Track: First year at Clovis Buchanan is a success

There were a lot of worries about moving the state track championships to Clovis Buchanan High for the first time this year, but the venue seemed to be a success.

The stadium is expansive--think Cal State Fullerton, with the addition of grass slopes on the far sides behind the goalposts--and the amenities were first-class. Nice automated scoreboard, beautiful grass field, plenty of room for warmups.

CIF executive director Marie Ishida said the event will be staged here for at least the next two years. One prep writer asked why it was being held here since the preponderance of athletes are from Southern California, and Ishida explained that Buchanan fielded the best bid among competing sites.

It's hard to argue given the way things turned out the last two days. Attendance was 8,143 on Friday and 9,517 on Saturday, though longtime track writers said those numbers were down from past years.

--Ben Bolch

Track: Long Beach Poly wins girls' team title; four tie for boys' title

Long Beach Poly won a state girls' team title in convincing fashion, with 45 points to Gardena Serra's 28, but there was no such separation on the boys' side.

L.A. Cathedral, La Sierra, Bakersfield Frontier and Clovis East all tied for the title with 20 points. Cathedral would have won the title outright if it weren't for a dropped baton that prevented the Phantoms from finishing the 4x100 relay.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' track: Wyatt wins 300 hurdles--barely

Not a bad weekend for Riverside La Sierra's Reggie Wyatt.

He set a national record in the boys' 300 hurdles, set a personal record in the 400 meters and then won a state title in the 300 hurdles by fending off a challenge from Taft's D.J. Morgan to finish in 36.71 seconds. Morgan finished second in 36.98.

--Ben Bolch

Girls' track: Hasay wins 3,200 in fastest time in nation this year

San Luis Obispo Mission Prep senior Jordan Hasay won the girls' 3,200 meters for the fourth consecutive year, finishing in 10 minutes 5.29 seconds to post the fastest time in the nation this year.

Hasay lapped some of the runners and defeated her next-closest competitor by more than 18 seconds.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' track: Carroll also defends title in 200

Los Angeles Cathedral senior Randall Carroll is a two-time defending state champion in two events after also winning the 200 meters, finishing in 21.08 seconds.

"I feel a big relief, like a bunch of weight has been lifted off me," Carroll said.

Crenshaw sophomore DeAnthony Thomas was second in 21.35, making him the preseason favorite in the event for 2010.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' track Placentia Valencia's Krinik wins 800

Placentia Valencia junior Sean Krinik won the boys' 800 championship, finishing in 1 minute 51.83 seconds.

--Ben Bolch

Girls' track: Claremont's Carter goes two for two in hurdles

A night after failing to win either event, Claremont's Kori Carter went two for two, capturing state championships in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles.

She finished the 100 hurdles in 13.59 seconds--the fastest time in the nation this year--and came back to win the 300 hurdles in 41.26, just off the 41.09 she ran at the Arcadia Invitational in April that stands as the fastest time in the nation this year.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' track and field: Vista Murrieta's Ross wins high jump

Vista Murrieta senior Nick Ross won the boys' high jump by clearing 7 feet 1 inch this evening. Chino Hills Ayala's Obum Gwacham was second, clearing 6-11.

--Ben Bolch

Girls' track: Valencia's Drake wins 800

Valencia senior Aly Drake won the girls' 800 championship with a personal-best time of 2 minutes 7.45 seconds this evening, edging Marlborough's Carlyle Davis, who finished second in 2:07.82.

Millikan's Paisley Pettway was third in 2:08.57.

--Ben Bolch

Boys' track: Little suspense as Carroll defends title in 100

Los Angeles Cathedral's Randall Carroll couldn't match the time he ran in his preliminary heat but didn't need to to win the boys' 100 meters, prevailing with a time of 10.38 seconds. It was a second consecutive state title in the event for the UCLA-bound senior.

Fountain Valley junior Kyle Middlebrooks, who got off to a fast start and led the race for about the first 50 meters, finished second in 10.57 and Santee's Tevin Carter was fourth in 10.60.

Carroll had run the 100 in 10.34 Friday night and ran it in 10.30 at the Del Rey League finals.

--Ben Bolch