At some point after making an enormous announcement about his future, RJ Sermons targeting the current and rebounded from a disappointing effort within the boys’ 100 meters to beat a loaded subject within the 200 meters Saturday within the Southern Part Masters Meet at Moorpark Excessive.
“Not having one of the best race within the 100 gave me extra fireplace within the 200 and I really feel like I perceive that race all the best way,” Sermons stated after constructing a large lead across the flip and successful in 20.97 seconds — not fairly matching his personal-best 20.88 achieved three weeks in the past at Baseline League finals. “An important factor proper now’s to remain level-headed and put together effectively for state.”
A four-star cornerback from Rancho Cucamonga, Sermons declared on Friday he’ll forgo his senior yr, reclassifying from the category of 2026 to 2025 with a purpose to be part of his older brother .
“I used to be enthusiastic about it for 2 months, finalized my determination a few month in the past and introduced it yesterday as a result of Thursday was the final day of faculty,” stated the 6-foot, 185-pounder who dedicated to USC in mid-December, fulfilling a lifelong want to observe within the footsteps of his father, Rodney Sr., a operating again for the Trojans from 1994-97.
Earlier than he turns his consideration to varsity soccer, although, Sermons nonetheless has unfinished enterprise on the highschool observe and has particular targets for the state meet on Might 30 and 31 at Buchanan Excessive in Clovis.
“For the 200, I can go 20.8 [seconds] for certain and my aim is 20.6,” he stated, after ending fourth within the 100 in 10.47 Saturday and ending in 10.36 on the part finals final week. “Within the 100, I’ll must run excessive 10.1 or low 10.2 to win state. My focus [in the 100] would be the begin. The secret’s getting out of the blocks quick.”
Defending his Masters title within the boys’ 100 meters earlier than putting second to Sermons within the 200 with a personal-best 21.04 was Bishop Alemany sophomore Demare Dezeurn, whose successful time of 10.35 seconds bettered his Division 4 record-setting 10.42 and was one hundredth of a second sooner than his wind-aided time eventually yr’s Masters.
“My aim is to win subsequent week and at some point be capable to inform my youngsters I used to be state champion,” Dezeurn stated, who confirmed he’s transferring to Palisades and desires to play soccer within the fall. “That is only the start for me. I wasn’t planning to win right this moment, I simply needed to place a great time on the board.”
Servite sophomore Benjamin Harris, second to Dezeurn final yr within the 100 and fifth at state, stumbled and fell whereas crossing the ending line within the 100 (he was third in 10.44) and needed to scratch from the 200.
Servite’s depth makes it a state title contender within the boys’ 4×100-meter relay. The crew of Jace Wells, Jaelen Hunter, Kamal Pelovello and Robert Gardner, received Saturday in 40.40. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame was runner-up in 40.77.
“We’re an entire new crew from final yr however none of us prefer to lose and we’re going to observe getting the baton round higher for subsequent week,” stated Gardner, who ran the anchor leg. Hunter later received the 400 meters in 46.91, one second sooner than Jack Stadlman of Temecula Valley.
Lengthy Seashore Poly bought revenge on Oaks Christian within the ladies’ 4×100, as Leila Holland, Nevaeh Lewis, Aniyah Brooks and Brooklyn Lee received in 45.94 after ending second to the Lions at state final yr.
“This was essential and it feels good however we’re going to state to redeem ourselves,” Lee stated. Oaks Christian (46.12) was second and Redondo Union (46.96) third.
After repeating as Southern Part champion within the 100 every week in the past, Georgia commit Keelan Wright (11.41) from Chaparral was edged by 5 hundredths of a second by North Carolina A&T-bound Journey Cole of Redondo Union within the 100, however rebounded to win the 200 in 23.21.
Corona Santiago’s Braelyn Combe adopted her second straight Division 1 part title with a successful effort of 4 minutes 44.36 seconds within the ladies’ 1,600 meters, enhancing her time from final week by greater than two and a half seconds.
Grant Miller of La Serna was the boys’ 1,600 champion in 4:09.86. Stanford-bound Evan Noonan, who opted to not run the 1,600 (he received the part Division 1 title final week) to avoid wasting his power for the three,200 meters, received the occasion in 8:55.76.
College of Oregon commit and reigning ladies’ state lengthy leap champion Loren Webster of Lengthy Seashore Wilson leaped 18 ft 11½ inches — the third-best mark behind solely Ab Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (19-03½) and Kaylee Better of Norco (19-¾).
“I’ve been coping with patella tendinitis the complete season however over the weeks the ache has decreased,” Webster stated. “I used to be assured I’d win state final yr as a result of I’d jumped over a foot higher than anybody else. As for this yr I’d say 20 ft ought to win.”
Texas commit Brandon Gorski of Mater Dei certified for state for the fourth time within the boys’ excessive leap with a peak of 6-6 to complete third behind Chaminade’s Matthew Browner and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame junior JJ Harel (final yr’s state runner-up), who each cleared 6-10. Gorski additionally posted the third-best mark within the lengthy leap with a 22-10½ effort.
Lengthy Seashore Wilson received the ladies’ 4×400-meter relay in 3:43.71 and Lengthy Seashore Poly received the boys’ race in 3:10.83.
Aliso Niguel’s Jaslene Massey received ladies’ discus (165-06) and shot put (49-07½). Reigning state discus champion and 2023 state shot put champion Aja Johnson of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame took second in each with marks of 158-08 (discus) and 45-08 (shot put).
