Signs point to a speedy girls' 100

CLOVIS — Thirteen years have passed since the last girls’ sprinter broke 11.20 seconds at the CIF State Track and Field Championships.

That streak will end in today’s final of the girls’ 100-meter dash, guarantees defending champion Valexsia Droughn of Rio Mesa.

“Someone will run in the 11.1s,” Droughn said.

If Friday’s preliminaries are any indication, Droughn’s prediction could come true.

Ashton Purvis of St. Elizabeth posted the third fastest time (11.22) in state history. Jenna Prandini of Clovis had a 11.34 and Droughn was the third fastest with a personal best of 11.47.

“It is mind-boggling to see where Ashton is at,” said Droughn. “I want to hit that time or better.”

Only Marion Jones of Thousand Oaks (11.14 in 1992) and Angela Williams of Chino (11.15 in 1998) have ever broken 11.20 in the event in state history.

While setting a county record of 10.46 for the boys’ 100, Jamison Jordan of Rio Mesa found himself being knocked from No. 1 to No. 4 on the state list.

“I didn’t react well to the start,” said Jordan. “I made it up in the middle of the race (between 30 and 70 meters). I knew there were going to be some fast times today. I wanted to be part of it.”

Can’t do worse, only better has become Lydia French’s theme for the state meet.

Just like last year, the Thousand Oaks senior brings one of the state’s best high jump performances — a school-record mark of 5 feet, 9 inches — into these championships.

Not forgotten was her inability to clear a height at the 2009 final.

“I am going to try to go from 12th (last year) to first,” said French, who was one of 11 jumpers (including Oak Park’s Tayler Johnson) to advance out of Friday’s prelims.

“I wanted to come out this year and see how far we can go,” said French. “We’re still seeing.”

Ventura County will have two finalists in the boys’ 1,600.

A seventh-place finisher last year, Travis Edwards of Royal, qualified in 4:16.39. An at-large qualifier, Oxnard’s Gustavo Mena was 11th overall in 4:20.53.

Mena moved into first with 400 meters left. With 200 left, Mena was third in his heat. Bumped on the final curve, the senior finished fourth.

“That was the hardest race that I’ve ever run,” said Mena, who was five seconds faster at the Masters Meet.

Jonathan Cabral of Agoura remains a solid candidate for becoming a double champion.

Cabral was the fastest qualifier in the boys’ 110 hurdles, matching his state-leading time of 13.70. Cabral won his heat in the 300 hurdles in 38.09.

Rio Mesa had to scramble to clear its best team for the boys’ 4x100 relay.

An injury to Blake Selig in mid-week forced coach Brian FitzGerald to pull him from the long jump.

Because of the long jump withdrawl, FitzGerald had to appeal because of the state’s honest effort guidelines.

Rio Mesa won the appeal and Selig was allowed to run in the relay. The Spartans posted the fastest qualifying time of 41.10, setting up a matchup with Long Beach Poly, which had a time of 41.24.

Setting a matchup between the state’s top two girls’ discus throwers, Alex Collatz of Stockdale (163-2) and Ventura’s Alex Morgan (156-2) finished 1-2 in the prelims.

Collatz, ranked No. 1 in the nation, owns the fifth longest throw in state history. Morgan is the county record holder.

While Johnson qualified in the high jump, she missed in the girls’ long jump at 17-912.

“Her first jumps at 5-6 were the two worst that she has had this year,” said Oak Park coach Kevin Smith. “She pulled it out on her last attempt.”

Automatically qualified for today’s finals are four county distance runners in the 3,200.

Neither Westlake’s Sam DeMello (1:54.30) or Thousand Oaks’ Caitlin Turner (2:13.41) qualified in the boys’ and girls’ 800, respectively.

Liberty Miller of Simi Valley and Melissa Skiba of Oak Park bring the fastest qualifying times for the girls’ 3,200 after setting personal bests last week at the Masters Meet.

Both are four-year cross country state qualifiers.

In the boys’ 3,200 field are Thousand Oaks’ Kevin Joerger and Royal’s Sean Davidson. The heavy favorite is Loyola’s Elias Gedyon, looking to leave the state meet with two individual titles under his belt.

Rio Mesa had the third fastest qualifying time in the boys’ 4x400 relay (3:15.72). Serra had the third fastest time in high school history with a 3:08.42.

Connor Stark qualified in the boys’ pole vault by clearing 14-9.

Morgan advanced in the girls’ shot put at 42-514.

Teammate Kristen Wilson threw 41-5, but did not advance.