In what has been a collectively historic year for desert track and field athletes, the talented group of stars shined brightest at the CIF-SS Finals last weekend with a whopping 12 different athletes advancing to the Masters Meet including four CIF-SS championship performances.
For comparison’s sake, only four desert athletes made the Masters Meet in 2025, so this is quite a crop of talented track and field stars.
Moorpark High School was the site for the CIF-SS finals Saturday as the desert’s best put on a show, and the star of that show was Malia Strange of Shadow Hills.
Strange, a junior who transferred to the Knights after two highly successful years at Xavier Prep, picked up a pair of CIF-SS titles. She won the Division 3 100 hurdles title with a school record time of 14.45 seconds.
She then moved from speed to the jumps where she won the CIF-SS Division three title in the triple jump with a hop, skip and leap of 39 feet, 4 inches. She also added a second-place finish in the long jump (18 feet, 4.75 inches) and has advanced to the Masters Meet this weekend back at Moorpark in all three events.
But she’s not alone. Two other desert stars also won CIF-SS titles and nine more athletes advanced to the Masters Meet by finishing among the top 18 athletes in their event across all four divisions.
Jax Penny gabs CIF-SS title
Palm Desert track star Kingston “Jax” Penny ran away with the CIF-SS Division 2 title in the 300 hurdles with a blazing time of 36.94 seconds. His mark was the second fastest across all four divisions, meaning he should be a legitimate contender for a Masters Meet title this weekend.
Sterling effort in the shot put
Talented thrower Joaquin Sterling of Shadow Hills came through in the clutch with a throw of 58 feet, 1.5 inches to win the CIF-SS Division 3 shot put title. His toss was the third best across all four divisions. He also finished sixth in Division 3 in the discus.
La Quinta’s Masters Meet makers
The Blackhawks, competing in Division 1, did not have any CIF-SS champions, but they are the school with the most athletes advancing to the Masters Meet with four starring performances.
Alyssa Lopez qualified in the 1,600-meter with a time of 4:57.20 which placed her 14th best throughout the divisions (remember, top 18 advance to the Masters Meet). She joins Malia Strange as the only two girls’ athletes to make the Masters Meet from the desert.
Matthew Rivas finished 16th overall in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.85 seconds.
Jacob Vanbeers secured a Masters spot with a high jump of 6-foot-2, 16th best across all divisions.
Ryan Jones finished seventh overall in the discus with a fine throw of 166 feet, 11 inches.
Palm Desert duo shines
Aztecs football fans know the names Nick Dangleis and Jonah Toland and the track world knows them, too. Dangleis finished second in Division 2 (9th overall) in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.37 seconds. Toland continued his impressive run in the high jump finishing second in Division 2 and 9th overall with a leap of 6-foot-4.
Representing the DVL
Indio speedster Damian Durinzi finished third in the Division 2 300 hurdles race in a time of 38.84. His time was 7th best across all divisions, easily allowing Durinzi to be the only desert Masters Meet participant outside the DEL. He also made the Masters Meet last year.
A Rattler making moves
Rancho Mirage High also produces a Masters Meet participant in the form of triple jump specialist Pedro Padilla. He came four inches from a CIF-SS title, finishing second in the Division 3 meet and fifth overall with a jump of 45 feet, 7 inches.
And another starring Knight
Long jumper Nate Williams will join his CIF-SS champion teammates Strange and Sterling tanks to an impressive leap of 22-2.75 inches which put him 12th overall across all divisions.
The Masters Meet is Saturday at Moorpark High School.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Meet the 12 desert track and field stars that made the Masters Meet
Reporting by Shad Powers, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
