Runners, jumpers and throwers from across the North State flocked to West Valley High School for the 2026 Northern Section track and field championships on Friday, May 22.
From broken records to multi-time champions and upset victories, dozens of athletes left their mark on Northern Section history.
Learn about some of the standouts from Friday’s action.
Foothill’s Blake Lema breaks 20-year-old record
Foothill’s Blake Lema made history on Friday.
As a junior in 2025, Lema placed second in both the 110m and 300m hurdles. But as a senior in 2026, he didn’t just win both events. His time of 38.01 in the 300m hurdles broke a Northern Section record that stood for nearly 20 years.
“It’s big,” Lema said of his record-breaking performance. “I didn’t expect to get it, but it’s big for me and I’m very, very pleased. The last few years I didn’t really get a chance because I got injured from this meet.”
Coming back from an injury gave Lema a new perspective on his athletic career. Winning was great, but Lema was most proud that he completed the race. So, when Lema crossed the finish line, he wasn’t thinking about the fact that he had just set a section record. He didn’t even realize how far in front of the pack he was.
What was going through his head?
“That I actually crossed without getting hurt and knowing that I made it and I accomplished what I wanted,” Lema said. “I lived my high school dream right there.”
With a smile on his face, Lema remembered all the countless hours and weekends sacrificed it took for him to get back into form.
However, there’s one more weekend Lema will sacrifice for his track career. Starting on Friday, May 29, Lema and the rest of Friday’s champions will head to Buchanan High School in Clovis to compete in the CIF state championship meet, and he’s already setting the bar high.
“For the 110s, I want to get in the 110s, have those guys push me, and then for the 300 hurdles I expect to get below 37,” Lema said.
No North State hurdler has ever finished the 300m race in under 38 seconds. Can Lema be the first?
Naia Kristoffersen translates volleyball skills into track success
Naia Kristoffersen is one of the top girls volleyball players in the Redding area. Kristoffersen, a junior at Shasta High, earned all-league and all-section honors following the 2025 season.
But after her freshman season, Kristoffersen was determined to increase her vertical. Being able to jump high is one of the most valuable traits for middle and opposite hitters like Kristoffersen, so she joined the Wolves track and field team to compete in high jump and triple jump.
“The plyometrics in track really help for volleyball, and when I run a slide in volleyball, it’s the same approach as high jump,” Kristoffersen said. “I started freshman year, and I was doing good, so I just continued to do it.”
She didn’t just do good. Kristoffersen immediately established herself as one of the premier jumpers in the section.
Kristoffersen placed second in triple jump her freshman year. As a sophomore, she placed first. And, on Friday, May 22, Kristoffersen won her second consecutive NSCIF triple jump championship after posting a score of 36’8’’ — over an inch further than the second-place finisher.
The goalposts have shifted for Kristoffersen and her track and field career. What started out as a secondary sport to benefit her performance on the volleyball court quickly became something else.
She’s even setting the literal bar higher for herself when she comes back as a senior in 2027.
“I want to increase my PR and maybe break the meet or venue record next year,” Kristoffersen said. “And then hopefully get a mark good enough to compete in college.”
Despite being a prolific jumper, Kristoffersen’s favorite part about the track season is competing in the 4x100m relay alongside her teammates.
“I really like the relay because I get to compete with some of my best friends,” Kristoffersen said. “It’s just more fun to compete with them and spend time with them and have that bond.”
U-Prep’s Asher Williamson shows off sprint speed
Throughout the 2026 season, Asher Williamson dominated each sprint he competed in.
The U-Prep senior took first place in eight of his nine 100m races, and the one time he didn’t, he placed second. Williamson also won first in seven of his eight 200m races. The one time he didn’t, he placed second.
But, heading into the Northern Section championship meet, Williamson earned the No. 6 seed for 100m and the No. 4 seed for 200m.
“I just got back from my senior trip in Disneyland, so I honestly had no idea what to expect,” Williamson said. “I was going into both events like, ‘I’m just going to run my race and see what happens.’”
When the gun fired, Williamson exploded out of his set position. 10.75 seconds later, he crossed the finish line in first place with a new personal best.
It took Williamson 21.86 seconds to complete the 200m race, but the result was the same: first place and a new personal best.
“For me, those personal bests symbolize four years of hard work,” Williamson said. “Last season I actually got injured and I wasn’t able to attend divisions… so this means the world to me that I can run my race and do the best I could.”
Williamson suffered from a minor tear in his hamstring during his junior season. It took him “lots of hours in the gym and just stretching, recovering,” to get back into form.
Williamson, an all-section caliber soccer player for the Panthers, showed off his sprint speed on the field throughout the winter, and now he got to do it in a historic 100m race.
For the first time in NSCIF history, the top four runners in the 100m each finished in under 11 seconds. Williamson was the first to cross the line.
“In my opinion, this is the best group of runners I could ever have,” Williamson said. “All of them are my friends; it’s amazing to meet new people that I just share something in common with.”
Now, Williamson will head to Fresno on Friday, May 29, to compete in the CIF state championships.
“I’m just going to trust myself to be prepared, get good sleep and just stay positive,” Williamson said.
Other Notable Performances
Brett Abrams is a sports reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. He covers high school and local sports in the Redding area. Reach out to Brett with any sports tips or news on X (formerly Twitter) @brabrams_ or by email at Brett.Abrams@Redding.com. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Local track stars make history, shatter records at section championships
Reporting by Brett Abrams, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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