Hampton scorches the sprints at Inland Empire Championships


MURRIETA -- Tucked in between the Arcadia Invitational and the Mt. SAC Relays, the Inland Empire Championships still produced 27 gold elite standard marks along with a host of special performances from some of the absolute elite athletes in CA. 

Yucaipa senior sprinter Asani Hampton wasn't on the track for long but when he was, it was a show-stopper. Hampton just missed his CA-leading time in the 100m (10.47) when he blistered the field in 10.49 (1.5). Hampton, signed with Michigan, came back later to post a CA-leading 200m of 21.21 (1.9). 

Roosevelt senior Breanna Bernard-Joseph won the 300m hurdles in 42.96 (just over her existing meet record of 42.43), anchored a meet record-setting 4x400m relay (3:51.19/CA #3) and placed second in the 100 hurdles (13.99/-0.9) to meet record-setting winning Danae Dyer (13.90).

It was the first time this season that Bernard-Joseph has dipped under 14 seconds in the 100 hurdles.

Dyer (Frank Bellino photo above) is CA #2 with her 13.68 from Arcadia (US. #5). Notch her up a slot for wind-legal readings because Jada Hicks' (CA#1/US #3) 13.54 at a league dual, had a 2.4 meters per second wind reading, 0.4 over the allowable for record purposes.

Roosevelt senior and recent Long Beach State-signee, Raymon Ornelas, moved up to #8 in CA with a 4:15.82 winning 1,600m. Corona Centennial senior Trevor Woodward was second in 4:16.56 (CA #18).

Vista Murrieta senior Parris Samaniego (Frank Bellino photo below) moved up to to CA #5 in the 400 with a winning time of 47.67.

Great Oak senior thrower Jaime Navarro moved up to CA #5 in the shot put with a 58-10 PR and he also won the discus throw at 180-8 (he also ranks CA #5 in the DT with a PR of 185-8 from Redondo).