Griffins make a statement at CIF-SS Track & Field Finals

Griffin boys 4x400 relay team had one of the best times in school history.

Los Alamitos High School Track showed up to the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals on May 11 at Moorpark High and turned in impressive performances. Numerous Los Alamitos High athletes moved on to the CIF-SS Masters meet last Saturday where they competed to make it to the CIF State.

The performances came off the heels of varsity boys and varsity girls each clinching the Sunset League Surf Division title. Several athletes also advanced to the CIF State meet in Clovis, Ca. this weekend. The Sun News will take a closer look at the team’s Master’s Meet performance and the results from this weekend’s State meet in coming weeks.

Highlights from CIF-SS Finals

Devin Bragg led the athletes with his decisive wins in the 100 and 200 meters at the Moorpark High Stadium with a record time of 10.38 and 21.15, respectively. Meanwhile in the infield, Olivia Bettinger jumped 12’7 to place 2nd in the pole vault while Gabriel Gandara jumped 14’7 to place 4th in the pole vault simultaneously on the next runway, requiring Coach Steve Tully to juggle between the runways.

Sanaa Trotter emerged 5th place with her high jump of 5’4.  The excitement sprang out when the boys 4 x 400 team (Taedon Rogers, Issac Parhami, Elijah West, Michael Donvito) grabbed 5th place amongst a very competitive landscape with a time of 3:18.93, the 2nd fastest time in Los Alamitos Track history.

The girls 4×800 team (Kaitlyn McQuillen, Stevie Holguin, Ruby Flaim and Thalia Griffith) and Carson Fox (Para 100/200, Shot Put) also be competed at CIF Masters due to their outstanding performances at League competitions.

Head Coach Nathan Howard said that this is the most athletes he can recall participating in the Masters meet and he is very pleased to see the para-athletes participating at the Masters meet. On a side note, the athletes were also under pressure to get back in time for Los Al High’s prom that night. Gandara actually hurried home as soon as he cleared a vault that qualified him for the State Meet.

The Griffin girls 4×800 relay team advanced to the Masters Meet.