The CIF Championships - A Golden 100

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The CIF Track and Field Championships celebrates its 100th edition this weekend with the state meet convening Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis. 

Here is a look back at 100 people and places that have shaped the history of the California state championship meet, which was first hosted in 1915 at Fresno High. The meet was only interrupted from 1942-45 because of World War II, but has run every year since 1946, including girls being added to the competition for the first time in 1974 at Bakersfield College’s Memorial Stadium.

Allyson Felix, L.A. Baptist: One of 11 female athletes with at least five individual state titles, she captured three in a row in the 100-meter dash from 2001-03 and back-to-back 200 championships in 2002-03. Her 11.29/22.52 wind-legal double in 2003 remains one of the greatest sprint showcases in meet history.

Amy Weissenbach, Harvard-Westlake: One of three female standouts with at least three 800-meter championships, her finest career performance came in 2011 when she set the National Federation record of 2:02.04.

Angela Burnham, Rio Mesa: Part of the legacy of elite Spartan sprinters, which have captured 100-meter dash titles in four consecutive decades, most recently with Zaria Francis and Valexsia Droughn. She won five individual state titles, including three in the 100, along with the 200 in 1988-89.

Angela Williams, Chino: One of six female stars to capture three individual titles in the same year, she secured crowns in the 100 and 200 meters, along with the long jump in 1998. Her wind-aided 11.10 in the 100 remains the fastest time under all conditions in state finals history and she is the only woman to win championships in the 100, 200 and 400 in her career.

Ann Regan, San Jose Camden: The first three-time girls 800-meter champion (1977-79), she set the national record by clocking 2:07.93 in 1978 after just missing the mark by running 2:08.0 the year before.

Anna Jelmini, Shafter: In addition to capturing back-to-back titles in both the discus throw and shot put in 2008-09, she established meet records of 53-8 in the shot during the prelims and 186-9 in the discus in the final at the 2009 meet. 

Ariana Washington, Long Beach Poly: Among several stars to shine for the Jackrabbits along their way to 15 girls state team championships, Washington is the most decorated with six individual titles. Along with Marion Jones, she is the only female sprinter to win the 100 and 200 three years in a row (2012-14).

Bob Mathias, Tulare: Nicknamed “The Ironman” he won the 120-yard high hurdles in 14.5 seconds, the 180 low hurdles in 19.6 and took fourth in shot put in 1948. He also would have won the discus throw, since he set the California prep record earlier in the season, but the event didn’t return to state competition until the following year. Mathias went on to win Olympic decathlon gold medals in 1948 and 1952.

Bob Seaman, Reedley: In 1953, he broke the 1934 national prep mile record of 4:21.2 set by Torrance star Louis Zamperini by clocking 4:21.0.

Bobby Bonds, Riverside Poly: Before he enjoyed a 14-year career playing Major League baseball, he captured the 1964 long jump title with a wind-legal leap of 25-3, just an inch shy of the national high school record.

Brent Noon, Fallbrook: The No. 2 all-time outdoor prep performer in the shot put, he captured back-to-back titles in 1989-90. His 74-4.75 effort in 1990 not only remains the meet record, but one of only two shot put marks over 70 feet in championship history.

Brittany Daniels, Merrill West: A three-time girls triple jump champion, she swept both long jump and triple jump titles in 2005, becoming the first female athlete to surpass 20 feet and 44 feet in the same state competition. Daniels remains the wind-legal national triple jump record holder at 44-11.75, along with the best under all conditions at 45-7.50.

Bryshon Nellum, Long Beach Poly: His four gold-medal performance in 2007 – 20.43 in the 200, 45.54 in the 400, 40.81 in the 4x100 relay and 3:10.92 in the 4x400 – remains one of the greatest in meet history, helping the Jackrabbits capture one of their 10 boys team titles. Nellum swept the 200 and 400 in 2006-07.

Cerritos College: The site of a record 17 state meets, including nine in a row from 1988-96, it played host to the 1981 and 2008 finals, two of the most memorable events in championship history.

