Each year, the Golden State welcomes a deep cache of talented newcomers to the high school track and field scene entrusted with a singular mission: Keep California's nationwide dominance in the sport going strong.

Almost every spring, more national-leading marks and more DyeStatElite marks are achieved in the Golden State than any other state in the land. Buoyed by another bumper crop of talented freshmen, special correspondent Mike Kennedy takes us through a quick look across the fertile frosh landscape for 2012.

(The term WTAG, which stands for "Where They Are Going", was initially coined by our good friends at Track & Field News, with their popular annual segment detailing where the nation's top preps are heading to college. Be sure to check out Track & Field News to follow the sport at the professional level during this Olympic year.)

Now on to DyeStatCal's WTAG for 2012:

By Mike Kennedy, Special Correspondent

The last few years, Serra High of Gardena has had one of the more dominant track programs in the state of California and if incoming freshmen Malik Roberson and Justin Collins are any indication, the boys should continue that tradition.

Roberson has already made a name for himself this fall as a varsity running back for the Cavaliers. Prior to that, he had an outstanding spring track and field season as a sprinter and a jumper. At the USATF National Junior Olympic championships in Wichita (Ks.), Roberson placed second in the Youth Division (age 13-14) 100 metters, running 11.20, and third in the 200, at 23.05. His best times were 10.92 (no wind information) and 22.63 (also nwi). Although Roberson was just fourth in the long jump at 20-0¼, he holds a best of 21-2 (nwi) in the event.

Collins, who also plays football, won the 200 low hurdles in 24.96 and was fifth in the 100 low hurdles in a wind-aided 13.81. Earlier, he had a wind-legal 13.63.

Not impressed? Well, Serra also welcomes in underclass transfer Adoree’ Jackson, who long jumped 23-11½ as a freshman in Illinois last year.

Two other boys’ sprinters to watch are Javonte Norman (St. Mary’s HS, Stockton) and Garrett Robinson (Harvard-Westlake HS, North Hollywood). Norman was second in the AAU National Junior Olympics championship 200, held in New Orleans, and fourth in the 400, running personal bests of 22.56 and 51.17. The 200 was run into a 2.2 meters-per-second headwind. Robinson confined his running in individual events to Southern California, clocking 11.39 (nwi), 22.96 (nwi) and 49.98 in the Junior Olympics Intermediate (age 15-16) division.

In the distances, Mark Vingralek (Carlmont HS, Belmont), who had an outstanding cross-country season, was fourth in the USA Junior Olympics 1,500 and 3,000, running 4:19.76 and 9:34.73. Earlier in the season he had a best of 9:32.06. Ryan Alexander (Birmingham HS, Lake Balboa) and Sean Pino (Crean Lutheran HS, Irvine) had personal bests of 9:14.05 and 9:23.54, respectively.

The boys’ field eventers are led by Malik McMorris (Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana), who won the USA JO 4-kilo shot put at 54-5¼. Joey Souza (Kingsburg HS) confined his competition to California meets, where he had horizontal jumps of 22-1¾ and 43-1½. Mitchell Moss (Bakersfield) long jumped 20-7 to finish third at the AAJ JO meet and Stirling McCullouch (Los Angeles) was fourth in the high jump at the USA Junior Olympics meet. Exact high schools are unknown at this time.

Margaux Jones, who is a multiple-time national champion in girls’ Junior Olympic competition, is at Redlands High. Last year, she won the long jump at 19-0 and also had a 19-7 where no wind readings were available. In addition, she also won the high jump at 5-5, where she has a best of 5-5¾; she also does the pentathlon.

In the girls’ hurdles, age-groupers Jasmyne Graham (Vista Murrieta HS, Murrieta) and Jaela Williams (Ayala HS, Chino Hills) will likely continue a rivalry that might eventually stretch back over a decade. Two years ago, Graham won the USA Junior Olympics 200 hurdles and ran 26.55 to set a national record for Youth (age 13-14) division. Graham was second at 27.36. Last year, Graham won the USA Junior Olympics meet at 27.78 and Williams won AAU Junior Olympics meet at 27.09. In the 2011 USA Junior Olympics 100 low hurdles, Williams won over Graham, 14.04 to 14.21, for the top two Youth times in the nation.



