In a tight 2021 season due to previous delays from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Serra High’s boys’ and girls’ track and field teams had several outstanding showings. This is the first full season in three years and the Cavaliers’ premiere program took a trip to Austin for the prestigious Texas Relays and already recorded among the top times in California and the United States on March 25-26 at the University of Texas. Roderick Pleasant, who broke national sophomore class records in the 100 and 200-meter dashes in the California State Championships on June 26, 2021 at Arcadia High, started this season from where he left off. He recorded a time of 10.39 seconds in the 100 to tie him for the best time in the state this season. At last year’s state championships, he set national sophomore records with times of 10.32 in the 100 and 20.59 in the 200 and he will be seeking possible overall national records as a junior this year. This year’s state championships, meanwhile, will return to Buchanan High in Clovis (Fresno area) on May 27-28 with the CIF-Southern Sectional Divisional and Masters Championships on May 14 and 20, in order, at Moorpark High. Pleasant also anchored Serra boys to state best times of 41.11 in the 4×100 and 1:26.54 in the 4×200-meter relays. Other runners in both races included Devin Lewis, Jaylin Franklin and Dakoda Fields. Serra’s girls also recorded top times. The Lady Cavaliers’ 4×200 relay team, led by Jordan Washington, picked up the second best 2022 time in the state at 1:38.98. Washington also raced to the state’s best time of 11.63 in the 100. The Cavaliers will return to Arcadia High for the prestigious Arcadia Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Arcadia Invitational, which has been held each year since 1960, is one of the top all prep track and field meets in the country and Serra will be competing against other top athletes from all over the United States. A week later, the Cavaliers will have athletes in another highly regarded meet, the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut. It will be the first meet at Mt. SAC’s newly rebuilt Hilmer Lodge Stadium and the first at Mt. SAC in seven years.