Charley Paddock, Pasadena: Received the recognition during his career as the “Fastest Man Alive” with victories in the 220-yard race from 1916-18 and the 100 in 1916 and 1918. Paddock went on to capture gold in the 100 and 4x100 in the 1920 Olympics, in addition to silver in the 200 in 1920 and 1924.

Charlie Dumas, Compton Centennial: After clearing 6-8 7/8 earlier in the 1955 season to break a 1938 national high jump record belonging to Gil LaCava of Beverly Hills, Dumas surpassed his own mark at the state final by clearing 6-9 3/8.

Chris Adams, Los Altos: A back-to-back winner of the discus throw in 1969-70, he improved on his own national prep record by throwing 201-3 during the 1970 final, a 13-foot improvement from his championship the year before.

Christine Babcock, Woodbridge: A former national high school record holder in the 1,500 meters, she capped her run of three consecutive 1,600 state championships in 2008 by clocking a meet-record 4:33.82. Only one athlete has run under 4:40 in the final since.

Clarence “Bud” Houser, Oxnard: The most decorated male athlete in state meet history with six individual titles, he swept the discus throw and shot put titles three years in a row from 1920-22.

Clark Branson, Pasadena: The national prep shot put record didn’t last a year, with Branson producing a mark of 64-0.75 in 1957 to surpass the effort of 63-9.50 produced the season before by San Bernardino Pacific’s Homer Robertson.

Cornelius Johnson, Los Angeles High: Winning the 1932 state high jump title with a 6-3 clearance wasn’t his greatest accomplishment that year, as Johnson went on to place fourth in the Olympics in Los Angeles by clearing 6-5.50. He returned to the state meet in 1933, clearing a record 6-5.75, in addition to running anchor on the victorious 880 relay that produced a state meet record by clocking 1:28.3. Johnson captured Olympic high jump gold in 1936 with a 6-8 clearance.

Dale Story, Orange: Not only did he smash the meet record in the mile by nine seconds, but Story also eclipsed the national prep record by clocking 4:11.0, taking down the standard of 4:13.2 set the year before by Dyrol Burleson of Cottage Grove, Ore. Story went on to win an NCAA cross country title for Oregon State, running barefoot.

Dedy Cooper, Richmond Ells: He made history in two ways at the 1975 final, first by equaling the national prep record in the 120-yard high hurdles with a 13.2-second effort. Cooper also captured the first championship in the 330 low hurdles in 36.5 after running 36.2 in the prelims.

Denean Howard, Granada Hills Kennedy: Part of one of the most talented families in state meet history, along with sisters Artra, Sherri and Tina, she set the 400-meter national prep record of 53.04 in 1980, lowering the converted 440 mark of 53.34 established by Sherri, in addition to contributing to victories in the 4x100 in 45.81 and 4x400 in 3:37.98. She lowered the 400 mark to 52.39 in 1982, when she also won the 200.

Dennis Carr, Whittier Lowell: In consecutive years, he set national high school records in the mile and 880 at the state meet. In 1962, he improved his personal best in the mile by 10 seconds to clock 4:08.7, then returned the following season to produce another national prep mark in the 880 by running 1:50.9.

Dick Wehner, Brawley: Although Cliff Gantt of L.A. Poly became the first California prep athlete to run under 10 seconds in the 100-yard dash by clocking 9.9 in the 1926 prelims, Wehner broke that record by producing a national record 9.8 in the finals.

Don Bowden, San Jose Lincoln: His most significant achievement on the track remains being the first American to run under 4 minutes in the mile, clocking 3:58.7 in 1957 during his collegiate career at Cal. But Bowden also made history at the 1954 state meet by lowering Lang Stanley’s 880-yard national record by a full second, clocking 1:52.9.

Don Norford, Long Beach Poly: The most successful coach in state championship history, Norford accumulated 19 team titles with the Jackrabbits from 1992 to 2014. Long Beach Poly holds state records with 15 girls championships, 14 coached by Norford, and 10 boys crowns, half of which were under Norford’s direction from 1997-2011.

Dwight Stones, Glendale: He set a national prep high jump record in 1971 by clearing 7-1.50 in the final, surpassing the mark of 7-1.25 set three years earlier by Wasco’s Otis Hailey.