In the 6-lb shot put, Nia Britt of (Alemany HS, Mission Hills) improved by two feet to win the AAU National Youth JO meet at 51-6 ¼ to set a national age 13-14 record. Kendall Mader (Newbury Park) was second at 46-0½ to rank No. 3 in the nation.

In the distances, Amber Gore (Redondo Union HS, Redondo Beach) won the USA Junior Olympics 800 in 2:14.79, Chloe Jenkins (St. Mary’s HS, Berkeley) was third at 2:17.10 and April Sutton (Corona) was fourth at 2:17.93. One week later Sutton was third at the AAU JO at 2:17.13. Christine Bayliss (San Ramon Valley, Danville) confined her efforts to California, running 4:47.72 for 1,500 and 10:26.03 for 3,000. Two years ago, she won the USA Junior Olympics 3,000 at 10:03.60.

Note—Athletes are listed with hometowns and high schools, if known.

Coaches are asked to email us with the high school of attendance for those below that do not yet have a destination specified.
BOYS EVENTS


Sprints (100, 200, 400)

Mark Baker (Sacramento), 51.53

Jason Bell (San Diego), 23.72nwi, 51.66

Dominic Davis, 11.12nwi, 11.51, 22.92nwi -- Alemany, Mission Hills

John Hill (Castaic), 11.36nwi, 11.40

Dante Johnson (San Leandro), 11.58nwi

Adrian Jinbo (Vallejo), 11.51

Jovante Norman (Stockton), 11.26nwi, 11.43, 22.56—St. Mary’s HS

Malik Roberson (Gardena), 10.92nwi, 11.20, 22.63nwi, 23.05—Serra HS

Garrett Robinson (No. Hollywood), 11.23nwi, 22.96nwi, 49.98—Harvard-Westlake HS

Distances (800, 1,500, 3,000)

Ryan Alexander (Van Nuys), 9:14.05/3k—Birmingham HS

Jeremy Beck (Corona), 9:40.08/3k—Roosevelt HS

Jeremiah Bias (Riverside), 4:22.61/1500m, 9:41.96/3k—Rubidoux HS

Trevor Capestany (Redlands), 9:40.14/3k—Citrus Valley HS

Sammy Harned (Dana Point), 9:41.57/3k—Dana Hills HS

Jahleel Norwood (Long Beach), 2:05.14

Anthony Palazzo (Irvine), 9:31.47/3k—Beckman HS

Sean Pino (Irvine), 9:23.54/3k—Crean Lutheran HS

Peter Schlachle (Pleasanton), 9:41.88/3k

Matthew Schumann (Concord), 9:34.52/3k—De La Salle HS

Mark Vingralek (Belmont), 4:19.76, 9:32.06/3k—Carlmont HS

Hurdles (100 HH, 200 LH)

Justin Collins (Gardena), 13.63, 24.96—Serra HS

Dante Johnson (Oakland), 14.42w, 15.11

Isaiah Mobley (Richmond), 14.93w, 27.32

Anyah Nutter (Van Nuys), 27.95

Armand Shyne (Oakland), 14.54w, 14.80

Jumps (HJ, PV, LJ, TJ)

Demetrius Carbin (San Jose), 40-00.50

Sean Ezenwugo (Bakersfield), 41-07.25

Malik Roberson (Gardena), 21-02.00nwi, 20-00.50—Serra HS

Joey Souza (Kingsburg), 22-01.75, 43-01.50—Kingsburg HS

Throws (SP, 4-k; DT, 1 kilo)

Malik McMorris (Santa Ana), 54-05.25—Mater Dei HS

Armand Shyne (Oakland), 44-01.75

Jeremiah Wade (Sacramento), 43-04.50, 152-01
GIRLS EVENTS

Sprints (100, 200, 400)

