Throwers prevail at CIF-SS Track Finals

NORWALK – When it comes to local throwers, the ground fears the result as much as the competition.

The thud when a projectile finally falls to the dirt from these heavy-handed individuals has grown fainter for those who have chosen to watch the action up close, for the distance traveled by those objects has only increased.

Locals claimed two of the eight throwing titles handed out in the CIF Southern Section Track and Field Finals on Saturday at Cerritos College.

Marina’s Kyle Tsu (shot put) and Costa Mesa’s Felicia Crenshaw (discus) were the victors, with each setting personal records in the event that they won.

Tsu, a UC Irvine commit, has proven resilient these past few weeks. After the disappointment of not qualifying for the Masters Meet in the discus, he excelled in his favorite event.

The senior produced a lifetime best mark of 63 feet, 10 inches to win the Division 2 shot put competition, the best overall mark at the divisional finals by nearly four feet.

“I love shot put more as an event, although my mother says that I should really start liking both of them equally,” Tsu said. “I’ve got to pick a favorite.”

A hulking presence in the ring at 6 feet 4, 295 pounds, Tsu likes the brute strength aspect of the shot put. The state lead coming into Saturday was 66 feet, 5 1/2 inches, a mark posted by Clovis Buchanan’s Jacob Wilson. The Vikings standout continues to put himself in striking distance.

“My coach told me a long time ago when we worked on the spin for the first time, my goal isn’t anywhere but state,” Tsu said. “I’m just trying to peak at the right time.”

On the girls’ side, the area’s highlights came from a very familiar source. At this time last year, Crenshaw was challenging school records. Those are well in hand now, as is her first career CIF individual crown.

The junior set a personal record with a throw of 150 feet, 11 inches, delivering the third overall performance in the event.

Crenshaw is inseparable from her twin sister, Tayla. The goal has always been to progress through the postseason as a duo, and the dream is alive. Tayla advanced to the Masters Meet with a heave of 129 feet, 2 inches.

“I’m really blessed to come this far,” Felicia said. “I’m glad I was able to PR. That’s what I was hoping to do. I did it, and now I get to go to Masters with my twin sister, so it’s really exciting.”

A mark of 114-8 at the CIF-SS Division 3 Preliminaries left Tayla with work to do. It was presumed that she needed a 15-foot improvement to qualify for Masters, and that is exactly what she accomplished. Still, she was surprised when her name was announced among the qualifiers.

“I actually didn’t think that I made it,” she said. “I was like, ‘129, that’s low.’

“I’m very happy that I PR’ed. When they said that I made it, I was like, ‘Whoop, whoop. Another round with my sister.’”

Adding to the fun for the sisters was the fact that their brother, Oronde, was visiting.

“A lot of my family was here,” Felicia said. “My brother came in from the Army, and I was happy that he could see me throw. He’s never gotten to see any of us throw, and it was really exciting.”

For the second year in a row, Alex Escalera claimed the top spot in boys’ pole vault for Division 4. The Sage Hill senior won the event at 15 feet, 8 inches, a seven-inch improvement over his winning mark as a junior.

Notably, Escalera was the only representative for his school at the CIF-SS Finals. The previous year, teammate Chance Kuehnel won the 110-meter hurdles and the high jump to accompany Escalera’s accolades.

“Last year was my first year ever competing at CIF Finals,” Escalera said. “I felt more comfortable this year.

“I liked competing with Chance. It was more fun having a teammate with you.”

Escalera will compete for Washington State next year. Before doing so, he has two more weeks to add to his high school accomplishments.

His goal is to clear the bar at 16 feet, 6 inches by season’s end. Only the Masters Meet and the state championship meet remain.

To reach the Masters Meet, athletes had to place among the top nine overall performers in their event. The top twelve performances in the 800 meters, 1,600, 3,200, and the field events also advanced. The Masters Meet will be at Arcadia High next Friday night (May 26).

Newport Harbor’s Ryan Fegan (15-0) and Marina’s Michael Magula (14-6) joined Escalera among those to move on in boys’ pole vault.

Marina’s Jake Arnold and Newport Harbor’s Cole Smith were dual qualifiers in the shot put and discus, while Huntington Beach’s Jack Wiseman made the cut in the high jump (6-6).

Agoura’s Tara Davis tied Marion Jones’ record of nine individual CIF titles for a career. Davis, a Georgia commit, won the long jump, triple jump, and the 100 hurdles in each of her last three seasons.

“It’s been so special,” Davis said of her career at the meet. “The same people have been coming here for all four years. They have given me so much support, and I am so thankful for all of them and everything that they have given me.”

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