The High Desert produced two champions at the CIF-Southern Section Division Finals at Moorpark High School on Saturday, May 17.
Silver Valley’s Ryan Mereles competed in four events in Division 4 action, earning first place in the long jump with a mark of 21-feet-10 inches. That was good for 13th overall across the four different divisions competing at the finals.
To qualify for the CIF-SS Masters Meet, athletes must place within the top 18 finishes in each event.
Mereles just missed out on qualifying in the triple jump. He took third place in Division 4 (43-2.50), but his mark came in at 20th overall.
He also took eight in the 110 hurdles (15.63) and seventh in the high jump (6-0).
Apple Valley’s Deshaun Kaeo-Kahalioumi captured first place in the Division 2 discus with a throw of 180-feet-7-inches. Kaeo-Kahalioumi came in second place overall, and his mark is currently listed as the fifth best within the state of California entering the Masters.
While seven other High Desert athletes qualified for the Masters, one notable name is missing.
Oak Hills sprinter Quran Clayton Jr. suffered a hamstring strain and did not compete. Clayton holds the fastest mark in the state of California this season in the 100-meter dash at 10.12 seconds, and second in the 110 hurdles at 13.62 seconds.
Clayton believes he will be ready to compete in the Brooks PR Invitational and the Nike Outdoor Nationals 2026, both which are next month.
Here’s a full list of how the rest of the High Desert athletes fared that the CIF-SS Division Finals, starting with the Masters qualifiers.
- Belen Gonzalez, Oak Hills — Gonzalez qualified in the girls 3,200, coming in 17th overall with a time of 10:48.26, which was fifth in Division 1.
- Emmalina Tisdale, Victor Valley — Tisdale qualified in the girls discus, coming in eighth overall with a throw of 129-feet-7-inches, which was third in Division 2.
- Jordan Spencer, Oak Hills — Spencer qualified in two events. He finished eighth overall in the 400 with a mark of 48.02 seconds, and 17th overall in the 200 at 21.37 seconds.
- Noah Walker, Oak Hills — Walker qualified in the boys high jump, coming in 10th overall with a mark of 6-feet-4-inches, which was fifth in Division 1.
- Reniyah Rosborough, Victor Valley — Rosborough qualified in the girls 100, coming in 12th overall with a mark of 11.72 seconds.
- Serwaah Sarpong, Silver Valley — Sarpong qualified in the girls triple jump, coming in 13th overall with a mark of 26-feet-11.25-inches, which was third in Division 4. She also finished sixth place in the 100 hurdles at 15.09 seconds.
- Trevin Hess, Burroughs — Hess qualified in the boys pole vault, coming in 18th overall with a throw of 13-feet-5-inches, which was fourth in Division 3.
The rest of the High Desert’s participants
Division 2 Boys
- Cayden Bell, Silverado — eighth place in the 110 hurdles (15.87)
- Keneth Lindsey, Silverado — sixth place in the long jump (20-5)
- Willie Leonard, Adelanto — sixth place in the 110 hurdles (15.03)
Division 3 Boys
- Alex VanLuven, Burroughs — eighth place in the triple jump (41-2.75)
- Silas Aberer, Burroughs — ninth place in the 3,200 (9:42.61)
- Tyrell Gray, Burroughs — eighth place in the high jump (5-10)
Division 3 Girls
- Eve Washburn, Burroughs — seventh place in the 3,200 meters (11:08.18)
- Madalyn Martin, Burroughs — fifth place in the 100 hurdles (15.23)
Division 4 Boys
- Bishop Moore, Silver Valley — sixth place in the discus (132-9)
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: CIF-SS Track and Field Finals results for High Desert athletes