Eddie Morris, Huntington Beach: A four-time sprint champion, including three in a row from 1938-40 in the 220-yard race, Morris gained notoriety during his career by running 9.5 in the 100 and eclipsing Jesse Owens’ prep record in the 220 by clocking 20.6. He also won the 100 state title in 1940.  

Edwards Stadium: The facility at University of California at Berkeley has hosted 12 finals, the last one coming in 1980. The venue showcased the first two-day meet in state history in 1963, as well as the 50th state meet in 1968 – which included 4x100 and 4x400 relays for the first time – and individual races with metric distances for the first time in 1980.

Eric Hulst, Laguna Beach: After setting the national sophomore 2-mile record placing second to Concord De La Salle’s Rich Kimball in 1974, Hulst captured back-to-back championships, including a meet record 8:44.9 in 1975 that remained until 2008, withstanding the challenges of two-time winner Jeff Nelson of Burbank (1978-79), along with Jesuit’s Eric Mastalir (1986) and Big Bear’s Ryan Hall (2000).

Estel Johnson, L.A. Jefferson: The Democrats captured eight boys state team championships from 1938-64, including four in a row from 1949-52 under Johnson, the only boys team in California history to win four consecutive crowns. Johnson added a fifth title at Jefferson in 1956.

Forrest Beaty, Hoover: Along with equaling the world record in the 220-yard dash as a high school junior by clocking 20.2 seconds, Beaty also ran 9.4 in the 100. He won back-to-back titles in the 100 in 1961-62, with only a pulled muscle during the 220 final preventing Beaty from repeating in that race as well.

Frank Lombardi, Los Angeles: He equaled the world record in 100-yard dash in 1928, clocking 9.6 seconds. For the first time in state meet history, a tie was declared in the 220, with Lombardi and Glendale’s Frank Wykoff both being timed in 21.4, lowering the 1920 meet record of 21.8.

Frank Wykoff, Glendale: Matched the feat of Manual Arts’ Harry Lamport by winning three individual events in 1927, clocking 9.8 in the 100-yard dash, 21.0 in the 220 and leaping 22-2 in the broad jump, in addition to contributing to a victory in the 880 relay. He repeated in the 220 in 1928 by tying Los Angeles’ Frank Lombardi for the title.

Gail Devers, Sweetwater: After a victory in the long jump in 1983, she set the national prep record by clocking 13.41 in the 100-meter hurdles in 1984, in addition to winning the 100 in 11.51. Devers remains one of two female athletes in meet history to win both events in the same year.

Gerald Blankenship, Visalia: Became the first of four male athletes in meet history to accomplish the double of winning championships in the 880 yards and mile, or 800 and 1,600 meters, in the same year. Blankenship clocked 1:59.8 and 4:30 in 1915, with Sacramento’s Earl Lockhart in 1923, Mission San Jose’s Jon Stevens in 1998 and Great Oak’s Isaac Cortes in 2016 the others to achieve the impressive feat.

German Fernandez, Riverbank: Achieved the greatest one-day boys distance double in state meet history in 2008, setting the national prep record of 8:34.23 in the 3,200 meters after his 4:00.29 performance in the 1,600.

Gil LaCava, Beverly Hills: Established a new national high school record in the boys high jump in 1938 by clearing 6-7 1/8, improving on the 1931 record of 6-6 set by Willis Ward of Northwestern High in Illinois.

Gwen Loud, Westchester: With one of the strongest showcases by a female athlete in meet history, Loud led the Comets to the 1979 team title. She won the 100-yard dash (10.62), 220 (23.54) and long jump (20-4.50), along with anchoring the 4x400 to victory.

Hal Harkness, North Hollywood: In addition to a fourth-place finish in the mile in 1956, he has been an athlete, coach, official and meet director for a total of 50 state meets. He will serve as rules interpreter at this year’s event.

Harry Lamport, Manual Arts: The first male athlete to win three individual titles at the same meet, Lamport captured the 120-yard high hurdles, 220 low hurdles and broad jump in 1916, in addition to contributing to the Toilers’ victorious 880 relay.

