Bears become first girls program in section history to win both five in a row and 10 total hampionships, boys capture first crown since 2016 and eighth overall by holding off rival Clovis North

By Alex Valladares for DyeStat

The host Buchanan boys and girls track and field teams reached the fifth dimension Saturday at the CIF Central Section Masters meet in Clovis, Calif.

The Bears added to their storied legacy, sweeping the team titles for the fifth time in the past eight years to continue their reign despite a steady rainstorm at their home venue at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Led by seniors Shelby Daniele and Meagen Lowe, the Buchanan girls won their fifth straight championship and 10th overall in program history with a 170-84 victory over Bakersfield Liberty.

The Buchanan boys, led by victories from Christian Johnson, Caleb Pouliot and Austin Gillen, won their first title since 2016 and eighth championship overall with a 93-89 victory over Clovis North.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

Daniele won the 100-meter dash (11.82), 200 (24.36) and was part of the victorious 4x100 relay (46.73). Lowe swept the 1,600 (4:50.80) and 3,200 (10:29.65) for the first time in her career.

“It’s super special,” Lowe said.  “Especially for me and Shelby because we have won it all four years. For us, we wanted to carry on the legacy.”

Sophomore Lauren Fowler was also part of the 4x100 relay, in addition to qualifying for the state meet in the 100 (12.21) and the long jump (18-5.50), finishing second in both events.

Junior Corie Smith finished second to Lowe in the 3,200 at 10:30.42 after winning the title last year.

“I think it’s been great that we have experienced this for the three years I have been here,” Smith said. “This is what we have been training to do and this is what we are expected to do.”

Helen Chu won the long jump (18-6.75) and placed sixth in the triple jump (35-9.75). Haley Abirached won the triple jump (38-7) and placed sixth in the long jump (17-6.50) for Buchanan.

The Bears also secured the Nos. 2-4 spots in the girls pole vault, with Haley Barham (11-6), Taylor Hohenbrink (11-0) and Skyy Vang (11-0). Freshman Hannah Butler was second in the high jump behind a 5-6 clearance from Central senior Amethyst Harper with a 5-4 effort for Buchanan, which scored in every event except the 400 and discus throw.

In one of the state’s toughest head-to-head battles, Bakersfield Liberty’s Faith Bender won the girls shot put over Fowler’s Jocelynn Budwig, the defending state champion. Bender won with a personal-best mark of 47-4.75 to Budwig’s 46-10.25.

“To come out and be able to perform well in the rain, it shows what I can do,” Bender said. “It’s nice being able to get back to first. I have a lot more confidence now. A lot more than I did at the beginning of the season. I’m seeing I’m more consistent as it gets closer to state.”

It was the first win for Bender in 10 meetings during the past two years against Budwig, who will attend Auburn in the fall.
Budwig, who had won 26 straight shot put competitions dating to last year’s Stanford Invitational, prevailed in the discus for the fourth year in a row with a throw of 161-9.

“Object of today was to qualify,” said Budwig, who came into the meet with a sore hamstring.

“I came in the with expectation to lose today, honestly. I would rather have lost today than at state. Now, it’s about getting healthy and try to win state.”

Bakersfield Liberty sophomore Reese Renz won three events, sweeping the 100-meter hurdles in 14.36 and 300 hurdles in 43.47 and was part of the Patriots’ victorious 4x400 relay, which clocked 3:53.44.

Clovis North actually crossed the finish line first, but was disqualified because of impeding another team following a baton exchange.

Clovis West senior Elizabeth Funk cleared 12 feet to repeat as girls pole vault champion, Fresno Edison’s Kennedy Jennings won the 800 (2:14.38) and Clovis North freshman Takiya Cenci prevailed in the 400 (56.08).

Gillen captured the boys 400 (48.82), Pouliot won the boys pole vault (14-9) and Johnson was victorious in the discus (190-9) to lead Buchanan.

“Coach (Brian Weaver) expected this,” said Gillen, who was part of the 4x400 relay (3:24.53) that finished fourth to score five points and secure the team title.

“He said it would be pretty close and that it would be a possibility. It’s exciting to win the team title.”

Johnson was also second in the shot put (57-7.25) with Kyler Van Grouw finishing second in the discus (184-11) and third in the shot put (56-7).

Cristian Barnes, who was also part of the 4x400 relay, was second in the 800 (1:57.31) and Clark Donaghy finished third in the 300 hurdles (39.76).

Clovis North junior Caleb Foster won four events, including running a leg on the 4x100 relay (41.17). Foster also won the long jump (23-9), triple jump (49-1.25) and the 110 hurdles (14.27).

The Broncos’ Naythn Scruggs, who was also part of the 4x100 relay, finished second in the 100 (10.74) and teammate Isaiah Galindo won the 3,200 (9:21.07) and finished second in the 1,600 (4:18.45).

Bakersfield Liberty senior Daniel Viveros, the national leader in the shot put, repeated as section champion with a mark of 65-9.75 to secure his 30th consecutive victory in the past two seasons. Viveros also placed third in the discus at 183-5.

“I was trying to get a mark to get to state,” said Viveros, who elevated to No. 5 in state history with a 71-3 effort May 8 at the South Area qualifier.

“The first throw in the discus, I got it. The rest of the throws were to work on some technical stuff.  In the shot, everything was clicking. I didn’t want to do too much and avoid slipping and getting hurt for state.”

Central’s Xavier Worthy clocked 10.71 to win the 100 and ran a leg on the championship 4x400, which clocked 3:21.21. San Joaquin Memorial’s Jalen McMillan won the 200 (21.70) and placed third in the 100 (10.77).

Bakersfield Highland’s Jacob Yagers won the 1,600 (4:17.05), Visalia Redwood’s Ryan Hemphill prevailed in the 800 (1:56.17) and Morro Bay’s Joseph Ruddell was victorious in the high jump (6-6). Redwood’s Brandon Andrade clocked 38.85 to earn a victory in the 300 hurdles.