Girls' track & field

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

AMY WEISSENBACH

Harvard-Westlake, Sr.

Although her training was adjusted to prepare for the U.S. Olympic Trials, Weissenbach still showcased her speed and versatility throughout the season for the Wolverines.

Weissenbach became only the third female athlete in state history - the first from the Southern Section - to capture three straight state titles in the 800 meters.

Although the Stanford signee didn't challenge her National Federation High School record of 2 minutes, 2.04 seconds set last season, she still ranked third in the country with her adidas Grand Prix effort of 2:04.03.

But Weissenbach's range is what made her so special, as she achieved her seventh school record with a 55.41 in the 400 in the Mission League prelims to rank 10 th in the state this season. She was No. 6 in the state and 19 th nationally in the 1,600 with her runner-up effort of 4:48.86 in Div. III behind teammate Cami Chapus (4:48.77).

Weissenbach contributed to Harvard-Westlake being ranked No. 2 nationally in the sprint medley relay (3:56.34) and No. 3 in the U.S. in the distance medley relay (11:45.18).

FIRST TEAM

DANNI ALAKIJA, Oaks Christian, Jr.

A four-race winner at the Ventura County Championships and four-event Masters qualifier, Alakija produced season bests of 24.32 in the 200 and 55.0 in the 400. A Fiji Olympian, she placed in the top six in three event at state.

SARAH BAXTER, Simi Valley, Soph.

The two-time state 3,200 champion ranked No. 1 in the country at 10:08.11. She also ranked No. 9 in the state and No. 23 nationally in the 1,600 with her runner-up time of 4:49.33 at the Div. II final, which helped Simi Valley win the title. Baxter anchored the Pioneers to a school-record 11:59.68 to prevail in the Mt. SAC distance medley relay.

CAMI CHAPUS, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.

The Div. III and Masters champion in the 1,600, Chapus ranked in the top five nationally in the distance medley relay, sprint medley relay, 1,500, 1,600 and mile, the latter coming when she clocked 4:39.64 to repeat as adidas Dream Mile champion, producing the No. 8 mark in U.S. prep history. The Stanford signee, who holds eight school records, clocked 2:11.41 in the 800 and 10:49.95 in the 3,200.

ALEX FLORENT, Harvard-Westlake, Fr.

The only freshman in the state and one of four nationally to clear 5-10 in the high jump, Florent tied for first at the Masters, placed fourth in Div. III and fifth in the state.

KARIS FRANKIAN, Saugus, Sr.

The Foothill League 3,200 champ took third in Div. II and sixth at the Masters in a season-best 10:31.44, before placing 19 th at state. The Master's commit ran 5:07.92 in the 1,600.

ZOE GOSS, Sierra Canyon, Soph.

Produced a wind-legal mark of 19-2 to take second in the Div. IV long jump, before taking eighth at the Masters meet.

AMANDA HAMILTON, Simi Valley, Sr.

The Ventura County and Marmonte champion in the 300 hurdles and triple jump, Hamilton scored in four events in the Div. II final. The CLU commit was seventh in the Masters 300 hurdles (44.08). Hamilton also triple-jumped 39 feet.

SYDNEY LEWIS, Oak Park, Sr.

The UCLA-bound Lewis took fourth in the 100 in 11.73, just one-tenth off her season best. Lewis doubled at the Div. III final in the 100 (11.70) and 200 (24.32) after producing a wind-aided 24.25 in the 200 in the prelims.

MADISEN RICHARDS, Simi Valley, Soph.

She helped Simi Valley take third in the 4 x 100 relay (47.75), along with taking third in the long jump and scoring in the 100 and 200 at the Div. II final. Richards won the long jump title at Ventura County Championships (18-9).

ABIGAIL SMITH, Westlake, Fr.

The Marmonte champion in the 100 and 200, Smith won the Div. II title in the 100 in a wind-aided 11.63, along with helping the Warriors take the 4 x 100 relay (47.32). She was second in the 200 after clocking 24.41 in the prelims.

TIFFINI STONE, Canyon, Sr.

The UC Riverside commit won her first Div. II title in the triple jump with an effort of 38-54.

