South Torrance senior receives significant support from spectators at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium, allowing false start in 100-meter dash prelims to be overturned, resulting in him advancing to pair of strong sprint finals; Castaic’s Humphries advances in four events

By Landon Negri for DyeStat

CLOVIS, Calif. – In a flash Friday night, Anthony Flowers could’ve had a sinking feeling. Instead, he felt sincere vindication from thousands of his new friends.

Running in the third qualifying heat of the boys 100-meter dash on the first day of the 103rd CIF-State Track and Field Championships, Flowers had appeared to false start. But the South Torrance High senior appealed to the judges, and with a swell of support from the stands at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium, officials appeared to reverse the decision and he remained in the race.

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“There just happened to be someone doing long jump at the same time, so the whole crowd was clapping – you know how long jumpers, they clap and stuff – and when they said ‘set,’ (the crowd) was still clapping. And I heard one of those claps right when the gun was about to go off, so I went and they called it a false start. I made a comment to one of the judges that they were clapping. It was interesting enough, the whole stands started chanting for me, ‘Let him race, let him race, let him race.’”

The moment was not lost on him.

“It was a great feeling to know that people I don’t know like that are out here supporting me – just a fellow runner out here.”

Flowers said a reversal of a false start was “definitely a first for me.” And it only served to add drama to the marquee boys races for Saturday’s finals. Nine qualifiers moved on in sprint events (heat winners plus next best times, while 12 advanced in distances (top four in each heat plus next best times) and 12 in field events. The entire 3,200 will also run Saturday, plus the addition of the 4x800 relay for the first time for both genders at the state final.

As expected, Gardena Serra senior Rodrick Pleasant moved on, topping the 100 in a wind-legal 10.36 seconds and qualifying third in the 200 in a wind-legal 21.19, as he tries to become the first to repeat state titles in both events since Sherman Oaks Notre Dame’s Khalfani Muhammad in 2012 and 2013.

He’ll have plenty of competition, as Granada Hills Charter senior Dijon Stanley qualified first in his heat in the 200 in a wind-legal 21.09, with Long Beach Jordan junior Jordan Washington winning his heat of the 100 in a wind-legal 10.53 and advancing in the 200 in 21.28. Add in qualifier Nick Miller, a senior from Clovis North, in both events with Flowers, and Saturday’s short sprints promise to be excellent.

Stanley was also the fastest qualifier in the 400 (46.66).

The girls’ 100 and 200 also promise to be of similar caliber.

Carson senior Reign Redmond topped the 100 qualifiers with a wind-legal 11.47 and Serra senior Brazil Neal bested the 200 field in a wind-aided 23.80, looking to defend their state titles, as both athletes advanced in the two sprint events.

Similar to Stanley, Long Beach Wilson senior Aujane Luckey led the 400 (53.78) and qualified fifth overall in the 200 (23.82).

Neal, Culver City sophomore Joelle Trepagnier, Castaic junior Megan Humphries and Quartz Hill senior Adonijah Currie all won 200 heats. Oaks Christian junior Niya Clayton, Serra junior Mia Flowers and San Francisco St. Ignatius freshman Ellie McCuskey-Hay won 100 heats.

Humphries’ four-event quest is also still alive, as she is tied for the top qualifier in the high jump with seven other girls at 5 feet, 6 inches (1.67m). She was second behind Mission Viejo senior Jada Gatlin (39-11.50/12.17m) in the triple jump at 39-10.25 (12.14m), and tied for sixth in the long jump at 18-10.50 (5.75m).

Riverside Martin Luther King senior Alyssa Hope topped qualifiers in that event at a personal-best 20-4.25 (6.20m) and reigning champion Sydnie Vanek of Clovis needed only one attempt of 20-1.25 (6.12m) to advance to the final, looking to become the first Cougars’ athlete to repeat in the long jump since Jenna Prandini in 2010-11.

But Humphries wasn’t the only one attempting to move on in four events. McCuskey-Hay made a valiant effort in her state meet debut, but settled for advancing in the 100 and long jump.

