Jordan’s Darryll Stevens wins 300 hurdles, Poly boys first in 4×400 relay at CIF State track finals – Press Telegram

Jordan’s Darryll Stevens celebrates with his coach after winning the 300 meter hurdles. His coach crowned him as they celebrated the victory and state championship during the 102nd CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School in Clovis on Saturday, May 27, 2023. (Photo by Joseph Vasquez, Contributing Photographer)

CLOVIS — Jordan senior Darryll Stevens was crowned a state track champion Saturday night by winning the closest boys 300-meters hurdles race in CIF history at Buchanan High School.

Stevens, who primarily trains on a dirt track and finished sixth at last year’s state meet, made history as the first boys track state champion at Jordan by narrowly winning with a personal-record time of 37.432 seconds. Monrovia’s Devin Paton was second in 37.435. Roosevelt’s Cayden Roberson was third in 37.437.

Stevens hit several hurdles but rallied down the homestretch, reeling in multiple competitors for the win.

“I just trusted all the training I was doing,” Stevens said. “Usually my back end is the best part of my race so I had to believe in myself and give it my all to push to the end. I just had to work with what I had.”

Jordan coach Sharaud Moore said Stevens’ victory was a testament to hard work.

“Darryll Stevens came to me as a freshman with no track experience whatsoever,” Moore said. “When I met the kid, I said you’re special, you’re going to be a champ one day, I promise you you’re going to be a champ… I’ve held back tears because I realize this is the last time that we’ll compete at this level together but I love that kid. He’s special and it’s well deserved for him.”

Millikan junior Jason Parra said he surprised himself with a second-place finish in the 3,200 (8 minutes, 53.69 seconds) to Highland senior Matthew Donis (8:51.37). Parra was content because last year he finished sixth and he has been dealing with a back injury for several weeks.

“I pulled through,” Parra said. “I wasn’t expecting to do this well but I knew in my head I had the potential to win it… For next year, I know the top guy was a senior, so that just means, get my work in and let’s go get a state championship in cross country and track next year.”

In the boys team title race, Long Beach Poly finished fourth with 28 points. It won the 4×400 relay (3:12.99) and Xai Ricks had a second-place finish in the 400 (46.06, PR).

Granada Hills won the state championship with 36 points. JSerra was second with 33 points.

Jordan finished fifth with 23 points. Ten of the points were from Stevens and 13 points were from junior Jordan Washington, who finished second in the 100, tying the previous state meet record of 10.30. A new state record (10.20) was set by the first-place finisher, Serra senior Rodrick Pleasant, who repeated as the state champion in the 100 and 200 (20.67).

Washington finished fourth in the 200 (21.06).

“You always have to think about the positive side, you have to learn what winning really is,” Washington said. “It’s not you lost, you got second, it’s that you became a better version of yourself… I did expect to win but I have another year and next year it will be my goal to get a state championship.”

POLY GETS BIG EFFORT FROM RICKS

Poly, which went into the meet hunting for the program’s 11th CIF State championship, saw Ricks score in four events Saturday.

The junior anchored Poly’s 4×400 relay to a state championship in 3:12.99, which was the fastest time in California this year.

“This is what training is for,” Ricks said. “Just come out here and do our best.”

In addition to finishing second in the 400 (46.06, PR) to Granada Hills’ Dijon Stanley (45.77), Ricks ran on the team’s 4×100 relay (3rd leg), 4×800 relay (1:49 anchor leg) and 4×400 relay (46.9 anchor leg).

The Jackrabbits, whose last team title was in 2011, began the running events Saturday by finishing fourth in the 4×100 relay (41.22), behind Granada Hills (40.39). Poly’s savvy move of inserting Ricks into the relay paid off, as it finished fourth and earned five early points.

Poly finished fourth in the inaugural boys 4×800 relay (7:40.57), behind San Clemente’s winning time of 7:38.59.

Ricks gave a valiant effort as he tried to go from sixth to first when he received the relay baton from teammate Lamarr Kirk Jr. In what seemed like an instant, Ricks quickly ran himself into second place but faded down the homestretch during his sensational 1:49 anchor leg, which would have won the individual boys 800 race by three seconds.

Wilson finished fifth in the 4×800 (7:41.98).

Wilson senior Marcell Francis-Mitchell finished ninth in the 800 (1:54.36), behind Hughson senior Joseph Lighthall’s winning time of 1:52.06.

Glenn senior Mikel Udengwu finished 11th in the discus (159-7), behind JSerra senior Brendon See, who won by throwing 196 feet, 4 inches on his first attempt.

JSerra’s See also won the shot put (62-9.5) as Warren senior Jaylon Wells finished fourth (60-1.25).

Wells, who recently signed with Long Beach State, was proud of his accomplishment and thankful for the support and encouragement from Warren’s coaching staff.

“It was all my coaches. They projected me to get here so I had to make it up to them and get here for them… It means the most because it means somebody has faith in me and it drives me to do more,” Wells said. “I’m very happy. I’m proud of myself. I know all my family is proud of me.”