Mira Costa will play host to the Bay League track & field championships this week as numerous athletes are enjoying standout seasons.
Preliminaries take place Tuesday at 1 p.m. followed by the Bay League finals at 5 p.m. on Friday. CIF preliminary competition will be held Saturday, May 11 with the finals held the following Saturday.
In their final dual meet of the season, Mira Costa and Redondo split with the Mustangs securing a 99-37 win over their rivals while the Sea Hawks captured the girls side with a 91-45 victory.
Mira Costa’s Raphael Lawson-Gayle captured the 100 (10.78), the long jump (21-8) and triple jump (41-10) while teammate Carter Anderson won the 200 (22.91) and 400 (50.31).
Sean Griffin (14-6) and Reed Scale (14-0) continued to have impressive seasons for the Mustangs going 1-2 in the pole vault. Khalil McClain also helped Mira Costa by winning the 300 hurdles (40.67) and the high jump (6-0).
Evan Malone-White won the 800 (1:58.37) and the 1,600 (4:33.50) for Redondo’s boys team. He holds the nation’s fastest time in the 1,500 (3:54.12) set April 13 at the Pomona Pitzer Invitational.
Redondo’s 4×800 relay team of Dustin Herold, Waseem Radi, Nicholas Wells and Malone-White hold the nation’s sixth-best time at 7:47.36.
The Sea Hawk’s distance medley team of Herold, Sergio Rodriguez, Radi and Malone-White hold the top time in the state at 10:07.57.
In girls competition, Redondo’s Shelby Bassman won the 100 (12.00), the 200 (25.43) and ran on the winning 4×100 relay team.
Kayla Ferron (2:20.08), Amber Gore (2:20.46) and Cara Ulizio (2:20.81) took the top three spots in the 800. Ferron also captured the 3,200 (11:05.20) and finished second behind Ulizio (5:16.87) in the 1,600.
Anavey Hiehle won the 400 (58.64) and was a member of the 4×400 team.
Both schools took advantage of final tune-up competitions leading into the Bay League finals.
At the 55th Mt. San Antonio College Relays, Ferron captured the 800 (2:12.67) with Ulizio (2:14.07) and Gore (2:14.67) placing fifth and sixth.
Ferron (4:33.46) and Ulizio (4:35.22) also have the nation’s seventh and eight fastest times in the 1,500 with Ferron being the state leader.
The Sea Hawk’s 4×800 relay team of Hiehle, Gore, Ulizio and Ferron ran its fastest time of the season (9:06.57) which is the third best in the nation.
Redondo’s girls sprint medley team of Kristen Hamlin, Bassman, Erin South and Alexis Thibodeau (4:02.76) has the fastest time in the state.
While the second day of competition at the Mt. SAC Relays was being held, the South Bay Championships took place at West Torrance High School.
Duplicating the outcome of their dual meet earlier in the week, Redondo’s girls took top honors as did the boys from Mira Costa.
With 99 points, Redondo defeated Palisade (80) and Torrance (71) for the girls team title with win in the 4×100 relay (49.22) and in the 400 by South (58.31).
Bassman placed second in the 100 (12.46) and 200 (25.59); Hamlin placed second in the 100 hurdles (15.74) and Sarah Curran finished second in the pole vault (10-0).
Mira Costa’s Chelsea Tatum captured the girls shot put with a toss of 102 feet, 5 inches and Alison Bartak tied for first in the girls high jump at 4-10. Abby Hong placed second in 3,200 (10:56.52).
The Mustang’s dominated the boys competition scoring 101.40 points, besting Carson (86) and North Torrance (74).
Mira Costa’s Lawson-Gayle won the long jump at 22-5.5 and placed second in the triple jump (43.01) while Anderson finished second in the 400 (50.68). Niko Pappas placed second in 1600 (4:22:05) and McClain was runner-up in the 300 hurdles (40.78).
Ryan Keliher won the pole vault for Redondo with a jump of 13-0.
