruising to a 107.5-56 win over Cerritos Valley Christian to secure back-to-back championships and their fourth in 12 years.

Dallas Holliday won the shot put (50-7.50) for Oaks Christian, which swept both relays in 41.39 and 3:20.20, and scored in 13 events.

After having its run of eight consecutive Division 1 girls championships halted last year by Great Oak, Long Beach Poly – despite not having either relay qualify for the finals – still managed to win its 20th section title overall with a 56-50 victory over the Wolfpack.

Zhane Smith won the triple jump (38-4.75) and Ariyonna Augustine prevailed in the 100 (11.70) for the Jackrabbits.

Rancho Verde won its first Division 1 boys title with an 84-61 victory over defending champion Great Oak, which received 800 (1:55.10) and 1,600 (4:14.47) wins from Solomon Fountain, along with a triple jump victory from C.J. Stevenson (48-3.25).

Isaiah Cunningham won the 100 (10.51) and 200 (21.22) for the Mustangs, who received a victory in the long jump from Bryan Thompson (24-3.50) and swept both relays in 40.41 and 3:12.17.

Mission Viejo captured its first boys title since 1998, prevailing in Division 2 with a 64-47 victory over Redlands East Valley. Garrett Rexford won the 800 (1:55.52) and Quinn Williams secured the 300 hurdles (39.32) for the Diablos, who won the 4x100 relay in 41.61.

Servite secured its first Division 3 boys title with a 59-48 victory over Notre Dame, denying the Knights a third consecutive championship. Kyle Sandoval won the 110 hurdles (14.69) for the Friars.

Westlake also captured its first Division 2 girls championship with a 56-42 victory over Mira Costa, which was runner-up in Division 1 last season.

Jenna Mencarelli won the 200 (24.38) and led off the victorious 4x400 relay (3:51.39) for the Warriors.

Malibu sophomore Claudia Lane doubled in the Division 4 1,600 and 3,200 in 4:51.27 and 10:19.97, with Bishop Amat senior Trinity Ruelas sweeping the Division 3 titles in 4:59.0 and 10:39.0.

San Luis Obispo senior Callum Bolger won both Division 3 boys championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 in 4:15.45 and 9:12.49.

Upland senior Joseph Anderson captured Division 1 boys titles in the 110 hurdles (13.85) and 300 hurdles (36.36). Crossroads senior Donovan Spearman swept the 100 (10.45) and 200 (21.38) in Division 4.

Serra’s Jasmin Reed won the Division 4 girls 100 (11.90), 200 (24.47) and 4x100 relay (47.29), with Muir’s Micah Fulton capturing division crowns in the 100 hurdles (14.78), long jump (18-1.50) and triple jump (38-10.50). Louisville’s Alladia Patterson swept the shot put (43-1.75) and discus (130-6) in the division.

Rancho Cucamonga’s Jalyn Harris captured the Division 1 girls 200 (23.47) and 4x100 relay (46.95), along with taking second in the 400 (54.91). Los Osos senior Ashley Anumba swept the Division 1 shot put (46-5.75) and discus throw (161-6).

Norco senior Shae Anderson secured Division 2 crowns in the 400 (53.43) and 300 hurdles (42.77), with Thousand Oaks junior Miles Zoltak doubling in the Division 2 boys 200 (22.06) and 400 (47.73).

San Marcos senior Erica Schroeder won her fourth 800 title, the past two in Division 2, by clocking 2:14.42. Claremont teammates Owen Bishop and Ryan Renken split the 1,600 and 3,200 in Division 2, with Bishop clocking 4:13.98 in the 1,600 and Renken prevailing in the 3,200 in 9:19.65.