Brandon Arrington, Jr. of Mount Miguel sweeps sprints, sets 60 and 150 records at California Winter Outdoor Championships; South Torrance’s Liam Miller achieves distance double, repeating in 3,000

ARCADIA – Winning isn’t enough for Mount Miguel junior Brandon Arrington, Jr.

Now, the reigning California state champion in the 100-meter dash and 200 meters needs to set all-time marks.

Arrington produced two meet records Saturday at the ninth annual VS Athletics California Winter Outdoor Championships at Arcadia High, winning the 60- and 150-meter titles.

Post-meet interviews

The 60 final came first and Arrington squared off against the record holder and Bishop Alemany sophomore Demare Dezeurn.

“(Having Dezeurn in the race) was extra motivation,” Arrington admitted. “He’s a great runner. Me and him compete a lot. He beat me last year and I was so upset for a whole year. I came out here and I was like, ‘It’s time to put on a show.’”

Brandon Arrington, Jr. of Mount Miguel | Jimmy Su photo

Arrington’s 6.67 seconds set a new standard, while Dezeurn was second in 6.81.

A year ago, Dezeurn won with a meet record 6.72 seconds, winning by .008 over Granada Hills senior Jordan Coleman, while Arrington was third in 6.80.

When it came to the 150 later in the day, Arrington was the defending champion, but he did not have the record.

Now, he does, after running 15.26 seconds (into a -0.6 headwind) to shatter the old record of 15.90. A year ago, Arrington ran 15.93.

Arrington’s two impressive marks weren’t the only meet records set on the track Saturday.

JSerra senior Anne Elise Packard eclipsed the previous standard by running 1:31.16 in the 600 meters, the Canyon Country Canyon girls 4×200 relay clocked 1:36.64, and South Torrance senior Liam Miller ran 8:26.46 in the 3,000 final.

Packard won by more than two seconds in a heat that included two of her JSerra teammates. Chloe Elbaz (third, 1:33.51) and Morgan Woolforde (sixth, 1:38.07).

“I knew I would get close to it (meet record),” Packard said. “I thought I had a chance to break it, but I’d have to see how it went. It’s so much better having a teammate to warm up with. And it was reassuring to know if I lost the race, I’d probably lose to someone on my team.”

It was not the first 4×200 run by the Canyon girls during the winter season. Two weeks ago they finished second indoors at the Spokane Invitational in 1:39.92.

“I had to bring it home,” said anchor leg Lanai Gant, who also finished second in the 300. “I had to keep our place and I had to seal the deal for our time.”

A year ago, the Canyon girls won the 800-meter sprint medley relay.

Miller’s record-setting 3,000 came after he won the 1,500 in 3:55.10. His new mark of 8:26.46 in the 3,000 was nearly six seconds faster than the old record of 8:32.30 set two years ago by Grant Morgenfeld.

“The time goal was 3:53. Obviously I didn’t hit that,” Miller said after the 1,500. “That (1500) record was the goal for today, but I can’t be upset at first place. It just gives me more motivation for the actual (outdoor) track season. I’m sure I’ll make up for it later in the 3K.”

Liam Miller of South Torrance | Pete Marshall photo

And Miller was true to his word, setting a new record and repeating as winner in that event.

Other repeat winners Saturday were the Chino Hills girls, who won the 4×800 for the second year in a row in 9:46.93 and the Oaks Christian girls distance medley relay team, which won its third straight title by clocking 12:45.41.

And like the Canyon girls who won the 800 sprint medley relay last year and the 4×200 this year, St. Mary’s Academy did the opposite, winning the 4×200 last year and the sprint medley relay this year in 1:48.80.

Other impressive track doubles Saturday included Temescal Canyon’s Megan Crum, who won the 1,500 in 4:36.26, then finished second in the 3,000 behind Arcadia junior Charlotte Hopkins by a 9:54.09 to 9:54.64 margin, plus Temecula Valley’s Jack Stadlman, who won the 300 in 33.00 and was second in the 150 in 15.97.

Rayah Rodriguez of Oaks Christian was victorious in the 300 in 38.45 and helped the Lions place second in the 4×200 relay in 1:37.81, in addition to securing sixth in the 60 in 7.62.

Ellie McCuskey-Hay, a junior at St. Ignatius, won the girls 60 in 7.49, along with finishing second in the long jump at 18-8.25 (5.69m), placing fourth in the 300 in 39.59 and earning sixth in the 150 in 18.08.

Christina Gray of Carson, also a junior, was runner-up behind McCuskey-Hay in the 60 in 7.53, before winning the 150 in 17.75.

Brooke White, a senior at River City, prevailed in the girls 60 hurdles final in 8.73, as well as finishing fourth in the long jump with a leap of 18-3.25 (5.56m).

Ramona senior Sterling Bryant captured the title in the boys 60 hurdles in 8.02.

Trajan Cephas of Norco edged Ejam Yohannes from Loyola by a 1:20.971 to 1;20.977 margin to grab the victory in the boys 600.

Loyola also captured the boys distance medley relay title in 10:27.48, with Mira Costa winning the boys 4×800 crown in 8:05.23.

Serra triumphed in the boys 4×200 relay in 1:28.74 and Peninsula prevailed in the boys 800 sprint medley relay in 1;32.90.