Since this is my first season on my new site I’m adding these rankings as a new way to highlight the great performances the Redwood Empire produced in Track & Field in 2016.
So this is just one old trackster’s opinion. (The Press Democrat will still be doing their All-Empire but that is probably months off.)
Girls here
Photos contributed by Michael Lucid, Joe Civello and Thomas Benjamin. Missing photos? If you have a photo I’m missing please email it to me at [email protected]
Field Athlete of the Year
Will Smith was just dominate this year. His 165-5 discus toss was the farthest anyone from the Redwood Empire has thrown since 2003.
Smith was unbeatable in all the meets he threw both implements, winning both shot and discus at Big Cat, SR Jamboree, Viking Classic, CMC finals and NCS 1A Championships. He also placed 7th at the huge Stanford meet in discus. He had the best place showing of all Male Empire athletes at the NCS Meet of Champions placing 4th in the discus at 164-2 and 5th in the shot with a new personal best of 49-5.75.
Will Smith, 12, Willits
Discus
4th NCS MOC 164-2
1st CMC 162-10
1st Viking Classic 160-0
1st Big Cat 152-1
1st SR Jamboree 150-8
1st NCS 1A 140-5
7th Stanford 151-8
165-5 1st 2016, 19th All-Time
Shot Put
5th NCS MOC 49-5.75
1st Viking Classic 48-2
1st NCS 1A 48-1
1st CMC 47-2
1st SR Jamboree 45-3
1st Big Cat 45-0.75
49-5.75 1st 2016
Track Athlete of the Year
This award was very close as Santa Rosa’s Luca Mazzanti, El Molino’s Brian Schulz and Carrillo’s Ian Herculson and Isaiah Smith all had excellent seasons.
Herculson’s two individual wins (100/200) at NCS Redwood after winning both, plus the 400 relay, at NBL’s made him the top choice for me.
Ian Herculson, 12, Maria Carrillo
100
1st NCS Redwood 11.19 -0.7
1st NBL 11.04+
1st Big Cat 11.04+
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 11.31 +0.0
12th NCS MOC 11.27 -0.1
11.11 1st 2016, 11.19 -0.7, 10.94+ =16th All-Time
200
1st NCS Redwood 22.47 -2.9
1st NBL 21.84+
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 22.73 +0.7
9th NCS MOC 22.50 +0.1
22.31 +0.9 2nd 2016, 24th FAT, 21.84+ =11th All-Time
4x100m Relay
1st NBL 43.34+
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 44.19
1st Windsor Relays 44.34
1st Big Cat 44.49
2nd Viking Classic 43.33
2nd NCS Redwood 43.35
9th NCS MOC 43.19 Herculson, Ramirez, Coffey, Smith
43.19 1st 2016, =14th All-Time
100 | 200 | 400 | 800 | 1600 | 3200 | 110HH | 300IH | 400R | 1600R | Other Relays
HJ | PV | LJ | TJ | SP | DT | Honorable Mention
100 METERS
This was Herculson’s all the way, but it’s very exciting to have Fr/So athletes like Tischburn and Ramirez, who should provide the Empire with fast times for years to come.
Ian Herculson, 12, Maria Carrillo
1st NCS Redwood 11.19 -0.7
1st NBL 11.04+
1st Big Cat 11.04+
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 11.31 +0.0
12th NCS MOC 11.27 -0.1
11.11 1st 2016, 11.19 -0.7, 10.94+ =16th All-Time
Jaymes Tischburn, 10, Montgomery
1st Viking Classic 11.22 +1.9
2nd NBL 11.04+
11.22 +1.9 2nd 2016, 24th AT legal, 11.04+, =39th All-Time, =3rd Soph
Severin Ramirez, 9, Maria Carrillo
3rd NBL 11.24+
11.45 +1.9 3rd 2016, 11.24+ 2nd Freshman All-Time
200 METERS
Herculson was number one here as well but Tischburn had an amazing race at MOC, while McMahon was the SCL champ.
