DyeStat.com – News – Fresno Central Boys, Clovis North Girls Back in Spotlight at Gateway to Track and Field Invitational

After replacing elite runners following graduation, reigning girls state 4×400 champions and boys team winners show depth again in first appearances this season at Veterans Memorial Stadium; Elie excels in high jump, as Edwards, Mahanke, Miller, Turner and Vanek all get multiple wins

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

CLOVIS, Calif. – The return to Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium for the Gateway to Track and Field Invitational brought mixed emotions Friday for several leading contenders for state championships who had not competed at the venue since May.

For Clovis two-sport star Sydnie Vanek, it marked her first chance to return to the runway where she won the long jump state title.

For Rocklin Whitney high jump standout Ashanti Elie, it was an opportunity to erase some of the disappointment following a frustrating conclusion to her state final.

INTERVIEWS | RESULTS

And for the Fresno Central boys and Clovis North girls 4×400 lineups, it was a reminder that despite significant losses to graduation, both relays remain championship contenders again this spring.

Freshman Emanuel Morgan joined veterans Imari Conley, Terrell Johnson and Walter Pierce to lead Central to a 3:17.86 performance, providing optimism for the Grizzlies that they can challenge for the title again.

Central relied heavily on Jeremiah Walker and Cameron Tarver last season to capture the boys state team title, capped by a 3:14.78 performance in the 4×400.

Clovis North had Maya Cordoba, Hayden Craft, Emma O’Neil and Emerson Parks win the girls 4×400 in 3:54.04. Cordoba and Parks return from the Broncos’ state championship lineup last season that included Takiya Cenci and Tatum Zinkin and ran 3:45.38, helping Clovis North finish second as a team overall.

Parks also prevailed in the 400 meters in 57.77 for the Broncos, who had the same quartet triumph in the 4×100 relay in 49.18.

Vanek, who produced a wind-aided 20-8.50 (6.31m) effort last year to capture the long jump title, achieved a 19-3 (5.86m) effort Friday, in addition to winning the 200 meters in a wind-legal 25.43.

Elie, who entered last year’s state meet with multiple 5-10 clearances (1.78m) during the regular season, endured a no height in the final.

Elie demonstrated her resilience Friday with a clutch third-attempt clearance at 5-8 (1.72m) after making all of her earlier heights on the first opportunity. Elie also helped Rocklin place second in the 4×100 relay in 49.56, in addition to finishing fifth in the…