Redondo Union girls combine for two CIF titles at track & field championships
Redondo’s girls relay teams captured two CIF titles qualifying for the Masters Meet to be held Friday at Cerritos College. Photo
Known for its strong distance running program, Redondo Union displayed its diversity by winning two Division 2 championships in relays events Saturday at the CIF Southern Section Track & Field Championships held at Cerritos College.
The Sea Hawks captured the 4×100 relay when Kennedy Hardemion, Kristen Hamlin, Tairyn Montgomery and Anastasia Chiodo combined for a time of 47.41 seconds.
The South Torrance team of Alexis Henry, Mari Dear, Ayana Canister and Darrian Jones finished 4th at 48.73.
Redondo proceeded to win the 4×400 relay with Amber Gore, Breya Wynne, Anevay Hiehle and Zuri Henderson turning in a time of 3:49.36.
Mira Costa placed 7th with Emily Jones, Shante Robinson, Myan Elrington and Camille Mills posting a time of 4:03.88.
In mid-distance runs, Redondo’s Gore and Hiehle secured second and third, respectively, in the 800 with personal-best times of 2:10.76 and 2:11.21. Their marks are the 7th and 8th best times in the state this season.
“It’s been an amazing jump for me,” said Gore, who finished 16th in the state last year as a sophomore. “I feel I have much more potential this season. My ultimate goal is to be among the top three in state. My times have been a big confidence booster for me.”
Gore improved on her personal-best time of 2:11.86 recorded at the adidas Meet of Champions on March 22.
Redondo pole vaulters Sara Curran and Katilin Heri placed 4th and 6th, respectively with marks of 11 feet, 3 inches.
Mira Costa’s Shante Robinson won the 300 hurdles with a strong burst in the final 100 meters to post a time of 42.58 seconds. She also finished 4th in the 100 hurdles with a time of 14.84, edging Redondo’s Hamlin who placed 5th at 14.94.
In the 100-meter dash, South’s Henry placed 3rd (12.18) while Redondo’s Chiodo finished 6th (12.31) and Hamlin took 8th (12.46).
Mira Costa’s Shante Robinson won a CIF title in the 300 hurdles with a time of 42.58. Photo
South Torrance distance running standout Kimberly Coscia placed second-place finish in the 3,200 with a personal record of 19:24.24 and Mira Costa’s Natasha Brunstein finished 9th in the 1,600 at 5:06.18
North Torrance’s Jasmine Bass won the triple jump on her final attempt posting a mark of 40-7 3/4. She also finished 6th in the long jump at 16-10.5
In Division 1, Peninsula’s Tunika Onnekikami placed second in the 400 meters with a time 55.19 seconds, lowering her school record by seven-tenths of a second.
Peninsula’s Tammy McVickar cleared 5-5 to take third place in the high jump.
In Division 3, Palos Verdes’ Camille Hines finished second in the 800 (2:16.36) but her time was not good enough to qualify for the Masters Meet which will be held Friday at Cerritos College. Athletes advance from the four divisions in the CIF Championships based solely on their marks, with nine athletes advancing from the laned events (Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays) and 12 from the rest (Distance and Field).
In Division 4, Bishop Montgomery’s Tess Allen placed third in the high jump with a mark of 5-01.
In boy’s competition, Redondo had a strong performance on Division 2 highlighted by three top-ten finishes in the 800.
Sergio Rodriguez placed 3rd at 1:53.65 ahead of teammate Nicolas Wells (4th, 1:54.20) and Dustin Herold (7th, 1:56.76). Herold also finished third in the 1,600 (4:10.29).
Herold, Jerone Jackson, Wells and Rodriguez placed 5th in the 4×400 relay with a time of 3:21.02. Mira Costa’s team of Niko Pappas, P.J. Onusconich, Mac Power and Josh Block placed 9th at 3:28.88.
In the 3,200, South Torrance’s Casey Celestin placed 2nd at 9:06.09, besting Bay League rival Carlos Suarez of Redondo who placed 4th at 9:15.61.
Mira Costa’s Robert McMahon finished 5th in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.88 Mustang teammate Brandon Mills placed 6th in the discus with a throw of 157-03.
In the pole vault, Redondo freshman Tate Curran placed 5th with a mark of 13-09 and Mira Costa’s Matt Wenner finished 66th in the high jump at 6-04.
In Division 1, Peninsula’s Mitchel Charles qualified for the Masters in the shot put (57-2) and discus (161-3) despite falling short of his goals.
“I hope to throw over 61 feet in the shot put and 185 feet in the discus,” Charles said. “I’ve been working on my explosiveness which is my strong point.”
In Division 3 competition, Palos Verdes’ Casey Celestin finished 2nd in the 3,200 meters at 9:06.09 while teammates Miles Irish (4:11.27) and Luke Letwin (4:20.45) placed 4th and 7th, respectively, in the 1,600.