Spectators filled the stadium at Cerritos College on Saturday to watch top high school athletes compete in the CIF Southern Section finals of track and field.
It was a long day for both athletes and spectators as 64 events – 16 in each of four divisions – spanned almost seven hours. Only one of the Pacific League’s athletes qualified to advance to the CIF masters. Sarah Prystupa of Burroughs High School vaulted 12-03 to take second in the CIF finals and will move forward with the fifth best height cleared in the event. Best mark at 13-3 was by Rachel Baxter from Canyon/Anaheim.

Local CIF star runner Jack Van Scoter from Flintridge Prep will be running the 3200m at the Masters Meet, clocking 9:01.81,which was the third fastest overall time of the day. Van Scoter earned two gold medals, in the 3200m and 1600m races, in Division 4. Running a time of 4:13.90 placed Van Scoter first at the CIF finals, but his time did not qualify him to move forward to the Masters Meet. Scoter barely missed the 12th place qualifying mark of 4:13.67 in the 1600m. Best 1600m mark of 4:07.62 was by Isaac Cortes of Great Oak. The best 3200m mark of 8:57.22 was by Callum Bolger of San Luis Obispo.

 
The other two qualifiers going to the Masters are from La Cañada and St. Francis high schools in Division 3.

Katherine Scoville won the 3200m in a time of 10:39.82 and has the fifth best overall time in the event. Best 3200m mark was 10:26.75 by Destiny Collins from Great Oak. La Cañada’s Claire Murray captured fourth in the Division 3 100H running 14.83, missing the qualifying time to make the Masters. The ninth fastest overall qualifying time was 14.43.

Jasher Foster, who attended the state meet last year, had a dual gold win in the 110HH running a time of 14.03 and clocking a 37.69 in the 300 IH as well. Foster qualified with the third fastest overall time in both events and moves forward Friday night to the Masters Meet. The best 110HH mark was by Joseph Anderson from Upland running 13.67. The best mark in the 300IH was by Koty Burton (37.18) from La Quinta.
The Masters Meet has spots for the top nine in all running events, and the top 12 in the 1600m and 3200m races. The field event qualifiers must meet a certain distance or height to advance. This year there are 15 boys in the high jump with 6-4 or better, 18 boys in the pole vault with 14-06 or better. The girls’ pole vault will have 12 contestants with a height of 11-9 or better and girls’ high jump has 19 individuals with 5-03 or better. All other field events will have 12 athletes. The Masters Meet will be Friday, May 27, starting at 3 p.m. for field events, 6 p.m. for running events and is hosted by Cerritos College.