J.W. North Girls Favored to Repeat

The Riverside J.W. North girls are favored to win their second consecutive title, but the boys’ championship will be up for grabs this weekend at the state track and field meet at Cerritos College.

Qualifying begins Friday with field events at 2 p.m., running events at 5.

For Saturday’s finals, field events begin at 2:15 p.m., running events at 4.

North, led by senior Nichole Denby, suffered a minor setback when the Husky 400-relay team failed to qualify for the state meet after dropping the baton and finishing eighth at the Southern Section Masters Meet last week.

But the Huskies still should have more than enough to hold off Berkeley, Long Beach Wilson and other challengers.

Denby is the defending champion in the 100 low hurdles and part of a 1,600-relay team that clocked a nation-leading mark of 3 minutes 39.46 seconds at the Masters Meet. She is also a threat to win the 100.

Defending girls’ champions competing this weekend are: Monique Henderson of San Diego Morse in the 400; Lashinda Demus of Long Beach Wilson in the 300 intermediate hurdles; Alejandra Barrientos of Felton San Lorenzo Valley in the 1,600; Sani Roseby of Monterey in the long jump; and Jill Camarena of Woodland in the shotput.

Angel Perkins of Cerritos Gahr, who won the 200 and 400 at the Masters Meet, defeated Henderson in the 400 at the FloJo Arcadia Invitational in April. Glendale’s Anita Siraki could challenge in the 3,200.

Vallejo is the defending boys’ champion, but Gardena Serra, Long Beach Poly, Woodland Hills Taft and perhaps Reseda Cleveland should contend.

Defending boys’ champions include Eagle Rock’s Rhuben Williams in the shotput and Josh Spiker of Ventura in the 3,200.

But junior Ryan Hall of Big Bear has emerged as the clear favorite in the 3,200, Bennie Robinson of Long Beach Poly is one of the favorites in the 100 and 200, Travon Walton of Chino and Jason Lovell of Cleveland are among the front-runners in the 400 and Shane Hackett of Verdugo Hills is a contender in the pole vault.