“I wanted to support my team and run (the 4x100) with them to anchor,” she said. “And then in the 200, my leg actually cramped up soon after the 100, so I didn’t go full out. I just wanted to go through it, so I could compete (Saturday).”

Asked if she’d ever try to do four events again at the state meet, she smiled and said, “Probably.”

In qualifying competition in the throws, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame’s pairing of Aja Johnson and senior April Fontenette qualified 1-2 in the shot put, with Johnson – the country’s top sophomore in the event – achieving a second-round mark of 44-0.75 (13.43m).

They flipped positions in the discus, with Fontenette qualifying third (153-4/46.73m) and Johnson fourth (143-6/43.73m). Weston Ranch senior Galadriel Mellion had the top discus throw at 158-9 (48.38m), with defending champion Nailea Fields of Caruthers qualifying second at 156-6 (47.70m).

Notre Dame’s dynamic duo has one more day to shine.

“This is my last year of high school track and field, so it did mean a lot to me, especially to share it with a special person right here,” Fontenette said, referring to Johnson.

Rancho Buena Vista senior Tyler Knowles topped the boys shot put field at 59-9 (18.21m), with JSerra senior and reigning champion Brendon See coming oh-so-close to the 200-foot barrier by leading the discus field at 199-9 (60.88m). He achieved a 203-10 (62.13m) performance on the field adjacent to Veterans Memorial Stadium to win last year’s title.

“I was close,” See said, “but tomorrow’s another day.”

While Friday’s distance races kept Ventura sophomore Sadie Engelhardt's dream of becoming the first female athlete in California history to win the 800 and 1,600 in the same year, there were some wild cards with other competitors.

Engelhardt advanced, qualifying second in the 800 (2:10.59), behind Newport Harbor sophomore Keaton Robar (2:10.12) and 10th in the 1,600 (4:50.64) behind top qualifier Kinga Czajkowska, a Palo Alto sophomore who ran 4:49.03.

Mackenzie Browne, the reigning state 800 champion, was one of two JW North athletes to advance. Dominique Abbott clocked 2:10.77 and Browne secured the last berth in the final at 2:12.72.

Cupertino Homestead sophomore Evan Gardner topped the 800 field with a time of 1:52.47, more than two seconds better than his previous best. With nine times under 1:54, the race could be anyone’s game Saturday.

That includes Gardner.

“This was a different track than we’re used to running on,” he said. “It’s a lot faster, I feel like. The competition was a lot faster, so I think that also helped me push, because that was the fastest first lap I’ve ever run in my life (55.61).”

The boys 1,600 field could also be up for grabs, though the best time achieved Friday was Ventura junior Anthony Fast Horse at 4:10.48.

As expected, Upland senior Davis-Davis Lyric continued the Highlanders’ hurdling legacy with the fastest 110 hurdles time (13.95). Long Beach Jordan senior Darryll Stevens led the 300 hurdles field at 37.75. Christian Brothers senior Keilee Hall topped the girls 300 hurdles at 42.26, with Stockton Lincoln senior Yvette Harris leading the 100 hurdles with a wind-legal 13.73.

Bakersfield Liberty junior Christian Edwards had the best long jump of the day with a wind-aided 24-3.25 (7.39m) leap on his only attempt. South Bakersfield senior Shane Carr topped the triple jump with a wind-legal 48-2 (14.68m) in the second round.

Pole vaulters and high jumpers competed Friday until forming a field for Saturday’s final.

Foothill Technology senior Cole Dinker and Turlock junior Maxwell McFarlane led a group of 11 at 15 feet (4.57m) for the boys; a group of seven – paced by La Costa Canyon junior Iliana Downing and Del Norte sophomore Paige Echsner – cleared 12-7 (3.83m) in the girls competition.

All 12 boys high jump qualifiers checked in at 6-5 (1.95m), with Santa Ana Mater Dei sophomore Brandon Gorski and senior teammate Isley Gutierrez leading the way.

In the boys 4x100 relay, Granada Hills ran the fastest time Friday at 40.49. Carson led the girls 4x100 qualifiers at 45.73.

Los Gatos' boys had the top 4x400 relay in the prelims by clocking 3:15.88. Long Beach Wilson paced the girls 4x400 at 3:45.87.