Suzie Acolatse (San Marcos), 12.20nwi

Timarya Baynard, 12.41nwi, 12.59, 25.01A nwi, 25.29, 55.25 -- Piedmont Hills

Imani Cook-Gist (Santa Monica), 12.42nwi, 12.60, 25.28nwi, 25.43

Talisha Dozier (El Cajon), 25.28 nwi

Alanna Epps (Fairfield), 25.81 -- Rodriguez HS, Fairfield

Amber Gore (Redondo), 25.74nwi, 56.65—Redondo Union HS

Jasmyne Graham (Murrieta), 12.19nwi, 25.54nwi—Vista Murietta HS

Aliyah Hale, 25,47, 56.50 -- St. Mary's Academy, Inglewood

Zuri Henderson, 12.56nwi, 12.72, 25.41, 56.42 -- St. Mary's Acad., Inglewood

Margaux Jones (Redlands), 12.39, 25.60nwi—Redlands HS

Natsumi McGee (Elk Grove), 12.14—Cosumnes River HS

Schuyler Moore (Westlake Village), 12.41nwi—Oaks Christian HS

Abigail Smith (Thousand Oaks), 12.40nwi, 25.10nwi

Mikaela Smith (Clovis), 55.66—Clovis North HS

Sasha Stephens (La Mesa), 25.86nwi

April Sutton (Corona), 25.44nwi—Roosevelt HS

Jaela Williams (Chino Hills), 12.12nwi, 12.36, 24.73nwi—Ayala HS

Schantell Williams (Stockton), 12.41nwi, 12.48, 25.17nwi

Distances (800, 1,500, 3,000)

Christine Bayliss (Danville), 4:47.72/1500, 10:03.60/3k—San Ramon Valley HS

Antonia Bronars (San Diego), 4:57.31/1500, 10:29.15/3k—Scripps Ranch HS

Christina Chenault (Castro Valley), 2:18.09

Michelle Chuang (Irvine), 4:53.18/1500m—Beckman HS

Amber Gore (Redondo), 2:14.79—Redondo Union HS

Augustina Hansen (Newhall), 4:50.67/1500m—Hart HS

Jasmine Hardy (Union City), 2:18.88—James Logan HS

Chloe Jenkins (Berkeley), 2:17.10—St. Mary’s HS

Miaya Larsen (Temecula), 4:56.15/1500, 10:25.91/3k—Great Oak HS

April Sutton (Corona), 2:17.13—Roosevelt HS

Hurdles (100 LH, 200 LH)

Kyra Anderson, 15.15, 28.92nwi -- St. Mary's Acad., Inglewood

Jasmyne Graham (Murrieta), 14.04, 26.55—Vista Murrieta HS

Kennedy Jones (Castro Valley), 15.48w, 15.59, 29.58

Margaux Jones (Redlands), 14.89—Redlands HS

April Sutton (Corona), 15.19nwi—Corona HS

Nia Vance (Vacaville), 28.47—Vacaville HS

Jaela Williams (Chino Hills), 14.12nwi, 14.21, 27.09—Ayala HS

Schantell Williams (Stockton), 14.65nwi, 28.94

Jumps (HJ, PV, LJ, TJ)

MacKenzie Arnold (Yuba City), 17-07.50nwi

Erinn Beattie (Ventura), 5-05.50 -- Buena HS

Christina Chenault (Castro Valley), 36-07.50

Sara Ezra (Pasadena), 35-08.00nwi

Alexandria Florent, 5-08.00 (Harvard-Westlake, No. Hollywood)

Jasmyne Graham (Murrieta), 14.04, 26.55—Vista Murrieta HS

Kennedy Jones (Castro Valley), 34-03.00nwi, 34-00.75

Margaux Jones (Redlands), 18-11.85nwi—Redlands HS

Lyndsey Lopes (Clovis), 5-03.00

Tamara McVicker (Rancho Palos Verdes), 5-03.25

Kaitlyn Merritt (Trabuco Canyon), 12-00.00

Mikaela Smith (Clovis), 17-08.25, 35-08.00nwi—Clovis North HS

Nia Vance (Vacaville), 16-06.00nwi, 36-00.75nwi—Vacaville HS

Jaela Williams (Chino Hills), 17-09.00nwi—Ayala HS


Throws (SP, 8lb, DT)

Nia Britt (Mission Hills), 51-06.25—Alemany HS

Jessica DeLao (Lamont), 121-03

Megan Dulaney (Hercules), 42-09.25

Kendall Mader (Newbury Park), 46-00.25—Newbury Park HS