Ian Herculson, 12, Maria Carrillo
1st NCS Redwood 22.47 -2.9
1st NBL 21.84+
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 22.73 +0.7
9th NCS MOC 22.50 +0.1
22.31 +0.9 2nd 2016, 24th FAT, 21.84+ =11th All-Time
Jaymes Tischburn, 10, Montgomery
5th NCS MOC 22.17 +0.4
1st Viking Classic 22.77 +1.7
1st Castleberry 23.14
2nd NBL 22.34+
3rd NCS Redwood 22.73 -2.9
22.17 +0.4 1st 2016, =17th FAT, 39th All-Time, 3rd Sophomore/1st FAT
Eamon McMahon, 12, Petaluma
1st SCL 23.41
23.38 +0.4 10th 2016
400 METERS
Isaiah Smith was as dominate in the 400 as Will Smith was in the throws. MOC 6th topped of a great season. Gorman Jr. and Rollins take the next spots.
Isaiah Smith, 11, Maria Carrillo
1st NBL 50.84+
1st Big Cat 52.14+
1st Windsor Relays 52.01
2nd NCS Redwood 49.85
6th NCS MOC 49.81
49.43 1st 2016, 15th All-Time, 4th Junior
Paul Gorman Jr., 12, Fort Bragg
1st CMC 51.71
1st NCS 1A 51.80
51.21 3rd 2016
Sean Rollins, 12, Santa Rosa
2nd NBL 51.84+
3rd NCS Redwood 51.29
14th NCS MOC 51.30
51.29 5th 2016
800 METERS
Esponda had a strong season including three 1:56 runs in big meets. Mazzanti like Esponda is a junior and will be back next year while Carpenter was the SCL champ.
Zachery Esponda, 11, Casa Grande
1st NBL 1:56.24+
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 1:58.36
2nd Sacramento Meet of Champions 1:56.80
2nd NCS Redwood 1:56.98
11th NCS MOC 1:58.81
1:56.24+ 1st 2016, =34th All-Time
Luca Mazzanti, 11, Santa Rosa
1st Viking Classic 1:58.13
2nd NBL 1:57.74+
1:57.74+ 2nd 2016
Aidan Carpenter, 12, Piner
1st SCL 1:59.47
2nd Viking Classic 1:59.87
1:59.14 5th 2016
1600 METERS
Mazzanti had great end of season performances with wins at the Viking Classic, NBL and NCS Redwood before his 4:18.21 at MOC. Schulz and Kimball both had top 50 times and strong seasons to back them up.
Luca Mazzanti, 11, Santa Rosa
1st NCS Redwood 4:18.50
1st Viking Classic 4:20.75
1st NBL 4:29.54+
4th NCS MOC 4:18.21
4:18.21 1st 2016, 23rd All-Time, 10th Junior
Brian Schulz, 11, El Molino
1st SCL 4:27.36
1st Windsor Relays 1500/4:23.28
2nd Viking Classic 4:23.40
4:20.64* 2nd 2016, =41st All-Time
Carson Kimball, 12, Maria Carrillo
3rd NBL 4:33.84+
7th Dublin Distance Fiesta 4:29.60
15th NCS MOC 4:25.60
4:21.39 3rd 2016, 47th All-Time
3200 METERS
This could be our premier event next year as all three will be back. Schulz had the only top 10 All-Time mark this year in any event with his 9:12.92. And add to that his 4th place finish at MOC. Kruetzfeldt and Vargas are both only sophomores but produced seasons that any senior would be proud of.
Brian Schulz, 11, El Molino
1st SCL 9:40.08
2nd NCS Redwood 9:29.15
4th NCS MOC 9:20.84
5th Arcadia-Rated 9:12.92
6th Dublin Distance Fiesta 9:20.79
9:12.92 1st 2016, 8th All-Time, 3rd Junior
Scott Kruetzfeldt, 10, Maria Carrillo
1st NBL 9:53.14+
1st Big Cat 10:03.74+
2nd Viking Classic 9:47.54+
10th NCS MOC 9:38.76
9:38.76 4th 2016, 9th Sophomore
Jonny Vargas, 10, Piner
2nd SCL 9:43.13
11th NCS MOC 9:39.04
9:36.90 3rd 2016, 8th Sophomore
110m HIGH HURDLES
It can be both a blessing and a curse to have the top two guys on the same team as Fisher and Thomsen battled all year with both ending the CIF season at 15.62. Fisher won about 70% of the battles so the edge goes to him. Modica was stuck in the same league as the top two but out shone everyone in the other leagues.
