Diamond Bar Schools to Challenge Track Elite in CIF Finals

The long road to the CIF Track and Field State Meet will continue for some as the CIF-Southern Section Finals take place Saturday at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

Field events are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., followed by running events at 1 p.m.

The journey began for most during this past Saturday's CIF divisional meets. Four meets were held on May 14 with the top nine in each event advancing to CIF Finals.

When everything is said and done on Saturday, the top nine among the four divisions will advance to the CIF Masters Meet on May 27. The top 12 in the 800 meter, 1600, 3200 and all field events will also advance to Masters. The CIF State Meet is set for June 3 and 4 at Buchanan High School's Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis.

Diamond Ranch High School has a pair of contenders for Masters in junior Andrew Fischer and senior Marquise Cherry.

Fischer took fourth in the 300 hurdles at the Division III prelims (39.23), but still has the second-best time in the State due to his 37.79 run at the Mt. Sac Relays in mid-April.

Cherry won the long jump last week (22-05.00) and ranks near the top 10 in State in the event.

Among the big guns to watch for on the boys include Covina High School sprinter Remontay McClain and Agoura High School hurdler Johnathan Cabral.

McClain won the 100 and 200 at the Division III meet in Costa Mesa and boasts the fastest time in the State this year in the 100 (10.28) and fourth-fastest time in the 200 (21.14/no wind).

Cabral swept the 110 and 300 hurdles at divisionals and has the fastest time in the state in both hurdle events.

On the girls' side, La Puente Bishop Amat senior Kylie Price should prove a threat in the 100 and long jump. She won the 100 and finished third in the long jump at the Division III prelims and her top marks in each event rank amongst the state's best this season.

Simi Valley distance runner Sarah Baxter will also be a name to look for in the distance events. The freshman dominated the 3,200 and won the 1,600 at last week's Division I prelims, posting a 10:31.77 mark in the 3,200 and winning the race by nearly 14 seconds. Baxter also boasts the best time in the State in the 3200 (10:14.11) and fifth-best time in the 1,600 (4:53.23).

Ticket prices for the CIF Finals are as follows: $9 general admission; $5 students (with high school ID); $5 children.

CIF Track and Field Finals Entrants
Note: Times and places are taken from results at CIF Divisional Meets from 5/14/11

Diamond Bar High School

Boys Discus
6. Julian Ambrosine (Diamond Bar) 165-11

Diamond Ranch High School

Boys 400 Meter
4. Frederick Higgins (Diamond Ranch) 50.80

Boys 300 Meter Hurdles
4. Andrew Fischer (Diamond Ranch) 39.23

Boys Long Jump
1. Marquise Cherry (Diamond Ranch) 22-05.00