Henry Thomas, Hawthorne: In addition to his 1984 victories in the 100 (10.44) and 200 (20.77), Thomas contributed to one of the great relay dynasties in state history. Hawthorne won six consecutive 4x400 championships from 1983-88, the longest run for any program in either relay since the 4x100 and 4x400 were introduced in 1968. Although he does not hold the state meet record for a wind-legal 100 – that distinction belongs to Riley Washington of San Diego Southwest with his 10.30 effort in 1992 – Thomas still boasts the wind-legal all-time state best of 10.25 from 1985.

Hugh McElhenney, Washington: Led the Generals to the 1947 team championship, winning the 120-yard high hurdles in 14.5, 180 low hurdles in 19.3 and broad jump with a leap of 22-10.50, becoming the third male athlete in meet history to secure three individual victories in the same year.

Hughes Stadium: The Sacramento City College facility has hosted 12 finals, the last one in 2007, including the 1950 meet that produced five state records and two all-time national prep marks.

James Stallworth, Tulare: One the most exceptional long jump series ever by a prep athlete was capped by a 26-4.75 National Federation High School record at the 1989 final. Stallworth also had jumps of 26-4 and 25-2.50 at the championship meet.

Janeene Vickers, Pomona: Her 30 points at the 1987 final were enough for the team title, but a dropped exchange in the 4x100 relay denied Vickers a potential fourth championship. She is one of only two female athletes to win the 100-meter dash and 100 hurdles in the same year, clocking 11.76 and 13.34, in addition to prevailing in the 300 hurdles in 40.26.

Jenna Prandini, Clovis: A five-time state champion in 2010-11 in her hometown at Veterans Memorial Stadium, she is one of six female athletes to capture three individual titles in the same year when she secured victories in the 100, 200 and long jump in 2011.

Jerry Proctor, Muir: The fourth male athlete to capture three individual championships in the same year, Proctor was a star at the 1967 final, setting a national prep record 18.7 in the 180-yard low hurdles after running 18.8 in prelims. He also set state meet records by clocking 13.7 in the 120 high hurdles and producing a 25-4.50 leap in the long jump.

Jerry White, Corcoran: Eclipsed the 440-yard national high school record at the 1956 championship by clocking 46.7 seconds, lowering the mark of 47.2 set by Eddie Southern of Sunset High in Texas the year before.

Jimmy Meeks, Hollywood: Produced national prep individual and relay marks at the 1926 final. Meeks ran 15.1 in the 120-yard high hurdles, along with helping Hollywood establish a national record 1:29.9 in the 880 relay.

Joanna Hayes, JW North: After the state moved to the girls 100-meter high hurdles in 1993, Hayes became the first female athlete to sweep both the 100 and 300 hurdles championships following that change, securing the titles in 1995. Hayes was coached by Charles Leathers, who guided the Huskies to three girls team championships from 1999-2002.

John Helwig, Mt. Carmel: Excelled at the 1946 meet with both the 12-pound and 16-pound shot put. Helwig broke the national prep record with the 12-pound implement with a mark of 59-5 7/8, then shined in an exhibition with the 16-pound sphere, producing an effort of 50-9 5/8, four feet beyond the previous state’s best mark.

Jordan Hasay, Mission Prep: A four-time state champion in the girls 3,200 meters from 2006-09, including a thrilling victory in 2008, clocking 9:52.13 to hold off Laurynne Chetelat of Davis Senior in 9:52.51 in the fastest final in California history.

Juliana Yendork, Walnut: One of only two female athletes in championship history to win the long jump and triple jump each in three consecutive years, which she accomplished from 1989-91, highlighted by a 43-6.50 effort to secure her third triple jump title.

Kathy Costello, Pleasant Hill: In only the second year of the girls championship meet, she set two national prep records at the 1975 final by winning the 880 yards in 2:09.2 and the mile in 4:53.5.

Kye Courtney, Hawthorne: Coached the Cougars to state team championships in a remarkable seven consecutive years. The boys won six titles, from 1983-85 and again from 1987-89, with the girls capturing their lone crown in 1986.