Ian Fisher, 12, Montgomery
1st NCS Redwood 15.97 -3.1
1st Castleberry 16.32
2nd NBL 15.44+
3rd Viking Classic 15.97 +1.1
8th NCS MOC 15.98 +1.4
8th Golden West 15.52 + 1.4
15.52 + 1.4 1st 2016, =37th FAT, 18th legal, 15.44+
Thomas Thomsen, 11, Montgomery
1st NBL 15.34+
2nd NCS Redwood 16.06 -3.1
7th NCS MOC 15.62 +1.4
15.62 +0.7 2nd 2016, =42nd FAT, 19th legal, 15.34+
Owen Modica, 12, Rancho Cotate
3rd NBL 15.94+
16.02 +2.1 3rd 2016, 16.18 +1.9, 15.84+
300m INTERMEDIATE HURDLES
Lu was easy pick here and again was pushed by a teammate, Schlueter. Wofford was the SCL champ and a work horse for the Prospector’s.
Aaron Lu, 12, Casa Grande
1st NBL 41.34+
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 41.63
2nd Viking Classic 41.41
2nd NCS Redwood 41.38
11th NCS MOC 41.56
41.34+ 1st 2016
Trevor Wofford, 12, Piner
1st SCL 42.32
3rd NCS Redwood 41.66
41.66 2nd 2016
Nobel Schlueter, 11, Casa Grande
2nd NBL 41.74+
14th NCS MOC 42.39
41.74+ 3rd 2016
4x100m Relay
Maria Carrillo had the hand-offs and speed to win this one hands down.
Maria Carrillo
1st NBL 43.34+
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 44.19
1st Windsor Relays 44.34
1st Big Cat 44.49
2nd Viking Classic 43.33
2nd NCS Redwood 43.35
9th NCS MOC 43.19 Herculson, Ramirez, Coffey, Smith
43.19 1st 2016, =14th All-Time
Casa Grande
2nd NBL 44.44+
16th NCS MOC 44.91 Davis, Mason, Edwin, Froes
44.44+ 2nd 2016
Rancho Cotate
3rd NBL 44.84+ Danny Shelton, Owen Modica, Malcolm Gilliam, Peyton Whetstone
44.84+ 4th 2016
4x400m Relay
Maria Carrillo had the stars again in the longer relay but were pressed hard by a very good Santa Rosa team.
Maria Carrillo
6th NCS MOC 3:24.54, Ramirez 51.9, Coffee 51.8, Kimball 52.5, Smith 48.5
1st NCS Redwood 3:26.64, Ramirez, Coffey, Kimball, Smith
1st NBL 3:28.04+, Ramirez, Coffey, Kimball, Smith
1st Big Cat 3:42.7
3:24.54 1st 2016, =29th All-Time
Santa Rosa
1st Viking Classic 3:30.56
2nd NBL 3:28.14+
2nd NCS Redwood 3:29.22
8th NCS MOC 3:25.31 Rollins, Glascock, Macondray, Cortright
3:25.31 2nd 2016, 34th All-Time
Piner
1st SCL 3:34.47
3rd NCS Redwood 3:31.26 Wofford, Luong, Ball, Carpenter
3:31.26 3rd 2016
HIGH JUMP
Growden was an easy pick here but Williams, Worthy, Leng and Tom E were all very close for next spots.
Blue Growden, 12, Santa Rosa
1st NBL 5-10
1st Windsor Relays 5-8
7th NCS MOC 6-0
6-2 1st 2016
Jacob Williams, 10, Montgomery
3rd NBL 5-8
16th NCS MOC 5-8
6-0 =2nd 2016
Jacob Worthy, 9, RV Christian
1st CMC 6-0
1st JV Windsor 6-0
6-0 =2nd 2016, =6th Freshman
POLE VAULT
This one was super close between these three and Michael Horton. I gave the edge to Ito-Lutz because of his record in head to head battles over the season.
