Outdoor Track and Field on Flotrack 2013

California frosh runs 4:09.4 for 1,600m, Baxter continues state 3,200m dominance

Jun 1, 2013 by Christopher Chavez

Just one week after the Dream Mile was run at the 2013 Adidas Grand Prix, Breah-Olinda High School freshman Austin Tamagno ran 4:09.43 at the CIF State Track and Field Championship to put his name in the early mix for next year's race. He finished third behind junior Blake Haney of Bakersfield, a seventh place finisher in last weekend's Dream Mile.

Tamagno has been on an upward trend since he opened the season with a 4:17.29 at a small meet between Brea Olinda, Esperanza, and Villa Park. He ran 9:18.01 for 15th place over 3,200-meters at the Arcadia Invitational, but rebounded with a 4:11.10 just two weeks later at the Orange County Championships.

His 1,600-meter progression over the last few weeks:
CIF Southern Section Prelims (5/11): 4:18.98 for 5th place.
CIF Southern Section Final (5/18)s: 4:13.05 for 2nd place.
CIF Southern Section Masters (5/24): 4:13.04 for 5th place.

With his race at the state championship, he becomes the fastest American-born 9th grader in United States history, according to Rich Gonzalez of PrepCalTrack.com.

Other notes from the California State Championship:
- Haney completed the 1,600-meter (4:06) and 3,200-meter double (9:01.) The junior is considering several west coast schools in his recruiting process with Stanford and Oregon in the mix.

- Also doubling with titles: Khalfani Muhammad of Notre Dame won the 100-meter dash in 10.33 and 200-meter dash in 20.86. He is the third person to accomplish that feat in state history. Long Beach Poly's Ariana Washington defended her titles in the 100-meter (11.39) and 200-meter dashes (23.22).

- Sarah Baxter won the 3,200-meter run for the third time in her career with her time of 10:10.71.

- Oregon commit Nikki Hiltz (4:48.07) was upset in the girl's 1,600-meter run by Anna Maxwell in 4:47.33. She would finish third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:10.43, while wearing an Oregon ducks sock.

FULL RESULTS FROM CIF STATE FINALS