Junior runs a pair of state-leading efforts, contributes to a third in the 4x400 relay for Broncos in tuneup for Arcadia Invitational; Fowler, Godbehere, Johnson, Lester and Marshall also produce top marks in event at Buchanan

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Photos by Chuck Utash

The cancellation of the California state track and field meet for the second year in a row only made the West Coast Relays even more of a desired destination Saturday in Clovis, as several athletes that would be championship contenders in June were able to compete at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium and remind the limited crowd in attendance just how impressive they are and how much potential they have this season.

Eight state-leading performances were achieved, with other athletes who entered the meet with the top marks showcasing their dominance once again in their dress rehearsals for the May 7-8 Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS | BOYS PHOTOS | GIRLS PHOTOS

Clovis North junior Takiya Cenci was the only athlete to secure four victories, lowering her own state-leading effort in the invitational 400 meters to 54.75 seconds, in addition to running an all-conditions best in the invitational 200 with a wind-aided 24.32.

Cenci also contributed to the Broncos winning the invitational 4x400, joining Maya Cordoba, Tiara Adeniji and Tatum Zinkin in lowering their own state lead to 3:52.05. Clovis North also prevailed in the invitational 4x100 in 47.85, with Cenci being joined by Adeniji, Cordoba and Tatum Holloway, in addition to Zinkin winning the invitational 800 in 2:15.23.

John Lester, an Amador Valley senior and Stanford signee, ran a state-leading 1:51.62 in the invitational 800, in addition to finishing second in the invitational 400 in 49.71. Fellow Stanford commit Garrett Brown of La Costa Canyon, already the state leader, cleared 16-2 (4.92m) in the pole vault. 

Lauren Fowler of host Buchanan, a New Mexico commit, ran a wind-legal 11.70 in the invitational 100-meter dash to produce the state’s top performance, in addition to winning the invitational long jump with a leap of 18-6.25 (5.64m). Fowler also took second to Cenci in the invitational 200 in 24.67.

Clovis junior Nathan Johnson produced the fastest all-conditions 100-meter dash in the state this season at 10.49. Johnson also won the seeded 200 in 21.76.

Jadyn Marshall, a junior at St. Mary’s of Stockton, took over the state lead in the 110-meter hurdles, running a wind-legal 14.13 in the invitational section. Marshall also clocked 37.74 to win the invitational 300 hurdles.

Nick Godbehere, a junior at Shafter High, improved his own top performance in the state with a second-round effort and personal-best 61 feet (18.59m) in the shot put.

Bella Rigby, a senior at Bakersfield Liberty and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo signee, prevailed in the invitational discus with a third-round throw of 159-10 (48.71m), just below her state-leading 160-9 (48.99m) performance from March 13 at the Golden State Throwers event.

Galadriel Mellion, a sophomore at Weston Ranch, won the invitational girls shot put with a second-round mark of 44-2.50 (13.47m), almost matching her state-leading 44-4 (13.51m) mark. With no Sac-Joaquin Section Championships or state meet, Mellion has decided to have surgery May 20 on her right knee in preparation for a full junior season.

Buchanan sophomore Sydney Sundgren doubled in the invitational 1,600 and 3,200, running 4:53.46 and 10:49.76. Senior teammate Alexa Dandridge swept both girls invitational hurdle events as well.

Dandridge clocked 15.27 in the 100 hurdles and 44.41 in the 300 hurdles for Buchanan, which also received a victory from Maddie Passmore in the invitational triple jump with a leap of 37-1.75 (11.32m).

Fresno Central prevailed in a showdown with state leader Clovis in the invitational boys 4x100, winning by a 42.22 to 42.56 margin. Central also had teammates Jeremiah Walker and Cameron Tarver run wind-aided 21.56 and 21.57 in the invitational 200, with Tarver clocking a wind-aided 10.73 and Tarver posting a 10.78 in the invitational 100.

Tarver and Calvin Black of Clovis North both produced marks of 21-4.50 (6.51m) in the invitational long jump, with Black earning the victory based on the better second jump. Black added a 44-7 (13.58m) triple jump, but Central’s Devin Kelly secured the win with a 44-8.50 (13.62m) effort.

Austin Gillen held off Lester in the invitational 400 to triumph in 48.79, then helped Buchanan win the invitational 4x400 in 3:25.47. Sebastian McGehee-Adams emerged victorious in the invitational 3,200 for the Bears in 9:32.94.

Christopher Caudillo, a sophomore at Clovis, won the boys invitational 1,600 in 4:14.52.

Bakersfield Liberty’s Andrew Trottier captured the invitational boys discus with a throw of 162-9 (49.60m), with teammate Grant Buckey finishing third at 154-3 (47.01m).

Carmel had a pair of invitational field-event winners, with Lauren Pritchard capturing the high jump with a 5-6 (1.67m) clearance and Sarah Graessley earning the pole vault victory by clearing 12-4 (3.75m).

Castro Valley’s Miles Bennett and Redwood’s Dominick McCormack both cleared 6-5 (1.95m) in the invitational high jump, with Bennett prevailing on fewer misses.