TAYLOR THOMAS, Canyon, Sr.

After capturing Foothill League titles in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and on the 4 x 100 relay, the Wichita State signee won her first Div. II crown in the 100 hurdles in 14.18. She was third in the division in the 300 hurdles (44.78).

CAITLIN TURNER, Thousand Oaks, Sr.

Captured Marmonte League and Div. II crowns in the 800, before finishing fourth at Masters and third in the state, clocking a school-record 2:09.75. The Long Beach State signee also won the Ventura County 1,600 title (4:55.81).

COACH OF THE YEAR

ROGER EVANS, Simi Valley

After winning the program's first Div. II cross country title in November, the Pioneers carried that momentum into the spring, but it was more than just distance runners that produced Simi Valley's first track and field championship. With the contributions of Evans, Steve Ringgold and a dedicated staff, the Pioneers had six athletes qualify in a total of nine events at the Div. II final to become the sixth program in Southern Section history to win girls' cross country and track and field titles in the same school year.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

NIA BRITT, Alemany, Fr.

The nation's most polished ninth-grader in the shot put, no other freshman was within five feet of Britt's school record of 48 feet, 9 inches in March, which ranked second overall in the state and No. 8 in the country this season. Despite recovering from a knee injury suffered during the winter basketball playoffs, Britt still won Mission League and Southern Section Div. III shot put titles, before placing third at both the Masters meet and state final, where she led with two rounds remaining.

SECOND TEAM

Frances Barnes, Moorpark, Sr.; Angelynn Caldwell, Thousand Oaks, Sr.; Tylnn Carter, Alemany, Soph.; Shea Copeland, Harvard-Westlake, Fr.; Asha Culhane, Oaks Christian, Soph.; Brooke Edell, Westlake, Soph.; Savannah Forry, Alemany, Sr.; Skylin Harbin, Alemany, Soph.; Hillary Hill, Birmingham, Sr.; Allison Jackson, Quartz Hill, Jr.; Jenay Jauregui, Saugus, Sr.; Sarah Johnson, Oaks Christian, Fr.; Lexis Lambert, Taft, Sr.; Geralynn Leaupepe, Camarillo, Soph.; Geraldynn Leaupepe, Camarillo, Soph.; Kendall Mader, Newbury Park, Fr.; Tatiana McCoy, Taft, Sr.; Schuyler Moore, Oaks Christian, Fr.; Erika Peyton, Notre Dame, Sr.; Chanel Rogers, Valencia, Fr.; Marissa Rossi, Calabasas, Sr.; Kim Sanchez, Oaks Christian, Sr.; Savannah Sipes, Newbury Park, Soph.; Karsen Sper, Thousand Oaks, Soph.; Brittany Tayloe, Oaks Christian, Sr.; Chelsey Totten, Golden Valley, Jr.; Asia Watts, Alemany, Soph.; Ashley Welker, West Ranch, Sr.; Jeannuel Williams, Highland, Sr.

TOP TEN RANKINGS

1. Harv.-Westlake

2. Simi Valley

3. Oaks Christian

4. Canyon

5. Alemany

6. Thousand Oaks

7. Golden Valley

8. Moorpark

9. Westlake

10. ElCaminoReal

LEAGUE CHAMPS

Desert Mountain: Desert Christian

Foothill: Canyon

Golden: Highland

Marmonte: Simi Valley

Mission: Harvard-Westlake

Pacific: Arcadia

Pacific View: Camarillo/Oxnard/ Rio Mesa

Rio Hondo: South Pasadena

Tri-Valley: Oaks Christian

Valley Mission: Grant/Monroe

West Valley: El Camino Real

RACE OF THE YEAR

Arcadia Invitational 3,200 meters, April 7

Although Sarah Baxter's anchor on Simi Valley's distance medley relay that defeated Beverly Hills at the Mount San Antonio College Relays was perhaps her most thrilling performance of the year, her ability to hold off the challenge of Marina's Laura Hollander to repeat as Arcadia Invitational champion might have been her most impressive. In a race that produced the nation's two fastest times this season - both ranking in the top 10 in state history - Baxter's late surge helped her prevail in 10:08.11, with Hollander clocking 10:10.51.