“Only the strong survive”. That is probably one of the most commonly used slogans when referring to the best of the best in the sports world. “Only the strong survive”. That statement couldn’t be more fitting to describe the high school athletes scheduled to compete in the CIF State prelims and finals scheduled for June 4-5 at Clovis Buchanan High School..

During the regular season it didn’t appear any of the local talent would be strong enough to make it to the post-season. As CIF drew nearer and the competition got tougher many of the Inland Empire favorites appeared to get faster or stronger, giving even more meaning to the slogan, only the strong survive.

High school athletes will be coming from all across the state of California to compete in the State prelims and finals. However, the athletes fortunate enough to compete in the upcoming State track and field meet had to be strong enough and fast enough to overcome the competition they faced during the four qualifying meets leading up to the State meet, and there is still one more qualifying rounds to get through on June 4 before the top nine athletes in each event and top nine relay teams square off in the State finals on June 5.

The State finals were commonplace for many of the local schools, but for some reason many of the schools just didn’t have the fire power to make it out of CIF. A shocking number of schools didn’t even make it to CIF. However, there are a select few who were strong enough to survive and make it to the State competition.

There will be a strong showing of Inland Empire teams in the girls’ events, with an especially strong showing in the girls’ 4x100 meter relay. Inland Empire teams qualifying for the girls’ 4x100 meter relay include Cajon high school, who qualified sixth with a time of 47.04; Summit High of Fontana came in just behind Cajon to finish in 7th. Other area teams to qualify in the girls’ 4x100 meter relay are Rancho Cucamonga High, Roosevelt High in Corona, Colony High in Rancho Cucamonga and Rancho Verde High of Moreno Valley, who are heavily favored, but finished in second place with a time of 45.51, just behind the heat winner Long Beach Poly High who was clocked at a blazing 45.25. Colony, Roosevelt and Rancho Cucamonga girls also qualified for the 4x400 meter as well.

“Long Beach Poly and Rancho Verde look very good, but the rest of the field has a shot at a medal or even a win if they focus on their race and don’t worry about the competition,” said Jerry Mason, the sprinting coach at Arroyo Valley.

Mason is also the head coach and founder of the T J Striders Youth Track and Field Club. “Cajon ran a 47.04, but they can go much faster than that. They should get down to the low 46 seconds at least,” said Mason. “I don’t think they are capable of 45 seconds, but anything can happen in the relay events. All the teams have to do is stay focused, run hard, get the baton around the track and not worry about the other teams because, like I said before, anything can happen in the relay,” said Mason.

It’s not just the relay teams for the Inland Empire that were strong enough to survive, but a number of girls will be representing the Inland Empire in the CIF State Meet along with a few boys.

Devon Blackmon of Summit qualified for the State competition in the 110 hurdles with a third place finish. Blackmon was challenging for the win but he hit the eight hurdle, broke his stride and fell off pace. Nevertheless, the third place was enough to get him on to the next round, and a chance at redemption. His teammate Justin Lovingood qualified to compete in the triple jump.

“The boys’ talent in the Inland Empire was down this year, but with some hard work and dedication they can turn it around and be competitive next year. The boys from this area have to spend more time running club track, and competing against better and faster talent so they can see what they will be up against when they get to CIF,” said Mason.

The Inland Empire girls will be well represented and not just in the relay events. A number of area girls qualified in multiple events and won their heats in the process. Shanice Stewart of Carter High in Rialto will compete in the 100 meter hurdles and the long jump. She won the long jump with a leap of 19 feet 2 inches and she qualified third in the 100 meter hurdles. For Stewart, this is her third consecutive year advancing to the State Meet. Colony’s Ashley Cooke won the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 42.65. She was able to run down defending state champion Kori Carter of Claremont to get the win. Carter, the defending state champ in the event, qualified second, but is still the heavy favorite.

Stewart’s teammate, Omunique Thomas of Carter High, will make the trip to the State competition after qualifying for the 100 meters. Brea Buchanan of Ayala High in Chino Hills will also compete in the 100 meters during the State meet. Buchanan qualified for two events; in addition to competing in the 100 meters, Buchanan also won the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 13.86. Her winning time of 13.86 was just enough to get by defending champion Melia Cox of Long Beach Poly by .03 seconds.

Other area qualifiers were Etiwanda’s Vanessa Jones who finished second in the 400 meters, along with A.B. Miller’s Davontae Stewart who qualified for both the 100 and 200 meters.

With a handful of local talent and teams making the trip up north to Clovis Buchanan High School it proves that we have some athletes who are strong enough to survive. Next track season we have even more who are strong enough to survive.