The CIF State Track and Field Championships get underway today at Buchanan High in Fresno.

Qualifying starts this afternoon, with the finals scheduled for Saturday evening.

Here is an event by event breakdown of the action in the girls events. (Click here to go the Boys Track and Field: State Meet Preview.)

100m

County Participant: None

Outlook: Defending state champion Ashton Purvis of St. Elizabeth High in Oakland enters with the best time in the state this season and is considered a favorite to capture her second straight state title. Rio Mesa sophomore and Southern Section Masters champion Valexsia Droughn of Rio Mesa will also be a strong favorite here.

200m

County Participants: None

Outlook: Purvis will again be a favorite here, entering with the top seeded time among all runners and the fastest wind legal time in the state this season (23.60) Highland junior Jessica Davis (23.68), Rancho Verde’s Tenille Stoudenmire (23.93, and Rancho Verde junior Alycia Herring (23.94) are the only other runners in the state to go wind-legal sub-24.00 this season.

400m

County Participants: Gabrielle Scott (Woodbridge); Emily Kressin (Troy); Christina Twicken (San Clemente)

Outlook: Scott, the CIF-SS Division II champion, enters the state meet after a fifth place finish at the Masters Meet and another top five placing is within reach. Kressin and Twicken posted the 16th and 18th best qualifying times among the 30 entrants and will need big efforts to advance past prelims.

800m

County Participants: None

Outlook: A new breed of runners will vie for the state title here, as only one competitor from last season’s final (Jordan Diaz of Lehigh) will compete. With Carlmont senior and state leader Justine Fedronic out with a stress fracture, Marlborough senior Carlyle Davis and Valencia/Valencia senior Aly Drake are the only others runners to go under 2:10 in the state this season.  This is a wide open field and should be very closely contested.

1600m

County Participants: Staci Foster (Orange Lutheran); Teeny Adams (Esperanza)

Orange Lutheran senior Staci Foster. Paul Rodriguez/The Register

Outlook: This event produced a historical result last season, as former Woodbridge star Christine Babcock blazed to a national high school federation and state meet record 4:33.82. Though that time probably won’t be approached, the competition should be one to watch. Senior Sammy Silva of Our Lady of Peace will enter as the top seeded runner in the field and has produced thesecond best time in the state this season. Foster, who has closed the season running extremely well, should be in contention throughout and has the physical and mental toughness to be a state champion. Adams should also be amongst the leaders and a top five finish is certainly within reason.

3200m

County Participants: Danica Wyson (Aliso Niguel); Hillary Hayes (Edison); Alex Dunne (San Clemente); Lori Hoffman (Trabuco Hills); Staci Foster (Orange Lutheran)

San Clemente senior Alex Dunne. File Photo

Outlook: The expected showdown between Dunne and Mission College Prep star Jordan Hasay almost didn’t happen, as Dunne pulled up with a leg ailment over the final lap at the Masters Meet, ultimately finishing fourth. She did manage to qualify and after a week of productive workouts,  is expected to compete. Dunne has had an outstanding career and season, and if she is fully healthy, will challenge Hasay in what could be one of the meet’s most exciting duels. Wyson, who finished second at the Masters meet despite running most of the race with only one shoe, has been impressive throughout her freshman campaign, and could very well be in the mix for the title. Hayes, Foster, and Hoffman all ran well at the Masters and are strong candidates to finish in the top 10.

100m Hurdles

County Participants: None

Outlook: Should come down to a three runner competition, as Claremont junior and state leader Kori Carter, Marlborough senior Ashtyn Baltimore, and Etiwanda senior Monisha Davis enter with the top three seeded times. With no other runners qualifying within 16 seconds of that trio, it’s tough to imagine anyone else breaking through for the win.

300m Hurdles

County Participant: Monica Todd (Trabuco Hills)

Outlook: The Southern Section is a strong favorite to produce a champion here, as six of the top 11 seeded runners reside here. Claremont senior Kori Carter and Long Beach Wilson senior Nyjah Cousar were sub-42 seconds at the Masters last week and will be in the title hunt. Todd enters with the eighth best qualifying time and a similar effort in prelims should get her into the finals.

400m Relay

County Participant: Trabuco Hills

Outlook: The top seven seeded times in the competition come from the Southern Section, including Rancho Verde, who won the race at the Masters and was the only squad to go under 46 seconds. Long Beach Poly (46.03) and Serra (46.13) were second and third respectively at the Masters and should place in the top five. Trabuco Hills (47.67) grabbed the final qualifying spot at the Masters, and has the potential to grab one of the final spots in the finals.

1600m Relay

County Participant: None

Outlook: The Southern Section is again the heavy favorite to produce a relay champion, as the top five seeded teams come from the section. Rancho Verde (3:44.02) and Serra (3:44.95) were the top two finishers at the Masters and should be the top contenders for the state title.

High Jump

County Participant: Annie Giebelhaus (Orange Lutheran)

Orange Lutheran sophomore Annie Giebelhaus. Paul Rodriguez/The Register

Outlook: A closely contested competition should unfold here, as eleven jumpers enter with qualifying marks of 5 feet, five inches or better. That list includes Giebelhaus, the Trinity League champion, who has a seasonal best of 5-8 and should contend for a top 10 finish.

Long Jump

County Participant: None

Outlook: Four jumpers enter the competition with qualifying marks of over 19 feet. Amongst them are Diamond Ranch senior and state leader Karynn Dunn, who is the only athlete to go over 20 feet this spring. Marlbrough senior Ashtyn Baltimore (19-11 ¾) and Moreau Catholic senior Alitta Boyd (19-8 ¾) will also be competitors to keep an eye on.

Triple Jump

County Participant: None

Outlook: Three jumpers have gone over 40 feet this season, and all three are from the North Coast section. James Logan senior Ciarra Brewer (42 feet, three inches), Moreau Catholic’s Boyd (42-1 ¼ inches), and St. Mary’s of Berkeley senior Aziza Baker (40-4 ½). Sophomore Melia Cox of Long Beach Poly is the Southern Section leader this season at 39-9 ¼.

Pole Vault

County Participants: Claire Hawkins (Santa Margarita); Allison Koressel (Huntington Beach); Victoria Rische (Foothill); Carissa Culver (Los Alamitos)

Huntington Beach senior Allison Koressel

Outlook: Should be one of the better events of the meet and could very well end with a county vaulter claiming a state championship. Hawkins produced a lifetime best of 12 feet, nine inches to win the Masters title over Koressel, who cleared the same height and finished second on more vaults. Hawkins’ mark is the fourth best in the state this year.  Koressel is tied for the state lead and the fourth best mark in the country this season with a clearance of 13 feet, one inch. Rische has come on strong over the latter half of her freshman year and her 12 feet, three inch clearance at the Masters meet, the best clearance ever by a county freshman. Culver, who previously held the county freshman mark, has been close to scaling 12 feet, and should be in amongst the top finishers in the competition.

Discus

County Participants: None

Outlook: Shafter senior Anna Jelmini is the national high school record holder in this event, and with no other thrower entering the competition within 25 feet of her qualifying throw, should have no problem bring home a state title.

Shot Put

County Participant: Luseane Makenesi (Katella)

Outlook: Jelmini is the heavy favorite to win her second state title here, entering the competition as the second best thrower of all-time. Makanesi, who finished fifth at the Masters, enters with the 10th best seeding mark and should be in contention to advance to the finals.

RELATED:

• O.C group looks to win at State meet
• O.C. qualifies strong group for state track

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