Editor, ESPNHS/DyeStatCal
(April 25, 2012) -- With a lineup headed by national leaders Gabby Williams and Sasha Wallace, this Saturday's 32nd annual Sacramento Meet of Champions is primed to continue its tradition as perhaps the premier Northern California late-season invitational in recent years.
A total of 145 schools are entered to compete in the single-day affair, which has relocated to American River College as a results of stadium renovations at Sacramento City College's Hughes Stadium.
This year's lineup showcases 32 athletes currently ranked among the top 10 in the state of California in their respective events. But perhaps leading the way is out-of-stater Williams of Reed HS in Nevada, who recently took over the national lead in the girls high jump with her clearance on 6-00.00 at the Del Oro Invitational.
Meanwhile, Holy Names' Wallace seeks to make more national headlines in the sand pits after taking over the national lead in the triple jump when she spanned a staggering 42-10.75 in the event at last weekend's Mt. SAC Relays. Her main nemesis here should be Bear River all-arounder Kendal Nielsen, who'll seek to break through the 40-foot barrier after a lifetime-best 39-05.00 bound in recent weeks. Wallace is also entered as the top seed in the high hurdles (13.43, #3 this year in all conditions) while training mate Trinity Wilson (St. Mary's HS, Berkeley) remains sidelined and recovering from a toe injury.
Another top talent in action will be Presentation pole vaulter Taylore Jaques, who scaled 13-00.00 for the third time this season in recent action, with the mark earning her a share of a three-way tie for the state lead in the event. Jacques, Homestead's Rachel Bolton and Las Lomas' Cimran Virdi are entrants each ranked among the top five in the state in the event.
On the boys side, Kennedy of Richmond hurdler Kenneth Walker III is the top name entered, with the football star heading up the high hurdles field thanks to a state-leading 14.05 clocking over the 39-inch high barriers.
Perhaps the deepest event of the whole meet is the triple jump, where James Logan's Jeff Prothro leads four athletes holding marks ranking among the top 10 in the state in all conditions. Prothro, who cleared 48-01.25 at the Arcadia Invitational to move to #2 in the state, will be challenged by Merrill West's Deon Pinder, Bishop O'Dowd's Nathaniel Moore and James Logan's Karsten Wethington.
Below is a list of entered athletes who currently rank among the top 10 in the state based on 2012 marks:
ATHLETES RANKED IN TOP 10 IN STATE COMPETING @
SATURDAY'S SACRAMENTO MEET OF CHAMPIONS
Boys 100
Kyree King (Colony) 10.61 (#4)
Boys 200
Daniel Fortenko (Terra Linda) 21.46 (#3)
Boys 400
Frank Kurtz (Heritage) 48.22 (#3)
Daveon Overton (Vallejo) 48.85 (#10)
Boys 800
Dylan Chamberlen (Paradise) 1:52.95 (#4)
Darrell Jackson (Fairfield) 1:53.85 (#7)
Boys 1600
Thomas Joyce (Campolindo) 4:10.31c (#3)
Boys HH
Kenneth Walker (Kennedy) 14.05 #1)
Boys HJ
Noel Frazier (California) 6-10.00 (#2)
Boys PV
Colin Barber (San Ramon Valley) 16-01.00 (#4)
Boys LJ
Conner Barla (Golden Sierra) 22-09.00w (#9 all conditions)
Boys TJ
Jeff Prothro (James Logan) 48-01.25 (#2)
Deon Pinder (Merrill West) 47-10.75 (#4)
Nathaniel Moore (Bishop O'Dowd) 47-07.00 (#5)
Karsten Wethington (James Logan) 46-06.00 (#10 ac)
Boys SP
Ryan Donnahoe (Gridley) 58-06.00 (#10)
Boys DT
Curtis Bleasdale (Vacaville) 177-07 #9
Girls 800
Kody Atkins (Chico) 2:10.37 (#3)
Madison Rcisk (California) 2:11.69 (#6)
Girls 1600
Carrie Verdon (Campolindo) 4:51.68c (#4)
Girls HH
Sasha Wallace (Holy Names) 13.43 (#3 ac)
Daje Pugh (Fairfield) 14.08 (#9 ac)
Daria Cook (Vacaville) 14.08 (#9 ac)
Girls LH
Daje Pugh (Fairfield) 42.98 (#2)
Daria Cook (Vacaville) 43.41 (#6)
Girls HJ
Gabby Williams (Reed, Nev.) 6-00.00 (#1)
Girls PV
Taylore Jaques (Presentation) 13-00.00 (#1)
Rachel Bolton (Homestead) 12-10.00 (#4)
Cimran Virdi (Las Lomas) 12-09.00 (#5)
Girls LJ
Shea Taylor (Grace Davis) 19-02.00 (#7 ac)
Girls TJ
Sasha Wallace (Holy Names) 42-04.75 (#1)
Kendal Nielsen (Brea River) 39-05.00 (#4)
Girls SP
Lovina Akauoka (Vallejo) 42-09.00 (#7)