The High Desert produced two champions at the CIF-Southern Section Division Finals at Moorpark High School on Saturday, May 17.
Silver Valley’s Ryan Mereles competed in four events in Division 4 action, earning first place in the long jump with a mark of 21-feet-10 inches. That was good for 13th overall across the four different divisions competing at the finals.
To qualify for the CIF-SS Masters Meet, athletes must place within the top 18 finishes in each event.
Mereles just missed out on qualifying in the triple jump. He took third place in Division 4 (43-2.50), but his mark came in at 20th overall.
He also took eight in the 110 hurdles (15.63) and seventh in the high jump (6-0).
Apple Valley’s Deshaun Kaeo-Kahalioumi captured first place in the Division 2 discus with a throw of 180-feet-7-inches. Kaeo-Kahalioumi came in second place overall, and his mark is currently listed as the fifth best within the state of California entering the Masters.
While seven other High Desert athletes qualified for the Masters, one notable name is missing.
Oak Hills sprinter Quran Clayton Jr. suffered a hamstring strain and did not compete. Clayton holds the fastest mark in the state of California this season in the 100-meter dash at 10.12 seconds, and second in the 110 hurdles at 13.62 seconds.
Clayton believes he will be ready to compete in the Brooks PR Invitational and the Nike Outdoor Nationals 2026, both which are next month.
Here’s a full list of how the rest of the High Desert athletes fared that the CIF-SS Division Finals, starting with the Masters qualifiers.
The rest of the High Desert’s participants
Division 2 Boys
Division 3 Boys
Division 3 Girls
Division 4 Boys
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Nine High Desert athletes qualify for the CIF-SS Track and Field Masters
Reporting by Jose Quintero, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