Kim Mortensen, Thousand Oaks: After running a national prep record 9:48.59 in the 3,200 meters the week before at the CIF-Southern Section Masters meet in 1996, Mortensen followed it with a 9:52.80 at the state championship, only bettered in 2008 by Mission Prep’s Jordan Hasay and Davis Senior’s Laurynne Chetelat.

Kori Carter, Claremont: A five-time state champion, Carter is the only female athlete in meet history to win three titles in the 300-meter hurdles from 2008-10. She added 100 hurdles victories in 2009-10, before going on to win a gold medal in the 400 hurdles at last year’s IAAF World Championships.

Lang Stanley, Jefferson: Broke a 17-year-old national prep record in the boys 880-yard race in 1950, clocking 1:53.9 to eclipse the mark of 1:54.4 belonging to Ross Bush of Sunset High in Texas.

Leamon King, Delano: Became the first male athlete in state history to place in two events all four years, achieving the feat in the 100- and 220-yard races from 1951-54. Fresno’s Bernard Allard was the first athlete to accomplish the goal in one event, doing so in the high jump from 1949-52. King went on to tie the world record in the 100 at 9.3, in addition to running on the U.S. gold medal 4x100 relay, which set an Olympic record 39.5 in 1956.

Lee Barnes, Hollywood: Captured back-to-back pole vault titles in 1923-24, first with a 12-3 11/16 clearance, followed by 12-11.50 in 1924, when he went on to win the Olympic title later that year by clearing the same height.

Leon Patterson, Taft: He became only the second prep athlete to surpass 60 feet in shot put, including the first in state history, with a national high school record 60-9 7/8 in 1952, improving on the mark of 60-9 3/8 set a week earlier by Bill Nieder of Lawrence, Kan. He also swept the discus and shot put titles in 1951.

Leslie Deniz, Gridley: Deniz broke the national high school discus throw records in both 1979 and 1980 to capture the championship, the latter mark 172-11, which was a five-foot improvement from record-setting effort the previous year.

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: The historic facility has hosted 10 state finals, the last one in 1984 as part of showcasing the sport at the same venue that would host both the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games.

Louis Zamperini, Torrance: Perhaps better known for being a World War II hero and 1936 Olympian, the subject of the bestselling book and movie “Unbroken” captured the mile state title in 1934, the same year he had already set the national prep mile record of 4:21.3.

Lynn Swann, San Mateo Serra: The future Super Bowl MVP and USC athletic director won the most star-studded boys long jump in state history with a leap of 24-2.75 to prevail against Randy Williams of Fresno Edison and James McAlister of Blair. Williams went on to win Olympic gold in 1972 and silver in 1976, with McAlister surpassing 27 feet in 1973 at UCLA to take over the world lead.

Marion Jones, Thousand Oaks and Rio Mesa: The most decorated female athlete in meet history with nine individual gold medals, Jones won the 100- and 200-meter titles from 1990-93. She also added a 22-0.50 long jump to capture the championship in 1993, after setting a national high school record of 11.14 in the 100 in 1992.

Mel Gray, Santa Rosa Montgomery: He ran 20.7 seconds in the 220-yard final in 1967, lowering the national prep record of 20.9 belonging to himself and four others, including El Cerrito’s Dave Masters in the prelims. Gray also ran 9.4 to equal the national 100-yard record with five others, including Jesse Owens from 1933.

Memorial Stadium: The Bakersfield College facility has hosted five meets, including the first girls meet in 1974, where seven national records were set and the first double winner, Janice Wiser of La Jolla, was crowned in the 100 and 220 yards. The last time this was the host facility was 1983.

Michael Granville, Bell Gardens: In perhaps the most significant prelim race in state meet history, he set the 800-meter national record in the 1996 qualifying heat by clocking 1:46.45. Granville won the 800 title in 1994, took runner-up by less than a tenth of a second to Aaron Richburg of James Logan in 1995, then followed his national record in the prelims by winning the 1996 title in 1:50.68.

