In a day mired in frustration and heartbreak, Riverside County athletes walked away from Cerritos College and the California State Meet prelims licking their wounds.  In time, many will appreciate the fact that they are competing in THE toughest state meet in the United States and to get to this level is truly an honor.  But, we can overlook the athletes that are advancing onward to Saturday's State Finals.   JW North's Tommy Curry has really put together a fine month of May here by anchoring his 4x100 relay team onward (and our new #1 mark for 2008) as he also moved on in the 100 and 200 meters.   Curry is putting a solid argument in our selection for 2008 Athlete of the Year honors.  Speaking of which, Vista Murrieta's Nick Ross easily advanced in the High Jump by clearing 6'7" on his first attempt while teammate Ryan Swafford also goes into Saturday as the #1 seed with his 49'1" effort!  Corona's Raul Arcos, with his patented kick the last 100 meters, moved from 4th place to capture his heat and move on as the #2 seed into the 1600 meters.  He has the huge task of taking on the most talented distance athlete in the nation in Riverbank's German Fernandez.  Santiago's Rodney Storrs easily moved on in the 200 meters with a solid effort.  Last year, he just missed the state meet finals in the 100 meters but remains one of the favorites here in the 200, his preferred race!  Meanwhile, pretty thin on the girls side as the only individual moving on is Perris Ericka Nowell!  She remains very consistent with her 42.21 victory in the 300 Hurdles!  Rancho Verde did rebound from earlier disappointments to qualify both of their 4x400 relay squads.  Sadly, that is it for Riverside County.    We have a good number of athletes and relay teams sitting in those undesired #10-#12 slots, but they will have to look back upon some of the best seasons put forth in our county's history.

Boys 100 meters
6. -Tommy Curry (JW North) 10.71

Boys 200 meters
3. *Rodney Storrs (Santiago) 21.33
8. -Tommy Curry (JW North) 21.66

Boys 800 meters
10. -Steven Norton (La Sierra) 1:54.56
11. *Emmanuel Ngula (Vista del Lago) 1:54.86

Boys 1600 meters
2. -Raul Arcos (Corona) 4:12.09

Boys 110 Hurdles
17. -Tony Crutchfield (JW North) 14.67

Boys 400 Relay
7. JW North - 41.73
10. Rancho Verde - 41.84
11. Santiago - 41.93

Boys 1600 Relay
5. Rancho Verde - 3:17.56
12. JW North - 3:20.62

Boys High Jump
1. *Nick Ross (Vista Murrieta) 6'7"

Boys Long Jump
15. *DJ Lloyd (Vista Murrieta) 21'10.75"

Boys Triple Jump
1. -Ryan Swafford (Vista Murrieta) 49'1.25"
10. -Chris Benard (Santiago) 47'1.25"
12. *Nick Ross (Vista Murrieta) 46'11"
14. -Manny Santiago (ML King) 45'9"

Girls 200 meters
12. **Alycia Herring (Rancho Verde) 24.54 

Girls 300 Hurdles
2. *Ericka Nowell (Perris) 42.21

Girls 400 Relay
DNF - Rancho Verde

Girls 1600 Relay
9. Rancho Verde - 3:52.80

Girls Long Jump
11. **Alycia Herring (Rancho Verde) 17'11.5"

Girls Shot Put
19. **Lima Tu'ufuli (La Sierra) 37'5.5"