Gardena Serra’s George Farmer wins heat at state championships

Reporting from Clovis -- Introductions were still in order Friday for the two fastest sprinters at the state track meet.

By the end of the championship races Saturday at Clovis Buchanan High, Covina’s Remontay McClain and Gardena Serra’s George Farmer should be plenty familiar with each another.

McClain won his preliminary 100-meter heat Friday in 10.35 seconds, the fastest time in the nation this year. Farmer posted a wind-aided 10.40 in another heat that was also a personal best.

McClain also prevailed in his 200 heat with a wind-aided 20.85, edging the 21.01 posted by Los Angeles Crenshaw’s De’Anthony Thomas in another heat. Robert Woods of Serra (21.04) and Farmer (21.22) were among the other qualifiers for Saturday’s final in the event.

Farmer said he was unfamiliar with McClain even though McClain edged him by two-tenths of a second in the 100 in last week’s Southern Section Masters Meet.

“I didn’t know who he was,” Farmer said. “He came out of the woodwork.”

Informed of Farmer’s comments, McClain said, “Who’s George Farmer?”

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For the record: In an earlier version of this reporty, the secondary headline said Remontay McClain was from Clovis Buchanan. He is from Covina. The state meet is behind held at Clovis Buchanan.

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Farmer could become the first athlete in California history to win state titles in three sports in the same school year after capturing championships in football and basketball. His best shot appears to be in the 100, a race in which he overcame a poor start Friday with what he described as improvement in the driving phase of his sprint.

“For the finals, I think all I have to do is get a good start and drive like I did today and I’ll be straight,” Farmer said.

One week after Chino Don Lugo’s Josh Mance held off Woods by .006 of a second in the 400 at the Masters Meet, there was no need for a photo finish in each of their qualifying heats. Woods won his heat in 47.01, and Mance prevailed in his in 47.36.

Mance never left Woods’ mind during his race.

“I felt like he was next to me,” said Woods, who refused to let up against lesser competition.

Woods also anchored Serra’s 4x400 relay team, which finished in 3:08.42, the fastest time in the nation this year and the third-fastest time in the history of high school track.

Claremont senior Kori Carter, coming off a disappointing performance at the Masters Meet, posted a career-best 41.21 to win her heat in the girls’ 300 hurdles. She also advanced to the final in the 100 hurdles with a time of 13.62.

Agoura’s Jonathan Cabral posted the fastest qualifying time in the boys’ 110 hurdles, finishing in 13.70. He also won his heat in the 300 hurdles in 38.09.

ben.bolch@latimes.com