Whitney athletes make their marks at Arcadia Invitational

With no official California Interscholastic Federation state track and field championships this season, some considered the Arcadia Invitational in Southern California to be the pseudo "state championship" meet. Whitney High School left its marks in several events during the Friday-Saturday meet in Arcadia. More than 225 schools from across California were represented in the annual meet, which made its return following a one-year absence due to COVID-19 cancellations in 2020. Whitney senior Sydney Johnson, who is committed to UCLA, finished in the top 10 in three events, including third in the 100 hurdles open division (15.12 seconds), fourth in the long jump invitational division (18 feet, 10.5 inches) and sixth in the high jump invitational (5-4). Johnson, who ranks among the state's top 10 in the high jump, long jump and triple jump, also was a leg of the Wildcats' 4x100 relay team, which finished 11th in the open division (50.3), along with Ashanti Elie, Abby Gardner and Emily Beasley. Elie, Gardner and Beasley joined Isabella Leach to place sixth in the sprint medley relay (1:53.08). Senior Sirr Butler, who entered the Arcadia meet second in the state in the triple jump at 46-1.5, took eighth with a mark of 45-3. As of Monday, Butler ranks fourth in California in the triple jump. After taking first place in every shot put and discus competition this season, senior Chris Buck placed fifth in the discus (170-6) and ninth in the shot put (50-0) at Arcadia. Buck ranks in the top six in the state in both events. Jesuit senior and Rocklin native Ajani Salcido placed third in the 3,200 with a personal-best of 8:51.32. He ranks third in the state in the 3,200 and 1,600. Lincoln, Del Oro big winners at Colfax Invite Several locals took the top of the podium at Friday's Colfax Invitational. The host school boasted three varsity winners, including Benton Stocks in the 110 hurdles (15.88), Robert Nevarez in the pole vault (12-0) and Kelli McCarty in the girls 400 (1:02.4). The Lincoln girls claimed victory from Taylor Keomuangtai in the 100 (12.98) and 200 (27.58), Sofia Anderson in the 100 hurdles (16.69) and high jump (5-0) and freshman Mallory Kuehl in the triple jump (30-6). Lincoln took home boys wins from Jaden Trujillo in the 1,600 (4:40.61), Kyle Loutzenhiser in the 300 hurdles (41.24), Nate Lauderdale in the high jump (5-8) and Pierce Stinson in the triple jump (38-4). The Del Oro girls swept the 4x100 (52.16) and 4x400 (4:17.81) relays. The 4x100 team was led by Paloma Baumert, Audrey Gordon, Isabella Zaro and Lucy Jeppson, who also took first in the pole vault at 10-6. The 4x400 team consisted of Hannah Wirth, Emilie Merz, Karissa Chamberlain and Baumert. Merz won the 800 with a personal-best of 2:23.12 and Chamberlain won the 1,600 at 5:15.42. Del Oro also received wins in the boys competition from freshman Jack Sindt, who took the 3,200 (10:26.19), and sophomore Akio Martinson, who took the shot put (41-8). Bear River junior Julia Pisenti was a double winner in the girls shot put (33-8.5) and discus (120-0) while placing fourth in the pole vault (8-6). Forest Lake Christian seniors Jaren Wible and Annabelle Laputz were victorious, Wible in the boys long jump (20-9) and Laputz in the girls 3,200 (13:06.13). For Placer, there were runner-up finishes from Kendra Pearson in the high jump (5-0), Kayle Whiteaker in the triple jump (26-8.5), Wyatt Hamilton in the 1,600 (4:40.64), Angelo Ramos in the discus (128-10) and Austin Wanlass in the pole vault (12-0). Granite Bay girls claim wins at El Dorado Distance meet Granite Bay distance specialists were part of two wins for the Grizzlies at Saturday's Cougar Twilight Distance Track Meet at El Dorado High School. Junior Abigail Peterson won the 400 (58.55) while sophomore Carly Foster took the 1,600 (5:08.24). Both were part of Granite Bay's distance medley relay team with Grace McGuckin and Becky Klusnick, which placed second in the 1,200-400-800-1,600 relay at 12:49.58. Junior Brycen Mogensen placed third in the boys 400 (50.96) for Granite Bay. Woodcreek's Gannon Harriman finished fourth at 51.1. Placer's top finishers were Vance Byer (1:57.94) and Addison Arsenith (2:25.66), who each placed fourth in their 800 races.