The562’s cross country and track & field coverage is sponsored by Joe Carlson & Debbie Hughes.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
From the Arcadia Invitational and the Moore League Finals to the CIF Championships and everything in between, Wilson logs plenty of miles over the course of a long season—but celebrating a state championship at the end of it never gets tiring.
The Bruins earned that right once again in historic fashion this year, winning their fourth consecutive state championship Saturday at the CIF State Finals at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis. Wilson finished with a school-record 70 team points, tying for the third-highest total in state history and finishing more than double ahead of runner-up Santiago Corona which scored 30.
“For as long as I’ve been here, this is probably No. 1,” said Wilson co-coach Shannon Fisher of the championship. “When we have kids come in wanting to work hard and carry on the legacy at this school, it never gets tiring winning these state championships. These girls come in wanting to be like the ones before them, and it never gets old watching that legacy grow.”
The Bruins broke two school records while collecting four gold medals and seven podium finishes, becoming just the second girls’ team in California history to win four consecutive state championships after leaguemates Long Beach Poly’s did it from 2008-11. No girls’ or boys’ team has ever won five consecutive state championships.
The feat wouldn’t have been possible if not for Wilson’s 4×400 relay team of Clara Adams, Brooke Blue, Brooklyn Fowler and Saniah Varnado, which set a national-record at Masters last week and concluded Saturday with another first place finish. Between their relay win and their individual wins, the four combined to score 53 of Wilson’s 70 points, which in itself would’ve been a new school-record for the Bruins.
“They come in and do their little TikToks, but once that’s over and we get on the track, those girls work,” Fisher said of the quartet. “They put in the work and they don’t take runs off. We have young girls coming in and pushing the older girls, so having that middle-distance group that can all train together—it’s almost like a track meet every day at practice. That’s what prepares them to come out here and do what they do.”
The Bruins claimed 23 of those 70 points in the girls’ 400m race alone, where three members of that national record-setting 4x400 relay team were competing. Adams took home gold in 52.28, while junior Varnado finished second in 52.98 and Fowler placed fourth in 54.41.
Adams crossed the finish line first in the girls’ 400m state final last year before being disqualified following a celebration on the infield. One year later, the North Salinas transfer earned her redemption by officially claiming the state title. She then added a second gold medal in the girls’ 200m with a 23.40 come-from-behind victory, eventually finishing the night with three gold medals and her first team state championship.
“This is the first time in my career that I can genuinely say I have no words,” said a speechless Adams after her perfect meet. “No words can explain how I’m feeling right now. I’m ecstatic, I’m happy, and I’m just so full of joy. I’m so proud of myself and my whole team—they’re my family, and it’s such a blessing to be a part of this four-peat with them.”
Adams wasn’t the only Bruin to continue her huge day at the state meet after the 400m, as Varnado also captured an individual state championship in the girls’ 300m hurdles with a blistering 39.95. The junior overcame contact with the first hurdle and managed to break Olympic gold medalist Lashinda Demus’ Wilson school record of 39.98, which had stood since 2001.
“I was shocked about that,” Varnado said. “I was just trying to execute my race and listen to what the coaches were telling me. I knocked over a hurdle, but I just had to get back focused because I was not going out like that. After the last 100 meters, I was just in shock after looking at the time. I was at a loss for words.”
Demus weighed in on Varnado’s record-breaking performance via The562’s Instagram, congratulating the junior following her individual state championship.
“Truly honored!!!” Demus commented. “It is well deserved! She went after it like a true dog!!!”
Wilson’s Brooklyn Fowler also competed in three races, beginning with the girls’ 4x100m relay. The Bruins finished sixth in 46.58 with a quartet made up entirely of underclassmen, as Fowler and fellow sophomore Kayla Brown teamed up with freshmen London Welch and Jayda Cigar-Dingle.
The Bruins also received a podium finish from their lone field athlete, Journii Spencer, who placed third in the triple jump with a top mark of 40 feet on her second attempt. The jump set a new personal best for the Fullerton commit in the final meet of her high school career, earning Wilson six more valuable points.
Wilson had one other individual competitor in the girls’ 800 meters in Shirayah Lewis-Williams, who finished seventh in 2:08.99. Lewis-Williams also anchored Wilson’s 4x800 relay team, joining Kennedy Bryant, Riley Jones and Kimani Tindal in a third-place finish with a time of 8:53.37.
The title was Wilson’s sixth girls’ state championship, while the Bruins’ 70 points tied Long Beach Poly’s 2014 total for the third-highest score ever by a girls’ team at the state finals. The Jackrabbits hold the top two spots, including the state record of 80 points set in 2004.
Results:
Girls’ 4x100m: 6th, 46.58, (London Welch, Brooklyn Fowler, Jayda Cigar Dingle, Kayla Brown)
Girls’ 400m: Clara Adams, 1st, 52.28
Girls’ 400m: Saniah Varnado, 2nd, 52.98
Girls’ 400m: Brooklyn Fowler, 4th, 54.41
Girls’ 800m: Shirayah Lewis-Williams, 7th, 2:08.99
Girls’ 300m Hurdles: Saniah Varnado, 1st, 39.95
Girls’ 200m: Clara Adams, 1st, 23.40
Girls’ 4x800m: 3rd, 8:53.37, (Kennedy Bryant, Riley Jones, Kimani Tindal and Shirayah Lewis Williams)
Girls’ 4x400m: 1st, 3:36.17, (Brooke Blue, Brooklyn Fowler, Clara Adams, Saniah Varnado)
Girls’ Triple Jump: Journii Spencer, 3rd 40' 0"
