By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
The chase is on and the records are starting to fall.
Covina High School’s Remontay McClain took care of business at the CIF-Southern Section track and field championships at Cerritos College on Saturday, keeping his hopes alive of winning back-to-back state titles in the 100 and 200-meters by setting a Division 3 meet record in both events.
Although he was admittedly slow out of the block, McClain set a Division 3 record in the 100 meters, winning in 10.31 to break the 1998 meet record (10.36) set by Alemany’s Miguel Fletcher, while also running the second fastest 100 in the nation this season.
Just getting warmed up, McClain returned later and gave the crowd a show, coasting to victory in the 200 in 20.68, breaking the 1998 mark also set by Fletcher in 20.95, while also posting the fastest 200 in the country this season.
Next up is Friday’s Masters Meet and the State championship in Fresno that follows. (To continue click thread).
“I don’t really think there’s pressure,” McClain said of his back-to-back bid. “I’m going out and having fun. I don’t weigh the pressure over my head, I’m just trying to run as fast as I can each time out.”
McClain’s 10.31 in the 100 tied Canyon Springs’ Bryan Howard for California’s fifth fastest all-time mark. McClain not only has his sights set on doubling, he is chasing Henry Thomas’ all-time California record of 10.25, which he set for Hawthorne in 1985.
“It’s a goal,” McClain said. “If I get out of the blocks, who knows?”
McClain’s main rival in the 100 meters, West Covina’s Beejay Lee, scratched in the Division 1 final after leaving the blocks early. He left the track disgusted, refusing to talk.
Lee returned later and finished a disappointing second in the 200 meters in 21.11, losing to A.B. Miller’s Devonte Stewart, who won in 20.89.
Even so, Lee advanced to Friday’s Masters, where he will square off against McClain in what should be a highly anticipated 200 meter race.
Bishop Amat’s Kylie Price and San Dimas’ Katherine Salcido, both going to UCLA, collected hardware.
Price won the Division 3 100 meters in 11.81 and picked up a second victory in the 200 in 24.21, while also picking up second-place medals in the long jump and 400-meter relay.
Price’s 100 meter title was her third straight and she won the 200 for the first time. Last year she won the long jump title.
“It was a great way to finish, and it’s something that could go in the history books at my school, so I’m proud,” Price said. “The 200 was really gratifying, that was my personal best and my last race here (in CIF), so it was a good way to go out.”
Price will compete in the 100, 200 and long jump at Friday’s
Masters Meet.
Salcido breezed to victory in the Division 3 girls 100 hurdles in 14.09, her first CIF individual title and good enough to qualify for Friday’s Masters with the fourth-fastest overall mark. Northview’s Sharese West rallied for third in 15.27
San Lun Obispo’s Abrianna Torres outdueled Price and Salcido in the Division 3 long jump, Torres winning with a leap of 19-11 1/2. Price was second at 19-6 3/4 and Salicdo third (18-8). St.Lucy’s Sarah Barnum was sixth (17-5 1/2). Barnum also was fourth in the triple jump with a leap of 37-00, and Salcido finished seventh in the high jump with a leap of 5-02.
Diamond Ranch senior Marquise Cherry took care of the competition in the Division 3 boys long jump, winning with a leap of 22-07 3/4, which qualifies for Masters.
In the 400 meter relays, the San Dimas girls team of Taylor
Jackson, Yamani Wallace, Shannon McKee and Salcido finished second in
Division 3 in (48.03), holding off a late charge from Bishop Amat
anchor Price, who took the baton in sixth and sped to third overall in
48.08. Inglewood won in 47.25.
Agoura’s Jonathan Cabral set the Division 3 meet record in the
boys 110 hurdles in 13.54, but second was Bonita’s Toure McCully in
14.55, which was good enough to qualify for the eighth and final spot
at Masters.
In the girls’ 300 hurdles, St. Lucy’s Megan Chenoweth was
fifth in the Division 3 final in 45.29 and Rowland’s Ericka Johnson
was fifth in Division 2 in 45.61.
Rowland’s Nick Rivera was fourth in the Division 2 boys 1,600
meters (4:16.32) with Glendora senior Anthony Castro, normally a
factor, fading to eighth in 4:38. Rivera later finished fifth in the
800 meters in 1:55.42.
Damien’s Patrick Mullen barely missed a medal in the Division 2
400 meters, finishing fourth in 49.24
Bishop Amat’s Franceline Almanza was sixth in the girls discus
with a throw of 113-01. Diamond Bar’s Julian Ambrosine was seventh
overall in the Division 1 boys discus in 153-04
Arroyo’s Ivy Nunez was fifth in the girls discus with a throw
of 124-10, good enough to advance to Masters.
St. Lucy’s Marissa Horton was sixth in the Division 3 800
meters, finishing in 2:18.48.
In the Division 3 girls shot put, Northview’s Cassie Ramirez
was eighth (35-10). Bonita’s Marissa Scott was ninth in the Division 3
girls 1,600 (5:13.61).
fred.robledo@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2161