Michael Norman, Vista Murrieta: The two-time Gatorade National Male Athlete of the Year, who led the Broncos to back-to-back team championships in 2015 and 2016, Norman captured four gold medals as a senior in the 200, 400, 4x100 and 4x400. Norman equaled the National Federation High School record in the 400 by clocking 45.19 in 2015, in addition to prevailing in the 200 in 20.30.

Monique Henderson, San Diego Morse: The only four-time champion in the 400 meters in meet history from 1998-2001, Henderson set the national prep record by clocking 50.74 in 2000. She also added a 200 title that year in 23.19.

Monte Upshaw, Piedmont: There weren’t too many people who could say they broke a Jesse Owens national record, but Upshaw’s 25-4.25 broad jump in 1954 eclipsed Owens’ 1933 mark of 24-11.25 set during his career at East Technical High in Cleveland.

Natalie Kaaiawahia, Fullerton: The most decorated female thrower in championship history, she won shot put championships from 1980-83, the only individual to achieve the feat, along with discus titles in 1981 and 1983.

Obea Moore, Muir: One of the most gifted all-time prep sprinters, he doubled in the 200 and 400 in 20.91 and 45.81 in 1996, following a 400 title in 1995. He also contributed to Mustangs’ championships in the 4x400 relay in both seasons, anchoring a 3:08.66 effort in 1996.

Pete Richardson, Berkeley: The 1981 meet was one of the great team showcases in meet history by the Yellowjackets, sweeping both titles. Richardson broke the national boys 800-meter record by clocking 1:47.31, eclipsing the converted 880 mark of 1:48.2 from 1965 by Richard Joyce of Whittier Sierra.

Polly Plumer, Irvine University: She captured 1,600-meter titles from 1980-82, but her most memorable performance came in 1982, when she clocked 4:39.92 to lower her own national high school record.

Quincy Watts, Taft: His victories at the state championship in 1986-87 propelled Watts to become one of the great sprinters in collegiate history at USC, followed by an Olympic 400-meter gold medalist in 1992. Watts won the 100-meter title in 1987 in 10.49. He also secured back-to-back crowns in the 200 in 1986-87, including 20.99 to defend his championship.

Rafer Johnson, Kingsburg: His performance at the 1954 meet was an indication of Johnson’s versatility, which led to him capturing decathlon gold at the 1960 Olympics. Johnson captured the 120-yard high hurdles title in 14.3, denying Piedmont’s Monte Upshaw three individual titles. He also placed second in the 180 low hurdles in a photo finish.

Reggie Wyatt, La Sierra: Put together another exceptional performance in a prelim race, setting the national high school 300-meter hurdles record in 2009 by clocking 35.02 to lower the 2007 mark of 35.28 establish by Taft’s Jeshua Anderson. Wyatt went on to win the 300 hurdles crown in 36.71, in addition to capturing the 400-meter championship in 46.13.

Reynaldo Brown, Compton: He became the first athlete in meet history to clear 7 feet in high jump in 1968. Brown and Les Steers of Palo Alto (1935-37) are the only male athletes in California to win the high jump title three consecutive years.

Rich Kimball, De La Salle: The distance standout made history in 1974 by becoming the first individual at the championship meet to win titles in both the mile and 2-mile, clocking 4:06.6 just 75 minutes after running 8:46.5 in the eight-lap final.

Richard Joyce, Whittier Sierra: Relying on a significant improvement on his personal best, Joyce ran a national high school 880-yard record of 1:48.8 at the 1965 final, lowering the 1964 standard of 1:50.4 set by Lawrence Kelly from Main East, Ill. Clark Mitchell of Bakersfield ran 1:49.3 for second to also surpass the previous record.

Rick Brown, Los Altos: At the 1970 championship meet, he became the first to win titles in the 440- and 880-yard races in same year by clocking 47.8 and 1:50.6. He also anchored the 4x400 relay to victory in 3:15.6.

Roman Gomez, Belmont: One of the standout performers from the L.A. City Section, Gomez boasts the distinction of being the only male athlete in meet history to win both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters in consecutive years in 1984-85. He won the 3,200 in 1984 in 8:58.91.

Ross Nichols, Huntington Beach: Delivered national prep record performances in consecutive years in the 120-yard high hurdles. Nichols ran 15.4 seconds in 1923, then lowered his own standard to 15.3 in 1924.

