The562’s cross country and track & field coverage is sponsored by Joe Carlson & Debbie Hughes.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The Long Beach Poly track and field team concluded its season at the CIF State Finals in Clovis on Saturday and took home a second-place finish for the girls.
Despite several setbacks this season, the Jackrabbits still finished as runners-up at both the CIF and State championships, and claimed a CIF-SS title for the boys. The team had been plagued by injuries since the Moore League finals and faced a controversial no-call at the CIF finals that disqualified their boys’ 4x100m team. Their entries declined after that, but the Jackrabbits still closed the season with several commendable accomplishments.
“Anything that could go wrong for our boys and girls teams did go wrong this year,” said Poly coach Crystal Irving. “So the fact that our boys still came out as CIF-SS champs and our girls are second in the state, and then for our boys to set a new school record in the mile relay, it’s amazing. We are so blessed that God has us like He does.”
The Jackrabbits walked away from the meet with a state champion in the girls’ high jump, where Jillene Wetteland finished in a three-way tie and cleared 5 ‘7—an inch higher than her performance at State last year.
“It does feel pretty good [to go out that way],” said Wetteland. “I think this is the highest I’ve gotten at State. I wish I got higher but I think 5 ‘7 is good, especially since it tied me for first.”
It was Wetteland’s last high school meet and last time jumping alongside teammate and fellow senior Joy Anderson. Anderson came in fifth place with a jump of 5 ‘6, but also finished eighth in the 300m hurdles with a 42.39.
Anderson was primarily a basketball player throughout high school but began to take track seriously once she recognized her talent. This year, she added hurdles to her event roster and has exceeded expectations by advancing all the way to State. Her abilities as both a high jumper and hurdler have also attracted attention at the collegiate level.
“I’m just a person who loves learning and I just had so much to learn from track,” Anderson said. “I always want to find a way to improve. This year, it was my first year doing hurdles and I made it this far and I also did better in high jump than last year. I’m super proud of myself.”
The Jackrabbits had another hurdler in sophomore Kadence Bain, who finished sixth in the girls’ 100m hurdles with a time of 13.99. Bain immediately jumped around the finish line in celebration of the mark, which was a new personal record.
“It felt so amazing,” Bain said. “I was so happy to go sub 13 especially as a sophomore. It was a really eye-opening experience for me.”
The Poly boys had just two entries but walked away from the meet with a new school record. Gus Armstrong, Jarrius Hill, Darieon Shufford, and Noah Smith set the new school record in the boys’ 4×400 and ran a 3:08.68.
“I told them that tonight you’re going to chase that school record and leave it on the track,” Irving said of her message to her boys. “That’s what all of them did. They all ran faster and ran beyond themselves. We are very excited to end the night like we did.”
Lynnox Newton was the only individual runner for the Poly boys and finished four in the boys’ 110m hurdles.
Results
Girls’ 4×100: 2nd (Leila Holland, Nevaeh Lewis, Aniyah Brooks, Aurya Beatty), 46.18
Girls’ 100 Hurdles: Kadence Bain, 6th, 13.99
Girls’ 300 Hurdles: Joy Anderson, 8th, 42.39
Girls’ 4×400: 6th (Aliyah Stokes, Aurya Beatty, Brianna Wells, Nevaeh Lewis), 3:46.91
Girls’ High Jump: Jillene Wetteland, T-1st, 5-07
Girls’ High Jump: Joy Anderson, 5th, 5-06
Boys’ 110 Hurdles: Lynnox Newton, 4th, 13.82
Boys’ 4×400: 1st (Gus Armstrong, Jarrius Hill, Darieon Shufford, Noah Smith), 3:08.68
