2026 California Track talk (CIF)

What’s the much better facility in Sacramento?

Everything has changed this year on the way qualifying is done. Masters is a one day meet on 5/23 at Folsom.

Wow, really? So how does it work now? Does that mean there are 5 rounds instead of 6? (league prelim/final, divisonal prelim/final, then straight to masters finals with no prelims?)

They would not have a better time in Cerritos or Pomona, and both those places are hotter than Fresno in the summer. Every year the temp would be reaching the triple digits.

Apparently you don’t live in LA area it is definitely cooler than Fresno. Maybe you need to a take a test . Because calling someone out and being totally wrong makes you look foolish. Those places are definitely cooler on average.The available data explicitly ranks Fresno as the 2nd hottest city in California (among cities with populations over 10,000), with an average of 108 days per year exceeding 90°F and a normal mid-summer high of 98.4°F. While Pomona is not mentioned in the heat rankings, Fresno is identified as one of the hottest cities in the state, generally located in the Central Valley which is known for extreme summer heat compared to coastal or inland valley locations like those in Southern California. My point is proven.

I feel sorry for you . Maybe you should go back to 🤡College

CSUS Sacramento (with nice warm-up track available and facilities)? Or; Hughes Stadium - Sacramento City College (Parking could be problem). Or; American River College, Sacramento.

CSUS hasn’t been able to hold a meet in a couple of years because they have refused to get their track done and it literally has holes in it. American River College doesn’t have bleachers on half the stadium. Sac City is good but they haven’t hosting anything big in years.

Time to bring the California State Track & Field Championships back south to Mt. SAC.
Fresno might look central on a map, but it’s really at the northern edge of where most athletes are coming from. Southern California has the vast majority of teams and competitors — holding the meet in Fresno saves few people meaningful travel time while forcing SoCal athletes into a long haul.
Mt. San Antonio College has one of the best facilities in the country: Hilmer Lodge Stadium with a fast IAAF-certified 9-lane Beynon track, huge expandable seating, top-tier field event setups, and a massive video board. It’s proven it can handle huge meets flawlessly.
Plus, the temperature is dramatically better. Fresno in late May regularly hits the high 90s with blazing sun. Mt. SAC stays 10-15 degrees cooler with ocean breezes — way easier on the athletes.
The current setup isn’t fair to the majority of competitors. also, ONT is one of the greatest airports in the country to fly into.

Not sure how a high school in Clovis got a stranglehold on State Championships for XC and track, but it’s time for a change. Let’s put state at a world-class venue that’s actually convenient for the kids who make up most of the field. Mt. SAC makes way more sense.

Answering "Wow, really? So how does it work now? Does that mean there are 5 rounds instead of 6? (league prelim/final, divisonal prelim/final, then straight to masters finals with no prelims?)"

Don't forget about section prelim/final. I think it is League prelim/final, divisional prelim/final, section prelim final, then onto state?

Is that not how it already was before? What's different? Another poster said that the SJS meet is only one day now. I'm curious

CSUS has good potential but yeah, their track is god awful. I wouldn't mind Sac City hosting, but I still think Fresno is the best choice if you want to consider the commute for all the athletes statewide. As I said before, Fresno is the best equilibrium for athletes who have to travel between Norcal and Socal

Give it a rest peps. The meet isn't leaving Clovis. It an outstanding facility , mid state, plenty of hotels and most importantly they put on an outstanding meet.

Let's move on the the championship season.

I don't know if you meant to reply to me but I am literally agreeing with you lol

Anyways

How bout we start making some predictors for the state championship?

SJS has really been stepping it up in recent years, so I'm happy to see that

Gonna be a gnarly race between Heyer, Alberts and also Bowman in the 800m final, I think at least one of them will go 1:48. Top 2-3 maybe sub 1:50? I think Bowman will ultimately end up taking it. Sad that Obando isn't gonna make it.

Also, how about Ejam Yohannes?? Dude has run 20.85 for 200m, 46.11 for 400m and a 1:51.04 800M with no comp?! 400m speed KILLS. He'll be doing 200/400 for the championship season but I do hope he runs a few more 800s later on in the postseason. He'd be a 1:48 guy if he was focusing on it. He'll for sure go 45 at state

Also gonna be an interesting dual between Stream and Zaveleta, so far Zavaleta seems like he is doubling but he may scratch one of the two.

300mh hurdles, I think Lugo will take it. Not sure for the 110

Qualifying meets every Saturday now up to State. Not an easy answer because qualifying for every distance event is different. Some aren’t run certain weeks and some are. Extremely confusing new process.

Okay, my next question is... why? It was fine the way it was for literal decades. Why change it now? The main problem is that there are too many rounds kids have to go through to even make it to state finals. (7)

Does it remain that way? If that's the case, what is the point of this change?

I can’t speak for every division because they are all different but for D1 for the 1600 for example:

League then no 1600 at D1 Finals. Next one at All League Finals then again at Masters then two at State. 800 is different and you run it at every meet. 3200 is similar to 1600 and just reverse the divisional rounds.

Not sure anyone knows why it was changed. Not sure anyone can fully keep track of the rounds either.

And some posters here wonder why top high school runners like Sadie Engelhardt don't want to put up with all those rounds and decide to run in college/pro races instead.

The only reason there are so many rounds is because of Southern Section. Not that it will ever happen, but reforming the sections would solve so many issues.

Dailey ran the 3200m last year at state, but dropped out. They ran the mile at Arcadia and won. Your comment has little validity.