It is the eve before the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Track & Field Championships with five schools competing for the title. The Orange Coast College Pirates men and women will look to defend their title, while the reentrance of Riverside may throw a wrench into the overall standings at championship's end.
Women's Hammer
Riverside's Alejandra Rosales has been a consistent leader in the conference in all throws categories. She is the favorite to win the Hammer (136' 5") with Saddleback's Kianna Turner close behind (130' 11").
Men's Pole Vault
Riverside's Collin Orlando enters as the favorite with the highest seed mark (14' 10"). Orange Coast's Tyler Young (14' 3 ¼") and Saddleback's Koa Kosco (14' 3 ¼") will compete for the top spot, while Orange Coast's Tommy Cook (14' 2") follows closely behind. Orlando currently ranks sixth in the state with his 14' 10" clearance.
Men's Discus
To no surprise, Riverside's Donal Aluesi leads the way in the Discus (164' 7") and also ranks third overall in the state. He is coming off to championships in the Hammer and the Shot Put.
Men's Triple Jump
Riverside's Novye James currently ranks third in the State in the Triple Jump (50' 7 ¼") and enters the championships with the top mark. Orange Coast Paul Dominigue (46' 0") follows and ranks 11th in the state.
Women's High Jump
The gold medal is up for grabs with three competitors all ranked second in the state and gridlocked at the top. Orange Coast holds two of the top three spots in the High Jump featuring Nicolette Gruber (5' 3") and Taylor Eddleman (5' 3"). Saddleback's Jolie Robinson (5' 3") is also in the mix.
Men's High Jump
Riverside occupies the top two slots with Darius Hill (6' 9") leading the way. He currently ranks third in the state with his mark. Reno Vasquez (5' 11 ¼").
Women's Triple Jump
Saddleback's Jolie Robinson leading in the Triple Jump (37' 11 ¼") while holding the third best time in the state. Orange Coast's Kailey Frye (36' 7 ¾") is the nearest threat.
Women's Discus
RCC's Rosales is a landslide favorite in the Discus (146' 8") as she leads the stat by nearly six feet. Saddlebck's Danielle Lister (133' 9") will look to challenge, but likely fall in second place.
Women's 4 x 100 M Relay
Riverside's 4 x 100 M Relay (47.23) will likely land in first place featuring the talents of Zoe Ewell, Hailey Hunt, Kayla Johnson and Brianna Olujoku. Golden West (49.97) and Orange Coast (49.48) will compete for the second spot with the next best times.
Men's 4 x 100 M Relay
Riverside (42.08) enters as a slight favorite, but Orange Coast (42.68) is tightly nipping at the Tigers' heals. Saddleback (43.01) follows with a close third.
Women's 1500 M
Saddleback's Olivia Knobbe (4:54.89) enters with the top seed time, while Orange Coast's Mckay Arvidson (4:57.23) will challenge her for the title. Knobbe's time is good for a top-10 mark in state.
Men's 1500 M
It will be a Riverside battle for the top spot at Mario Tavares (4:13.80) and Gonzalo Sanchez (4:18.95) will battle it out for the top two podium spots. Orange Coast's Dylan Muniz will look to place third overall (4:14.56) with the third best seed time.
Women's 100 M Hurdles
Saddleback's Jolie Robinson (15.87) enters as the favorite by nearly a full second. Her teammate, Esther Parrish (16.41), will look to challenge her field-pacing seed mark.
Men's 110 M Hurdles
This race is Riverside's Joshua Hornsby's (14.09) to lose after pacing the state the entire season. His counterpart, Matthew Siggins (14.94), has the second strongest mark, while Golden West's James Lim (15.47) enters with the third best clip.
Women's 400 M
Saddleback's Maliyah Medley (56.10) leads the state and is the favorite to haul in the gold, while Riverside's Olujoku (57.70) will push her to the limits. She is ranked eighth overall in the state.
Men's 400 M
Orange Coast's Ryan Rivituso (49.48) and Nicolas Felix 50.01) will battle to snap the tape. Rivituso holds the 11th strongest mark in the state, while Felix's time does not crack the top-20 despite being separated by less than a second.
Women's 100 M
Riverside's Hailey Hunt (12.21) and Zoe Ewell (12.24) will link up for a photo finish in what will shape up to be one of the closest splits in the sprints. Golden West's Amara Muhammad (12.56) will look to cause some ruckus in the final standings.
Women's 800 M
Riverside's Laila Wright (2:27.09) is favorited with the highest seed time, but Elani Huntley (2:27.89) will push for the top spot in a close split. Saddleback's Knobbe (2:29.60) will look to get in the mix as well.
Men's 800 M
Saddleback's Marquis Colvin (1:57.32) and Riverside's Sanchez (1:57.37) will battle in out in one of the tightest splits on the men's side. Riverside's Kyle Reden (1:57.89) will look to shake it up as well.
Women's 400 M Hurdles
Fullerton's Annaliese Powell (1:08.80) holds a three second better mark than her teammate Carrin Hilliard (1:11.35). Orange Coast's Mallory Jackson (1:11.69) will look to make a push for second place.
Men's 400 M Hurdles
Another photo finish could unfold as Riverside's Tyler Howard (54.82) and Fullerton's Leon Jett (54.87) will race to the finish for the gold. Jett holds a 54.31 mark that lands him third in the state.
Women's 200 M
Riverside's Hunt (24.68) will battle it out with Saddleback's Maliyah Medley (24.74) for the top spot, while Riverside's Ewell (25.03) will look for a podium finish.
Men's 200 M
All nine qualifying marks land in the sub 22 second range with Orange Coast's Jeffery Hass (22.08) leading the charge. He is followed by Riverside's Dominic Boykins (22.22) and Orange Coast's Felix (22.25).
Women's 5000 M
Orange Coast's Arvidon (18:28.97) will look to cruised the long haul to the finish line as the outrageous favorite by over a minute. However, anything could happen as Riverside's Soleil Russo (19:38.58) and Briana Rodriguez (19:38.70) will look to challenge for the top three spots.
Men's 5000 M
It's all Riverside as Raen Reyes (15:12.82), Gavyn Condit (15:19.77) and Abel Ramos (15:20.00) will act as a three headed monster all vying for the top spot.
Women's 4 x 400 M Relay
Riverside (4:03.30) holds the third strongest time in the state and the best mark by 14 seconds. Fullerton (4:17.41) and Saddleback (4:17.61) will likely battle it out for the silver medal in a close split.
Men's 4 x 400 M Relay
Much like the women's side, Riverside (3:17.97) is likely to take home the top spot. However, a hungry Orange Coast (3:19.97) squad could give them a run for their money. Riverside lands fourth in the state, while Orange Coast lands ninth overall.
Release by Nicho DellaValle, Riverside SID