Ruben Chappins, Excelsior Norwalk: After winning the boys 2-mile title in 1968, Chappins made history the following year by becoming the first individual to run under 9 minutes in the championship race. He led three athletes to sub-9 performances by prevailing in 8:57.0 to secure back-to-back crowns.

Shae Anderson, Norco: Although Leslie Maxie of Mills was the first female athlete to capture championships in the 300-meter hurdles and 400 meters during an exceptional career from 1983-85, Anderson was the first girls standout to achieve the feat in the same year, clocking 40.31 and 52.79 last season.

Sherri Howard, San Gorgonio and Granada Hills Kennedy: Achieved the impressive feat of breaking national prep records in the 440 yards and 200 meters in consecutive years. Howard clocked 53.65 in the 440 in 1979 at San Gorgonio, then ran 23.19 in the 200 for Kennedy the following year, the first season that metric distances were used for individual races. She also joined her sisters Artra, Denean and Tina to run 45.81 in the 4x100 and 3:37.98 in the 4x400 in 1980.

Steve Turner, Glendale: Having already run the national high school record of 18.9 seconds in the 180-yard low hurdles earlier in the season, Turner equaled the state meet record by clocking 19.0 in the 1950 final. He added a championship in the 120 high hurdles in 14.1 to set a state championship record.

Tara Davis, Agoura: A five-time state champion, she became one of six female athletes in meet history to win three individual titles in the same year. Davis joined Vashti Thomas of Mt. Pleasant as only female competitor in state history to win the 100-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump in same year, running the fastest all-conditions time in the hurdles in state history by clocking a wind-aided 12.83 in the final.

Tod White, Newport Harbor: Brought the national high school mile record back to California in 1955 by clocking 4:20.0 to win the title, lowering the mark of 4:20.4 set in 1954 by Max Truex of Warsaw, Ind.

Tori Anthony, Castilleja: A two-time girls state champion in the pole vault in 2006-07, she gained fame by setting the national high school record with a 14-1 clearance in 2007. Her national record stood until 2011, with Anaheim Canyon’s Rachel Baxter eclipsing her state-meet performance in 2016 with a 14-2 effort.

Vashti Thomas, Mt. Pleasant: Her highlight came in 2007 when she set the National Federation High School record by clocking 13.03 in the 100-meter hurdles. Thomas followed it up by becoming one of six female athletes in meet history to win three individual crowns in the same year in 2008, repeating in the 100 hurdles, along with victories in the long jump and triple jump.

Veterans Memorial Stadium: The Buchanan High venue has hosted the past 10 finals and has the honor of being the site for the memorable 100th edition of the meet. One of the most significant moments during the decade-long run was when Buchanan’s Hannah Waller captured the program’s first championship by prevailing in the girls 400-meter final in 2015 on her home track.

Wendy Brown, Woodside: The architect of one of the greatest single-meet efforts in championship history in 1984, resulting in winning the team title by herself with 38 points. Brown set the high school triple jump national record with a leap of 42-10.50, in addition to winning the long jump with a mark of 20-9.75 and the high jump with a 6-1.25 clearance. She capped it off by placing second in the 100-meter hurdles in 13.59 seconds.

Willie Banks, Oceanside: When the triple jump returned to the state meet schedule in 1973 following a 34-year absence, it was the perfect showcase for Banks, who captured the title with a leap of 49-7.25. Banks increased his personal best to 50-10.25 the following year during the regular season, then backed it up with a 50-9 effort in the prelims and a 50-7 mark in the final to become the first of four back-to-back boys triple jump champions in meet history, including fellow San Diego Section star Dokie Williams of Oceanside El Camino (1977-78).

Willie White, Jefferson and Berkeley: Secured state championships as both an athlete and a coach. In 1956, White prevailed in the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds, then went on to win seven titles at Berkeley, including five girls championships in 1974, 1976 and 1981-83. He added boys team crowns in 1980-81, pulling off an impressive sweep in 1981.

— A big thanks to Hank Lawson and Lynbrook Sports, along with CIF State officials for their contributions