Track and field: Long Beach Poly's Akawkaw Ndipagbor has fastest girls' 400

The public-address announcer told the crowd at Clovis Buchanan High that Long Beach Poly had so many participants and supporters involved in the state track meet that the Jackrabbits chartered a bus to make the drive from Southern California.

At this rate, the Jackrabbits could be returning with a busload of trophies.

Akawkaw Ndipagbor became the latest Poly athlete to turn in the best time in an event during the preliminary heats Friday, winning the girls' 400 in 54.28 seconds. Teammate Azia Walker also qualified for Saturday's championship by finishing in 56.28.

The other qualifiers from Southern California were Woodbridge's Gabrielle Scott (54.76), Etiwanda's Vanessa Jones (54.92), Newbury Park's Morgan Thompson (55.56) and Gardena Serra's Chimere Ezumah (55.74).

--Ben Bolch in Clovis