Anderson produces national leader in record-setting run

Norco CA senior matches achievements of Baxter, Duplantis in eclipsing high school meet standards at Mt. SAC Relays; Claremont CA boys run country’s fastest time in distance medley relay, with El Toro CA girls delivering nation’s No. 2 mark

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Shae Anderson joined pole vaulters Armand “Mondo” Duplantis of Lafayette LA and Rachel Baxter of Anaheim Canyon CA in setting high school meet records Saturday at the 59th Mt. SAC Relays.

Although Baxter and Duplantis didn’t reach the rarefied air spectators were hoping to see at El Camino College’s Murdock Stadium, Anderson delivered one of the memorable performances in meet history in the girls 400 meters.

Anderson, a Norco senior, became the fifth prep athlete from California and 16th all-time in the United States to break 52 seconds, clocking a national-leading 51.99 to take down a meet standard that had stood since 1986.

Anderson, who ranks among the top seven in the country in three events, joined Union Catholic NJ senior Sydney McLaughlin as the only two high school females in history to run under 52 seconds in the 400 and under 41 seconds in the 300 hurdles.

Anderson placed second April 8 in 40.41 at the 50th Arcadia Invitational in the same race McLaughlin broke the national high school and American records by clocking 38.90.

Serra CA senior Jasmin Reed won her 200 rematch with Anderson after taking runner-up the week before at Arcadia, prevailing by a 23.59 to 23.67 margin.

Reed doubled by winning the 100 in 11.59, holding off Long Beach Poly CA junior Ariyonna Augustine in 11.67, and also led Serra to the fastest time in the seeded 4x100 relay in 46.68.

Duplantis, who set the World U-20 record April 1 at the 90th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays by clearing 19-4.25 (5.90m), broke the meet record with an 18-3 (5.56m) clearance.

Baxter built on her meet record by clearing 14 feet (4.26m) for the third time this season and nearly cleared a personal-best 14-4 (4.36m) on her second attempt. Baxter now has elevated records at the Arcadia Invitational, Mt. SAC Relays, Orange County Championships and the California state meet to 14 feet or higher.

Owen Bishop, Ryan Renken, Juan Diego Calvo and Duy-Tran Sampson ran a national-leading 10:01.90 for Claremont CA in the boys distance medley relay.

Ashley Messineo, Maliyah Medley, Taylor Slouka and Hannah Tobin of El Toro CA rallied to win the girls distance medley relay in 11:52.99, the second-fastest time in the country.

Vacaville CA senior Jurnee Woodward won the girls 100 hurdles in 13.84 and the 300 hurdles in 41.81, with Long Beach Poly CA senior Zhane Smith doubling in the long jump and triple jump with efforts of 18-5.75 (5.63m) and 39-7.25 (12.07m).

CJ Stevenson of Great Oak CA was the only male athlete to win two individual events by sweeping the long jump and triple jump  with marks of 23-2 (7.06m) and 48-4.25 (14.73m).

Rancho Verde CA senior Isaiah Cunningham won the 100 in 10.48, in addition to leading the Mustangs to victories in the 4x100 in 40.94 and the 4x400 in 3:15.15, with Rasaun House and Carlton Johnson also running on both relays.

Carson, the defending California state girls team champions, won the 4x100 in 47.22 and 4x200 in 1:37.59, with Saundria Martin running on both relays. Dana Hills CA captured the girls 4x400 relay in 3:54.06.

Rio Rico AZ senior Allie Schadler won the 800 in 2:08.56, with sophomore sister Samantha Schadler capturing the seeded section in 2:14.74.

Alexa Porpaczy of Semiahmoo Secondary in Surrey, British Columbia, cleared a personal-best 5-10 (1.77m) in the high jump to edge reigning California state champion Cassidy Palka of Oaks Christian, who cleared 5-8 (1.72m).

For the second week in a row, defending California state 110 hurdles champion Joseph Anderson of Upland held off last year’s runner-up Deion Lightfoot-Shelton of Kimball, leaning at the line by a 13.60 to 13.62 margin.

Roosevelt CA senior Anthony Easter won the 300 hurdles in 37.09 after placing third in the 110 hurdles in 14.20.

Long Beach Poly CA senior Zion Bowens prevailed in the 200 in 21.25, Thousand Oaks CA junior Miles Zoltak captured the 400 in 48.67 and Glendora CA senior Jake Lamb won the 800 in 1:53.80.

Los Alamitos CA junior Faimale Sale won the girls shot put with a mark of 45-8 (13.92m), with Fowler CA sophomore Jocelynn Budwig securing victory in the girls discus with a throw of 157-8 (48.07m).

Oak Park CA senior Robbie Otal secured victory in the boys discus with a throw of 196-1 (59.78m), Marina CA senior Kyle Tsu captured the shot put with a mark of 60-5 (18.41m) and Oxnard Pacifica CA senior Kamar Wilson won the boys high jump by clearing 6-6 (1.98m), based on fewer misses.