Grown to become one of the premier early high school meets on the West Coast, the two-day 6th annual Redondo Nike Track and Field Festival kicks off Friday featuring more than 2,500 athletes from 79 schools..
The event begins at 2 p.m. Friday with the Distance and Throws Carnival followed by Saturday’s day-long Track and Field Invitational starting at 9 a.m.
“This year we have limited the number of full track teams to allow for a larger contingent of elite individual athletes,” Redondo coach Bob Leetch said. “This years event will be the largest high school sporting event in the history of the South Bay. Many of the local premier schools will be mixed in with other nationally ranked teams from throughout the state”
Great Oak, whose boys and girls are two-time state cross country champions, will battle teams from Loyola, Bishop Amat, Golden West, seven-time state cross country champion Saugus and traditional power Redondo in the Distance Carnival.
Entering for the first time, the Palos Verdes High girls distance medley team will bypass its own meet to seek a qualifying mark for the prestigious Arcadia Relays and potentially the Penn Relays at the end of the season.
The Sea Kings are led by Jacquelyn Smith, a state finalist in 1600 meters.
Long Beach Poly, considered the premier track program in the nation, will battle perennial powers Loyola, Clovis West, Paramount, Carson, Serra, Great Oak, Chaminade, Cathedral and Redondo Union.
There will be a DJ playing music throughout the meet and during the distance races and the Nike Track Zone will offer a sneak peek at upcoming products and other booths catering to athletes of all ages and skill levels..
Top finishers at the meet receive specialized Nike medals and all winners will receive Redondo Nike Track Festival Champion backpacks. The top boy and girl team of the Distance Carnival and Throws competition along with the Saturday meet will receive special custom wood handmade team trophies.
Redondo’s track and field team is off to a fast start this season with its girls team finishing first and the boys squad placing fifth at last weekend’s Bishop Amat Relays.
Girls capturing first place included pole vaulter Kaitlin Heri (12-03), long jumper Tairyn Montgomery (17-09) and the Sea Hawk’s 4×800 relay team (9:46.65).
In boys competition, Tate Curran won the pole vault title with a mark of 15-06. The previous week at the Zamperini Relays in Torrance, Curran set a personal best and the third top mark in the state this season clearing 15-08.
Ethan Comeaux leads Redondo’s distance team competing in the relays and 800.
Redondo’s boys and girls distance medley teams also finished first at the Zamperini event and the Sea Hawk’s 1600 girls sprint medley team captured the title with a time of 4:19.07.
Other winners included Akaylah Hill in the girls long jump (16-7) and Heri, whose mark of 12-8 in the pole vault is the second best in the state this year.
Competing in the girls relays and 800, Trinity Leonard will be another Sea Hawk to watch.
Mira Costa will be looking for a strong performance this weekend as the Mustangs are led by junior standout hurdler Shante Robinson who finished second in the 300h at last year’s Nike Track Festival.
Robinson won the 100h at the Trabuco Hills Mustang Roundup on Feb, 27 with a time of 15.38. The defending Bay League champion in the 100h and 300h set personal bests last year with times of 14.31 and 42.20, respectively.
Also winning at Trabuco was Jaylah Herron who claimed the 400 title with a time of 59.03.
Admission will be $10 each day, $15 for a two day pass. Tickets for students are $5 with ID.