Skyler Ito-Lutz, 11, Piner
1st SCL 12-0
1st SR Jamboree 10-6
14th NCS MOC 12-0
12-0 4th 2016
Tom E, 12, Maria Carrillo
1st NBL 12-6
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 11-0
12-6 =1st 2016
Chase Waddington, 12, Fort Bragg
1st NCS 1A 12-6
1st CMC 12-0
1st Castleberry 11-6
2nd Viking Classic 12-6
12-6 =1st 2016
LONG JUMP
The three league champs took the top spots here but Barbiero’s performances at his two NCS meets made him easy pick for first.
Remy Barbiero, 11 Sonoma Academy
1st NCS 1A 21-6.75
1st CMC 20-0.75
10th NCS MOC 20-5.75 +1.6
21-6.75 1st 2016, 20-5.75 +1.6 24th legal
Brendan O’Neill, 10, Petaluna
1st SCL 20-1
1st Windsor Relays 19-3
1st Castleberry 19-3
1st Big Cat 19-2.75
20-3.75 2nd 2016
Mazi Macondray, 12, Santa Rosa
1st NBL 19-8.75
20-1 3rd 2016
TRIPLE JUMP
Same three as the long jump but O’Neill leaped to the top here because of his Invite wins and NCS Redwood triumph.
Brendan O’Neill, 10, Petaluna
1st NCS Redwood 41-5
1st SCL 41-2
1st Windsor Relays 40-0.25
1st Big Cat 39-9
1st Castleberry 38-10.25
41-5 =2nd 2016
Mazi Macondray, 12, Santa Rosa
1st NBL 41-11
2nd Viking Classic 42-0.5
2nd NCS Redwood 40-5.5
14th NCS MOC 40-11
42.2.5 1st 2016
Remy Barbiero, 11 Sonoma Academy
1st CMC 41-1.5
1st NCS 1A 40-4
13th NCS MOC 41-0
41-1.5 4th 2016, 41-0 -1.1 =28th legal
SHOT PUT
Smith all the way here with Simpson’s solid season holding off late season charge by Iversen. And yes Simpson also triple jumps.
Will Smith, 12, Willits
5th NCS MOC 49-5.75
1st Viking Classic 48-2
1st NCS 1A 48-1
1st CMC 47-2
1st SR Jamboree 45-3
1st Big Cat 45-0.75
49-5.75 1st 2016
Scott Simpson, 12, Piner
1st SCL 48-1
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 43-11
1st Castleberry 43-3
2nd NCS Redwood 46-6.5
2nd Viking Classic 44-4
48-1 2nd 2016
Nicholas Iversen, 12, Ukiah
1st NBL 44-5.25
3rd NCS Redwood 46-6
14th NCS MOC 44-4.5
46-6 3rd 2016
DISCUS
Smith’s discus season was the best individual event for Empire this year and Bell winning NCS Redwood and Santa giving us three of the top 8 at MOC made this our premier event this year.
Will Smith, 12, Willits
4th NCS MOC 164-2
1st CMC 162-10
1st Viking Classic 160-0
1st Big Cat 152-1
1st SR Jamboree 150-8
1st NCS 1A 140-5
7th Stanford 151-8
165-5 1st 2016, 19th All-Time
Delano Bell, 12, Santa Rosa
1st NCS Redwood 155-2
1st NBL 143-9
1st Santa Rosa Twilight 141-11
2nd Viking Classic 129-11
8th NCS MOC 150-9
155-2 2nd 2016
Justen Santa, 11, Petaluma
1st SCL 146-11
7th NCS MOC 152-3
152-3 3rd 2016
One thing that amazed me when I finished the boys was how many are back next year. I don’t look at grade level or what school a kid is from when I’m doing these. Normally these lists are 67-75% seniors. This years stars were the opposite with most back next year. Only event we lose all three is shot put.
