California track finals showered with standouts

5. Poly, Poly

For the third time and first since 1998, Long Beach Poly's boys and girls swept the team titles. No other school has ever accomplished the feat.

The Jackrabbits  became the first girls' team to win four straight team titles and they did so in convincing fashion with 72 points – just off the meet record of 80 by Poly in 2004.

The Jackrabbits opened the day with a win in the 400 relay as Carisma Lyday, Melia Cox, Traci Hicks and Ndipagbor crossed in 45.70. As expected Ndipagbor won the open 400 (53.38) and Cox breezed to a win in the 300 hurdles (41.80), but the talented USC-bound duo eventually got fatigued.

Ndipagbor had to be escorted off the track after her 400 – a lifetime best and second best mark in the country – and couldn't keep up with Prandini in the 200. She finished in 24.05, well off her best of 23.57 set in trials.

Cox, trying also to win three events, placed second in the 100 hurdles and third in the triple jump.
 
Ndipagbor and Cox were part of all the championship teams.

"As a freshman, I had no idea what winning state had done for my team," Ndipagbor told Kirby Lee. "I didn't really take winning state seriously because it was expected of us. … Looking back now that means more than I can fathom."

Said Cox: "Our goal was to make history. To be a part of history is like out of this world. It's like really crazy."

What made this even more enjoyable is Poly's boys joining the victory party, edging Loyola (Los Angeles) 35-32.

Shaquille Howard had much to do with the championship as he took the open 400 (47.49) and anchored the winning 1600 relay team that also featured Aaron Harris, Richard Smith and Kameron White.

"I am at a loss for words," Poly's highly successful coach Don Norford told Lee. "This is exhilarating. The boys took the title. Nobody gave it to them. And then to see the girls do something very historic is amazing."