Culver City high school will send 16 athletes to the CIF Track Prelims

Some high schools are fortunate to send four or five student athletes to the CIF Track and Field preliminaries but when you send 16, that's quite an accomplishment. That's how many the Centaurs will be sending to the Division 2 prelims on Saturday, at Ventura high school.

Leading the way for the girls' team will be one of the fastest runners in the nation, Joelle Trepagnier, and the boys' team is led by Kaiden Whitt. Both athletes will be competing in multiple events. Make no mistake, both athletes are surrounded by other outstanding track and field athletes. Culver City's talent runs deep.

Their talent was on full display last Friday night at Redondo Union high school in the Bay League Track and Field Finals. On a cold South Bay night, the Centaurs made their coaches and fans happy. "I am very proud of the performances of our student athletes," said head boys coach Jahmal Wright. "They work so hard all season, and we are peaking at the right time. I am very proud of how we competed tonight."

Wright is excited to see what the athletes will do in the CIF competition. "When we get to CIF, I think the skies are the limit. We seem to rise to the occasion. The bigger the meet, the better the competition and the better we run. I think the best is yet to come with our athletes."

The girls coach, Lashinda Demus is also excited about what the Centaurs have the potential to do in CIF. A former world class runner and first year coach, Demus knows how to relate to the kids. "I know what it takes to get the job done just like Coach B (former coach Rayfield M. Beaton), and the girls are willing so that's good. I love to develop athletes and Culver City has a lot of good athletes."

For the girls, who have a chance to win their First CIF Championship in school history they placed first, second and third in the 400 meters in the Bay League Finals. Trepagnier won the race with a time of 55.48, Morgan Maddox was second in 56.07 and freshmen standout Leena Powell clocked in at 56.87. the same three girls placed 1,2 and 5 in the 200 meters and they ran on both winning relay teams along with Imaan Minwalla.

For the boys at the Bay League Final, Whitt won the 100 meters in 10.82, the 100 meter hurdles in 14.85 and he placed second in the 300 meter hurdles behind teammate Kingston Waring. Waring clocked 40.16 and Whitt 40.70.