Honorable Mention Performances
Noah Bartolome, 11, Sonoma Valley
110HH
2nd SCL 17.46
17.27 -2.5
300IH
2nd SCL 43.22
Delano Bell, 12, Santa Rosa
See also DT
SP
3rd NBL 42-2.5
42-2.5 7th 2016
Jordon Brookshire, 11, Cardinal Newman
LJ
3rd NBL 19-4.5
19-10.5 5th 2016
TJ
2nd NBL 40-6.75
41-5 =2nd 2016
Aidan Carpenter, 12, Piner
See also 800
1600
1st Sheldon Distance Carnival 4:29.64+
2nd SCL 4:27.59
4:23.11 4th 2016
Spencer Cortright, 12, Santa Rosa
LJ
2nd NBL 19-6.25
19-9.25 6th 2016
Ethan DelMonte, 10, Analy
PV
2nd SCL 10-6
10-6 =8th 2016
Chase Doolittle, 12, St Vincent
400
13th NCS MOC 51.24
51.24 4th 2016
Jack Dunbar, 10, Petaluma
800
1st Castleberry 2:02.48
1:59.24 6th 2016, 8th Sophomore
Will Dunbar, 10, Petaluma
1600
1st Castleberry 4:35.27
4:29.24 9th 2016
Tom E, 12, Maria Carrillo
See also PV
HJ
1st Big Cat 5-8
2nd NBL 5-8
5-8 =9th 2016
Zachary Esponda, 11, Casa Grande
See also 800
1600
4:27.11 7th 2016
Ryan Fernandez, 12, El Molino
DT
2nd SCL 133-2
138-11 5th 2016
Ian Fisher, 12, Montgomery
See also 110HH
300IH
3rd NBL 42.94+
42.51 7th 2016
Shane Giaccani-Reynolds, 11, Fort Bragg
300IH
1st CMC 43.25
42.79 9th 2016
Paul Gorman Jr., 12, Fort Bragg
See also 400
200
23.25 5th 2016, 23.99 +1.6
Blue Growden, 12, Santa Rosa
See also HJ
TJ
3rd NBL 40-3.5
40-3.5 6th 2016
Michael Horton, 12, Santa Rosa
PV
1st Big Cat 12-0
1st Windsor Relays 7-6
2nd NBL 12-6
3rd Viking Classic 12-0
12-6 =1st 2016
Walter Isaac, 12, Technology
100
1st Castleberry 11.75
Skyler Ito-Lutz, 11, Piner
HJ
2nd SCL 5-9
5-9 8th 2016
Nicholas Iversen, 12, Ukiah
See also SP
DT
11th NCS MOC 141-3
141-3 4th 2016
Waisea Jikoiono, 10, Montgomery
HJ
1st Castleberry 5-7
5-8 =9th 2016
Joey Johnson, 11, Sonoma Academy
800
1st CMC 2:04.07
1600
1st CMC 4:29.80
4:23.70 6th 2016
Carson Kimball, 12, Maria Carrillo
800
1st Big Cat 2:01.84+
Scott Kruetzfeldt, 10, Maria Carrillo
1600
2nd NBL 4:32.54+
Ben Lawson, 10, Maria Carrillo
1600
13th NCS MOC 4:24.30
4:23.46 5th 2016, =9th Sophomore
3200
2nd NBL 10:05.24+
9:57.92 8th 2016
Robbie Leng, 10, RV Christian
110HH
1st CMC 16.64
16.57 8th 2016, 16.74 +0.5
HJ
1st NCS 1A 5-10
13th NCS MOC 5-10
5-10 =5th 2016
Zach Lindemann, 10, Maria Carrillo
3200
3rd NBL 10:12.54+
10:08.55 10th 2016
Aaron Lu, 12, Casa Grande
See also 300IH
110HH
16.44+, 17.30 +1.1
Brian Luong, Piner
800
2nd SCL 1:59.87
1:59.87 8th 2016
Eamon McMahon, 12, Petaluma
See also 200
100
1st Windsor Relays 12.64
2nd SCL 11.79
William McTaggert, 12, Windsor
SP
1st Windsor Relays 41-7
2nd NBL 43-11
43-11 4th 2016
DT
1st Castleberry 124-9
2nd NBL 129-10
3rd Viking Classic 127-6
135-3 6th 2016
Wes Methum, 11, Rincon Valley Christian
3200
1st Castleberry 10:13.10
1st CMC 10:16.51
9:54.34+ 7th 2016
Isaiah Moore, 12, Analy
100
1st SCL 11.76
