In alphabetical order.
Ashlyn Boothby Scotts Valley (Distance)
The Stanford-bound Boothby had quite a season in 2023 as she recorded bests of 2:09.03 and 10:26.12 but her true shining moment took place at the state meet as she finished in 2nd place in the 1600 with a new CCS record of 4:39.45 trailing only one of the all-time best runners in the state, Sadie Engelhardt.
Prince Buchango-Babalola Archbishop Mitty (Hurdles)
In 2023 as a freshman, Buchango-Babalola raced and hurdled nothing like an ordinary freshman by qualifying for the CCS finals in both events. In the 300 hurdles, he just missed his PR finishing in 5th in 40.51. In the 110 hurdles, he finished a more impressive 4th with a new best of 14.89.
Evan Gardner Homestead (Distance)
Unlike the previous season, the boys' 800 was a wide-open event. With many of the top 800 runners choosing the 4 x 800, enter sophomore Evan Gardner. In a few short weeks, Gardner made himself quite known in this event as he won the CCS finals and then recorded a best of 1:52.47 to qualify for the state final.
Christian Hauge Live Oak (Sprints)
The most impressive returning sprinter in the section is Live Oak senior Christian Hauge. Last season, Hauge was the surprise winner in the 100 meters at the CCS finals and just missed making the state finals as he had the 11th fastest time in the trials with a lifetime best time of 10.60. In the 200 meters, Hauge finished in 3rd place at the CCS finals, and ran a lifetime best time of 21.41 in the state meet trials which qualified him for the finals where he finished in 8th place.
Luke Lewis Serra (Throws)
Luke's dad Mike has been a throws coach at the College of San Mateo for a long time instructing some of the best throwers in this area. Luke had quite a breakthrough as a sophomore last year with bests of 57'8" in the shot put and 141'5" in the discus. Luke was the section champion in the shot put and qualified to the CIF finals in the event where he finished in 10th place.
Ellie McCuskey-Hay St. Ignatius (Sprints/Jumps)
In 2023, St. Ignatius freshman Ellie McCuskey-Hay had one of the most successful Track and Field seasons in CCS history. At the CCS finals, McCuskey-Hay won four events taking the 100, 200, 400 relay and long jump. At the state meet, McCuskey-Hay finished 2nd in the 100 meters with a lifetime best of 11.52. In the long jump, she qualified for the final and made it on the podium with a 6th place finish and 19'7.25 lifetime best.
Tatum Olesen Menlo Atherton (Distance)
Last year, Olesen was the SM Daily Journal Athlete of the Year following her accomplishments in cross country, soccer, and track and field. In track, Olesen had her best season to date recording best times of 2:09.28 and 4:47.61 (mile). She finished in 2nd place at CCS in the 800 meters and qualified to the state finals in the same event where she finished in 7th place.
Tiana Osuna Archbishop Mitty (Hurdles)
The Fresno State bound Osuna hurdled, jumped and participated on multiple relays for Archbishop Mitty in 2023. In the 100 meters hurdles, Osuna finished in 2nd place at the CCS finals and had a season best of 14.90. She finished in 4th place in the 300 meters hurdles at the CCS finals and had a season best of 44.89.
Hannah Rutherford Mountain View (Sprints)
The best 400 meters sprinter in the section continued her domination of the event during her second high school Track and Field Season. Rutherford finished 2nd at the Stanford Invitational, 4th at the Arcadia Invitational and won the CCS finals in her specialty. At the state finals, Rutherford qualified to the final and finished in 4th place recording her lifetime best time in the trials with a time of 54.55.
Aydon Stefanopoulos Los Gatos (Distance)
CCS has quite a group of junior boys currently who have definitely left their mark in both cross country and track and field. Last season, Los Gatos sophomore Aydon Stefanopoulos at the CCS finals finished in 2nd place in the 1600 meters and doubled back to take the 3200 meters title. At the state meet, Stefanopoulos was the only runner to race in both the 1600 meters and 3200 meters finals as he podiumed in both events.
Kenneth Tucker Bellarmine (Jumps)
The Bellarmine boys are always in the hunt for the section team championship with jumpers just like Kenneth Tucker. Last season, Tucker qualified to CCS in the long jump and had a best of 22'7". In the triple jumper, Tucker shined with a section title, a best of 46'3.5", and a 7th place finish at the State finals.
Sabrina Zanetto St. Francis, MV (Distance)
Over the past few seasons, the St. Francis, MV distance girls have stamped themselves among the best teams in the state. Last season, they were quite impressive in multiple relays including 3rd place finishes in the Distance Medley Relay at the Arcadia Invitational as well as the state finals in the 4 x 800 relay. Both teams were anchored by Zanetto who also won the individual 800 meters race over an impressive group of girls with a time of 2:10.35.
4 comments:
Where's Eli Fitchen-Young?
Santa Cruz HS.
Joking aside, I chose 12 athletes who stood out from last year's track and field season. Aydon was the most successful male distance runner last year based on his success at CCS and the state meet. Eli was very impressive this fall and I am pretty sure that he will be great in the upcoming track and field season.
Eli & fellow Cardinals will debut their 2024 season on February 24th at the Winter Time Trials at Pajaro Valley High.
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