Wolfpack still on track for back-to-back titles

Great Oak girls look to join Long Beach Poly and Long Beach Wilson with Division 1 championship repeat; Rancho Verde the boys favorite, but Wolfpack within striking distance

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Great Oak is the reigning CIF Southern Section Division 1 girls track and field champion, but despite significant losses to graduation, the Wolfpack’s greatest strength in the postseason remains depth.

After halting Long Beach Poly’s eight-year title run, Great Oak looks to become the first team to repeat aside from the Jackrabbits since Long Beach Wilson in 2005-06.

Although the Wolfpack had to replace 1,600- and 3,200-meter champion Destiny Collins, along with triple jump winner Ciynamon Stevenson, Great Oak still has 14 potential scoring opportunities in individual events at the division championship meet May 20 at Cerritos College. The Wolfpack didn’t qualify either relay.

Great Oak repeated last year’s success by having five athletes qualify for the 1,600 final and three for the 3,200 championship. Long Beach Poly, which didn’t qualify either relay, has nine potential point-scoring athletes in the finals, led by junior Ariyonna Augustine in the 100 and 200.

Seniors Evelyn Mandel and Nicole Rice, along with junior Sandra Pflughoft, are among six individuals – joining Ayala’s Mikaela Ramirez, El Toro’s Hannah Tobin and Walnut’s Chloe Arriaga – who advanced to both the 1,600 and 3,200 finals. Kiyena Beatty reached the 800 and 1,600 finals for the Wolfpack, with Sydney Belus also qualifying in the 1,600.

Great Oak also remains in contention to repeat as Division 1 boys champion, which the Wolfpack last accomplished in 2013-14.

Rancho Verde is the favorite after 10 athletes qualified individually, along with both relays, for the championship meet. Great Oak also has 10 potential point-scoring individuals, but the Wolfpack didn’t qualify either relay for the final, with Rancho Verde the favorite to win both events.

When Great Oak set the Division 1 boys record last year with 104 points, the Wolfpack had three athletes in the 800 final, four in the 1,600 and three in the 3,200, in addition to Seth Knowlton in the discus throw and shot put.

This season, Great Oak has Solomon Fountain in the 800 and 1,600 finals, with Carlos Carvajal in the 1,600 and 3,200 finals. The Wolfpack have CJ Stevenson, Ciynamon’s brother, leading all triple jump qualifiers, with two finalists in the shot put and pole vault.

Rancho Verde has three finalists each in the 100 and 200, led by senior Isaiah Cunningham, with senior Cameron Samuel qualifying in both hurdles.

Before Great Oak last season, Long Beach Poly was the last Division 1 program to sweep both team championships in the same year in 2004. The Jackrabbits were also the last team to accomplish the feat in consecutive years in 2003-04.