Zack Nelson, 11, Maria Carrillo
110HH
1st Windsor Relays 17.64
13th NCS MOC 16.10 +0.5
16.10 +0.5 4th 2016
Brendan O’Neill, 10, Petaluna
See also LJ, TJ
HJ
1st SCL 5-10
5-10 =5th 2016
Matt Ostheimer, 12, Cardinal Newman
400
3rd NBL 52.04+
52.04+ 10th 2016
Brian Padilla, 12, Maria Carrillo
800
3rd NBL 2:00.74+
1:58.89 4th 2016
Ty Pearson, 12, Petaluma
110HH
1st Big Cat 16.49
16.49 6th 2016, 17.46 +1.4
300IH
1st Castleberry 41.92
1st Big Cat 42.64+
41.92 4th 2016
Travis Plank, 12, Petaluma
SP
2nd SCL 41-10
43-0 6th 2016
Daniel Pride, 11, Santa Rosa
1600
1st Big Cat 4:34.31
Jonathan Ramirez, 11, Healdsburg
LJ
2nd SCL 19-5.5
Severin Ramirez, 9, Maria Carrillo
See also 100
200
23.36 9th 2016, 23.04+, 23.61 +0.9, 4th Freshman
Tristen Rege, 11, Cloverdale
200
1st CMC 23.58
Brian Schulz, 11, El Molino
See also 1600, 3200
800
1:59.30 7th 2016
Ross Simmons, 11, Analy
400
1st SCL 51.16
1st Castleberry 52.46
51.05 2nd 2016
200
2nd SCL 23.80
23.27 7th 2016
Scott Simpson, 12, Piner
TJ
2nd SCL 39-7.5
39-7.5 8th 2016
Isaiah Smith, 11, Maria Carrillo
See also 400
200
3rd NBL 22.64+
22.89 0.0 3rd 2016, =27th legal
Thomas Thomsen, 11, Montgomery
See also 110HH
300IH
43.04+ 10th 2016
Brenden Valador, 12, Fort Bragg
100
1st CMC 11.47
11.47 =4th 2016
Trevor Wofford, 12, Piner
See also 300IH
400
2nd SCL 51.99
51.99 9th 2016
110HH
1st SCL 17.14
17.46 +1.4
Tai Ziatz, 12, Maria Carrillo
PV
3rd NBL 11-0
11-6 5th 2016
Filaberto Zuniga, 12, Windsor
DT
3rd NBL 128-9
131-0 8th 2016
Relays
Casa Grande
See also 400 Relay
1600 Relay
3rd Viking Classic 3:33.24
3:32.04 5th 2016 Edwin, Esponda, Lu, Froes
El Molino
400 Relay
1st SCL 45.72, Sire Clark, Avery Randsome, Carmelo Salas, Josh Wright
45.72 8th 2016
Fort Bragg
400 Relay
1st CMC 45.45
45.12 5th 2016 Giaccani-Reynolds, Gorman, Jr., Trujillo, Valador
1600 Relay
16th NCS MOC 3:34.24 Matson, Gaona, Valador, Gorman Jr.
3:34.24 7th 2016
Montgomery
1600 Relay
1st Castleberry 3:36.74 Ramon Cruz 52.7, Abraham Rodriguez 57.7, Tucker Bradshaw 52.8, Jaymes Tischburn 53.3
3rd NBL 3:31.84+ Ramon Cruz 53.7, Abraham Rodriguez 55.8, Tucker Bradshaw 51.2, Jaymes Tischburn 51.1
3:31.84+ 4th 2016
400 Relay
45.14 6th 2016 Thomsen, Linde, Fisher, Tischburn
Petaluma
400 Relay
1st Castleberry 45.55 Michel Baker, Garrett Verza, Eamon McMahon, David Wilson
2nd SCL 45.73 Michel Baker, Chase Pinkerton, Eamon McMahon, Brendan O’Neill
45.55 7th 2016
1600 Relay
3:35.31 9th 2016
Santa Rosa
Distance Medley
1st Redwood Twilight Relays 10:45.24
Sonoma Valley
1600 Relay
2nd SCL 3:35.03 Noah Bartolome, Justin Cox, Alex Epstein, James Reed
3:35.03 8th 2016
Tech High
1600 Relay
1st CMC 3:42.19
3:40.61 10th 2016 Willimas, Ramirez, Guidry, Moya
+ hand time converted to automatic
* yard race converted to metric