It’s Crystal Clear Santa Ana Valley’s Davis Is a Force in 100

Santa Ana Valley sophomore Crystal Davis was one of the big surprises at the Division II finals last season. But after equaling the fifth-fastest time in Orange County history in the 100 meters Saturday at the Southern Section Division II preliminaries at Mt. San Antonio College, she won’t be sneaking up on anyone next weekend.

Davis had the top qualifying time in the event (12.12), which matched the fifth-best mark set by University’s Annette Rogers in 1981. Davis was stuck in Lane 1, but did benefit from a 1.1 meter per second tail wind, which fell well within the legal limit of 2.0.

“I like being in the middle, or having someone on my inside so I can get out with her,” Davis said. “But I was out for a good time today, either way.”

Davis wasn’t among the top three at the Orange County Championships last season, but came out of nowhere to finish fourth in Division II in a wind-aided 12.14. In the same race, Meryl Stone of Woodbridge produced the county’s fourth-fastest time (12.08).

But Davis signaled a changing of the guard by defeating Stone in the 100 at the Orange County Championships last month, then cemented herself as the dominant sprinter on Saturday. Stone ran in a separate heat and produced the second-best qualifying time (12.22), but the senior will get another chance at Davis next Saturday, when they run side-by-side in the division finals at Cerritos College.

Davis also played a key role in the Falcons’ 400 relay team, which produced the top qualifying time and the best time in the county this season (48.95). Davis ran the anchor on the relay, which also included juniors Jayette Hightower and Jamila Jones and senior Raven Hebert.

Hebert has become a welcome addition for Santa Ana Valley recently. Hebert was named to the Times all-county team in the 400 as a sophomore, but then transferred to Riverside North her junior year, where she took second in the one-lap event at the Division II finals.

Hebert transferred back to Santa Ana Valley this season and played basketball, but didn’t come out for track. About a month ago, however, she had a change of heart.

“I missed it too much,” Hebert said. “I planned on just focusing on my academics, but I missed it too much.” Hebert, who will be attending Grambling on a track and academic scholarship this fall, had the second-fastest qualifying time in the 400 (58.36), which is still quite short of her lifetime best set during her sophomore season (56.47).

“I can feel my speed coming back a little from my sophomore year,” Hebert said. “But I still have a long way to go. I was hoping for 57.5 today, at least.”

Other top qualifying times included Santa Margarita’s Meghan Atkinson in the 400 (58.21), and teammates Amanda Shanklin in the 100 hurdles (14.90) and 300 hurdles (43.74) and Sommer Owen in the 800 (2:14.73).

Katella’s Danny Mejia had the top qualifying time in the boys’ 1,600 (4:18.61), but Santa Ana’s Alfonso Leon, who came into the meet with the county’s second-fastest time in the event (4:18.02), fell during his heat and didn’t qualify. Leon suffered bruises to his wrist and legs, which forced him to scratch from the 800 as well.