State championships this weekend at Cerritos College

A handful of local track and field stars competed last Friday at Cerritos College in the CIF Masters meet. Thanks to several strong performances, many will return to the same venue Friday and Saturday in pursuit of a state championship.

Although no individuals from the Marmonte, Pacific View or Tri-Valley leagues won titles at Masters, things could easily change the second time around.

For the second straight season, Rio Mesa High will send both of its 4x100 relay teams to the CIF State Championships.

"Some schools will go years without sending one athlete to a state championship," Rio Mesa head coach Brian Fitzgerald said. "I have the luxury of sending eight."

Although it was a close finish, Oak Park's Doug Bettisworth made the state championship in the boys' 800 after the senior qualified with a Masters' time of 1:54.33.

Oaks Christian will send senior Lauren Radke back to the state finals in polevaulting after she advanced via a jump-off.

Moorpark's Max Dyce competed in three events at Masters- the long jump, 100 and 200. Dyce qualified in the 100 with a time of 10.72.

La Reina will send the Blanchard sisters, Tara and Sasha, in the girls' 800-meter dash and 100 hurdles, respectively. Tara Blanchard finished with a time of 2:11.88 in the 800, while Sasha Blanchard was fourth in the 100 hurdles.

Phillip Burks will represent Royal. Burks is in the triple jump. Calabasas' Brittany Harper will compete in the girls' 400.