Jenna Prandini (middle) is off and running and attempting to be first Central Section girl to win a state 100-meter title.
Photo by Craig Morley
Buchanan High School's Veterans Stadium, Clovis
Weather: overcast, windless, muggy, 68-75 degrees
Today's finals: 4:30 p.m. field events; 6 p.m. running
Trials and live results: CLICK HERE
CLOVIS, Calif. – Jenna Prandini lit up like a Christmas Tree when Akawkaw Ndipagbor's name was mentioned.
The
Clovis High School and Oregon-bound senior track and field standout had another brilliant performance at Buchanan High School's Veterans Stadium during Friday's CIF State Track and Field Championship trials.
Prandini, winner of a staggering 13 Central Section championships including four on the same track last week, qualified first in the 100 meters (11.60) and long jump (19-9¼) and was second in the 200 (23.97).
She was second to Ndipagbor, the
Long Beach Poly senior and USC-signee who had an equally stellar day, qualifying first in the 400 (54.28) and the 200 (23.57) and anchored the team's 400 relay (45.80).
Prandini and Ndipagbor will no doubt go down as two of the finest female athletes to compete in the state meet and today they'll face off for the first time in what figures to be a longtime rivalry.
"Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to it," Prandini said. "If I want to win I'll have to PR by a lot. I haven't run against anyone faster than me in the 200 this year. She's going to be real good competition. It will probably take 22.3 or 22.4 to win."
Ndipagbor said she was also looking forward to the 200 showdown. Like Prandini, there was no game face for Ndipagbor, but genuine excitement that the best competition will be out on the track.
"I know she was hurt earlier in the year, so I'm glad she's healthy ready to go," Ndipagbor said.
But Prandini will no doubt have the hometown backing of most the 10,000 fans who figure to pack the stadium tonight. Doesn't that bother Ndipagbor?
The ultra mature and engaging standout just smiled.
"No, I'll just go into game-face mode," she said. "I'll just get real quiet and focus on exactly what I need to do. I do my best when I do that. I won't really hear the crowd."
Ndipagbor and teammate Melia Cox are trying to become part of all sorts of history – four titles in one state meet; four straight team titles and to break Poly's own meet record of 80 points (with a new slightly inflated scoring system and 13 other quallifiers, Poly should shatter that mark).
"I'm really feeling good about where we are as a team," Ndipagbor said. "We're all putting out good marks tonight. I feed off Melia and her energy."
Prandini feeds largely off the crowd's energy and after winning two state titles here last year – in the long and triple jump – she's excited about today's finals.
Even though showers are in the forecast.
Prandini's 100 mark Friday was a PR and the fifth best in the country this year. She was most pleased with her long jump – the sixth best nationally this season.
The best part, she did it on her first attempt and shut it down, helping her to conserve energy.
"I just got my steps down yesterday, so that really gives me confidence heading into (today)," Prandini said.
More quick hit notes on a superb day that featured almost ideal calm, humid conditions and only one real surprise or mishap as state girls shot put leader Rebecca Hammar (Buhach Colony) failed to advance due largely to two fouls.
