Inland track and field roundup: North girls team wins first section title in 14 years

The North girls track and field program was a juggernaut during much of the 1990s and 2000s, but the Huskies went more than a decade without winning a CIF Southern Section team championship.

The drought ended Saturday night, as North won the Division 2 title at Moorpark High School. It is the program’s 10th section championship and first since winning the Division 2 title in 2007. The Huskies finished Saturday’s meet with 78.5 points, 7.5 ahead of runner-up Golden Valley.

North did not start the meet off on a positive note, as its 400 relay team failed to finish. But the Huskies responded well, especially with strong performances in the two sprint races.

Raykiyat Olukoju swept those events, winning the 100 meters with a wind-aided time of 11.67 seconds and the 200 meters in a wind-legal time of 23.09. Olukoju’s 200 time is the best in the state this season, and her 100 time also is the state’s fastest under all conditions.

Idara Ibekwe finished second to her teammate in both of those races with times of 11.78 and 24.17, respectively. Rhe Nae Leach, another runner from North, placed fourth in the 100 and fifth in the 200. Olukoju, Ibekwe and Leach combined for 45 points in those two races alone.

Mackenize Browne placed second in the 1600 meters, and Makayla Browne was third in the 800.

Those results all were expected. The pleasant surprise for the Huskies was Breija Stredic’s victory in the 300 hurdles. Stredic won the race in 45.07, a two-second drop from prelims.

North capped the finals with a victory in the 1600 relay, as the Browne sisters, Ibekwe and Briana Olukoju finished in 3 minutes, 48.90 seconds, the No. 2 time in the state this year.

Chino’s Mia Chavez continued her outstanding junior campaign with a pair of victories. She won the 1600 meters in a time of 5:05.81 and came back to win the 800 in a time of 2:12.12.

Apple Valley’s Calista Apostol was second in the girls high jump, while Silverado’s Isis Snowden finished second in the girls shot put.

On the boys side, Redlands East Valley’s Liam Mapes was the winner at 3200 meters (9:12.53).REV’s Simon Opsahl finished second in the 800 meters, while Colton’s Gift Osueke was second in the boys triple jump (44-8.50).

ONTARIO CHRISTIAN BOYS FINISH SECOND IN DIVISION 4

The Ontario Christian boys track and field team finished as the runner-up at the Division 4 championship meet at Carpinteria High School, marking the best finish in program history.

The Knights finished with 46 points, three points ahead of Serra. Oaks Christian was the runaway winner on the boys side with 79 points.

Christian Burroughs scored 20 of Ontario Christian’s points as he swept the throwing events. He won the shot put with a mark of 54 feet, 5.75 inches and the discus with a mark of 160-1.

Big Bear’s Max Sannes won the boys 3200 meters in a time of 9:18.51, and Rim of the World’s Ricardo Vargas placed second in that same race.