RJ Sermons, on the fast track to USC, wins 200 | College News
One day after making a huge announcement about his future, RJ Sermons concentrated on the current and rebounded from a disappointing effort in the boys’ 100 meters to beat a loaded subject in the 200 meters Saturday in the Southern Section Masters Meet at Moorpark High.
“Not having the best race in the 100 gave me more fire in the 200 and I feel like I understand that race all the way,” Sermons stated after building a sizable lead around the flip and successful in 20.97 seconds — not fairly matching his personal-best 20.88 achieved three weeks in the past at Baseline League finals. “The most important thing right now is to stay level-headed and prepare well for state.”
A four-star cornerback from Rancho Cucamonga, Sermons declared on Friday he’ll forgo his senior yr, reclassifying from the class of 2026 to 2025 in order to be part of his older brother Cameron at USC this summer season.
“I was thinking about it for two months, finalized my decision about a month ago and announced it yesterday because Thursday was the last day of school,” stated the 6-foot, 185-pounder who dedicated to USC in mid-December, fulfilling a lifelong want to comply with in the footsteps of his father, Rodney Sr., a working back for the Trojans from 1994-97.
Before he turns his consideration to faculty soccer, though, Sermons still has unfinished business on the high college track and has particular objectives for the state meet on May 30 and 31 at Buchanan High in Clovis.
“For the 200, I can go 20.8 [seconds] for sure and my goal is 20.6,” he stated, after ending fourth in the 100 in 10.47 Saturday and ending in 10.36 at the part finals final week. “In the 100, I’ll need to run high 10.1 or low 10.2 to win state. My focus [in the 100] will be the start. The key is getting out of the blocks fast.”
Alemany sophomore Demare Dezeurn repeated as boys’ 100 meters champion in 10.35 seconds Saturday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
Defending his Masters title in the boys’ 100 meters before putting second to Sermons in the 200 with a personal-best 21.04 was Bishop Alemany sophomore Demare Dezeurn, whose successful time of 10.35 seconds bettered his Division 4 record-setting 10.42 and was one hundredth of a second sooner than his wind-aided time at final yr’s Masters.
“My goal is to win next week and one day be able to tell my kids I was state champion,” Dezeurn stated, who confirmed he’s transferring to Palisades and desires to play soccer in the fall. “This is just the beginning for me. I wasn’t planning to win today, I just wanted to put a good time on the board.”
Servite sophomore Benjamin Harris, second to Dezeurn final yr in the 100 and fifth at state, stumbled and fell while crossing the ending line in the 100 (he was third in 10.44) and had to scratch from the 200.
Robert Gardner, proper, anchors Servite’s 4×100 relay, which posted the quickest time at the Southern Section Masters Meet on Saturday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
Servite’s depth makes it a state title contender in the boys’ 4×100-meter relay. The crew of Jace Wells, Jaelen Hunter, Kamal Pelovello and Robert Gardner, gained Saturday in 40.40. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame was runner-up in 40.77.
“We’re a whole new team from last year but none of us like to lose and we’re going to practice getting the baton around better for next week,” stated Gardner, who ran the anchor leg. Hunter later gained the 400 meters in 46.91, one second sooner than Jack Stadlman of Temecula Valley.
Long Beach Poly bought revenge on Oaks Christian in the ladies’ 4×100, as Leila Holland, Nevaeh Lewis, Aniyah Brooks and Brooklyn Lee gained in 45.94 after ending second to the Lions at state final yr.
Anchor runner Brooklyn Lee, proper, of Long Beach Poly sprints across the end line first in the 4×100 relay at the Southern Section Masters Meet on Saturday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
“This was very important and it feels good but we’re going to state to redeem ourselves,” Lee stated. Oaks Christian (46.12) was second and Redondo Union (46.96) third.
After repeating as Southern Section champion in the 100 a week in the past, Georgia commit Keelan Wright (11.41) from Chaparral was edged by 5 hundredths of a second by North Carolina A&T-bound Journey Cole of Redondo Union in the 100, but rebounded to win the 200 in 23.21.
Corona Santiago’s Braelyn Combe adopted her second straight Division 1 part title with a successful effort of 4 minutes 44.36 seconds in the ladies’ 1,600 meters, enhancing her time from final week by more than two and a half seconds.
Corona Santiago’s Braelyn Combe runs during the ladies’ 1,600 meters at the Southern Section Masters Meet on Saturday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
Grant Miller of La Serna was the boys’ 1,600 champion in 4:09.86. Stanford-bound Evan Noonan, who opted not to run the 1,600 (he gained the part Division 1 title final week) to save his power for the 3,200 meters, gained the occasion in 8:55.76.
University of Oregon commit and reigning ladies’ state long soar champion Loren Webster of Long Beach Wilson leaped 18 ft 11½ inches — the third-best mark behind only Ab Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (19-03½) and Kaylee Best of Norco (19-¾).
“I’ve been dealing with patella tendinitis the entire season but over the weeks the pain has decreased,” Webster stated. “I was confident I’d win state last year because I’d jumped over a foot better than anyone else. As for this year I’d say 20 feet should win.”
Defending state champion Loren Webster of Long Beach Wilson competes in the long soar at the Masters Meet on Saturday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
(*200*) commit Brandon Gorski of Mater Dei certified for state for the fourth time in the boys’ high soar with a peak of 6-6 to end third behind Chaminade’s Matthew Browner and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame junior JJ Harel (final yr’s state runner-up), who both cleared 6-10. Gorski also posted the third-best mark in the long soar with a 22-10½ effort.
Long Beach Wilson gained the ladies’ 4×400-meter relay in 3:43.71 and Long Beach Poly gained the boys’ race in 3:10.83.
Aliso Niguel’s Jaslene Massey gained ladies’ discus (165-06) and shot put (49-07½). Reigning state discus champion and 2023 state shot put champion Aja Johnson of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame took second in both with marks of 158-08 (discus) and 45-08 (shot put).
1. Mater Dei senior Brandon Gorski competes in long soar at the Masters Meet on Saturday. 2. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame junior JJ Harel competes in high soar. 3. Servite freshman Jaelen Hunter separates from the pack on his manner to successful the boys’ 400 meters. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
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