CLOVIS—There are some qualifying events in the California State Track and Field Championships where runners simply can’t hold back.
The boys’ 110-meter hurdles and 100-meter dash are two of them.
San Diego High’s Jasir Fontenot looked like anything but a freshman when he ran a state meet record of 13.31 seconds to lead all qualifiers in the 110-hurdles.
After several races where wind erased his fast times, there was a barely a wisp of a breeze — 0.2 meters per second — and the 100-plus degree heat didn’t appear to bother the Caver who at first thought he’d ‘only’ run 13.33.
“I was disappointed,” Fontenot said. “I’ve been shooting for the state meet record of 13.33 and was already thinking it was OK that I tied it and I could break it in the finals.”
A second later, his time was adjusted to a 13.31. Fontenot could mildly celebrate and recalculate his goal to 13.22, which is the fastest time run in any meet in California history.
That was clocked by James Marshall of Stockton St. Mary’s in 2019 and is the third fastest time in high school history.
Very good company, especially for a 9th-grader and, naturally, his third section record of the season, eclipsing his 13.62.
He started slowly but then at hurdle six of 10 he took off, leaving the field well behind.
“I’m in disbelief,” said the 15-year-old phenom. “I was looking for a 13.4 something but I had a great week of practice. Actually, my start was solid and that was one of my smoothest races this season. I saw the runner in lane 3 (St. Ignacious’ Prince Buchango-Babalola) ahead early but I hit the after-burner halfway through the race.”
Then he looked ahead.
“I want 13.1-something,” he said. “I believe I can do it with just a little better race.”
It could well be a 1-2 finish for the San Diego Section as Ramona’s Sterling Bryant won the second heat in 13.72 seconds. That was well ahead of Heat No. 4 champ Hudson Hergenrader of Clovis Buchanan, who ran 13.92.
But while the sun-baked crowd appreciated Fontenot’s mark, they really oohed and ahhed when Concord De La Salle junior Jaden Jefferson roared to a wind-legal 10.01 in the 100, the fastest time ever in the state.
Another one of those events where there was no holding back was the girls’ 300 hurdles where Jasir Fontenot’s sister, Anisa Bowen-Fontenot, rolled to the fastest time of the day—13.22.
“I strided the last hurdle,” said the USC-bound Fontenot, meaning she glided over instead of attacking the barrier. “I’m still dropping time, so I’m looking for a 13.1 or faster in the finals.”
She, like her brother, won handily by more than a half-second.
Meanwhile, Steele Canyon’s 4×100 relay team of Evie Allison, Aniya Scott, Ily Barclay and Daylani Daniels lowered their season-best time to 46.26, closing in on the section record of 45.94 by Crawford in 1977.
The Cougars got a huge third leg from Barclay to actually lead going into the final baton before being edged by Los Angeles Carson, which led all qualifiers at 46.16.
“I think we can run in the 45s in the finals,” said Barclay, who has only been running a month after suffering Achilles and groin injuries playing softball.
“The goal was to make it through, to survive and we did that. I really didn’t know we were that close to the record but we want to win.”
With Makenna Herbst running a 52.8 anchor leg and sister Morgan a 53.3, Carlsbad lowered its section record in the 4×400 relay to 3:45.54.
The group that competed just to qualify included section leaders like La Jolla’s Chiara Dailey in the 800, Morgan (300 hurdles) and Makenna Herbst (800), Del Norte’s Paige Echsner (pole vault), Sage Creek’s Josiah Bowman (800) and Kai Anderson (boys pole vault).
Dailey cruised to a 4:51.14 in the 1600 during the hottest part of the day, well off her 4:40.28.
Morgan Herbst, who ran 39.95 in the 300 hurdles, won but did not appear to be pushing as she won by a wide margin in an event all four San Diego girls advanced.
“I was just running to win,” she said. “I want to run a time in the mid-39s in the finals.”
Makenna Herbst won her heat in 2:09.34, the third-fastest time, but she is the prohibitive favorite in the finals after running 2:03.30 last week.
Bowman got caught in a pack but fought his way out to advance in the boys 800, finishing second in 1:50.82.
“Physically, I was ready but not mentally,” said Bowman who is looking forward to breaking 1:50 in the finals where all but one qualifier ran faster than 1:52.
Anderson led the pole vaulters by clearing both heights he attempted before finishing at 15-10. That was one more attempt than Echsner, who cleared the qualifying mark of 12-4 and saved her energy for the finals.
