On Saturday, the ML King Wolves competed at the CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championships, taking on the best competition in the section.

The day opened with reigning 1600m champion Maximo Zavaleta, who wasted no time asserting himself. Zavaleta pushed the pace early, splitting 2:01 through 800 meters and putting the field on notice. Showing complete confidence and control, he closed with a powerful final lap surge to secure back-to-back CIF titles in the 1600m.

On the field side, Vanessa Hope delivered a strong performance in the triple jump, finishing 4th overall and earning a spot at next week’s Masters Meet.

Shamar Graham capped off a solid junior campaign with his appearance at CIF Finals, gaining valuable experience against elite competition.

In the 800m, Frank Stewart and Brad Quezada battled through a deep field. Stewart unleashed a huge final 100 meters to finish 4th and punch his ticket to Masters, while Quezada narrowly missed the qualifying mark. However, his season continues as a key member of the 4x800m relay squad.

The girls 4x800m relay team—Abbey Starling, Gracie Guzzetta, Jude Abu-Ghazaleh, and Natalie Drewitz—placed 5th in their debut at the CIF Finals. Their performance earned them a Masters berth while also providing valuable experience heading into the next round with hopes of advancing to State.  “We didn’t all have our best day,” said Jude, ” but we advanced and that’s the main thing.”

Back in the field, Justin Coute delivered a standout performance in the discus, hitting a big personal record and placing 4th in Division 1 to advance to Masters.

On the boys side, Stewart and Quezada returned to the track in the 4x800m relay alongside Logan Carlson and freshman Caleb Lua. Despite doubling back from earlier races, the team showed toughness and determination, with Stewart anchoring the squad to a 3rd-place finish in Division 1.

In the pole vault, Gemeni McKee secured a 5th-place finish, earning a spot at the Masters Meet with a strong showing.

Zavaleta returned later in the day for the 3200m and once again proved why he’s among the best in the state. Racing with patience and poise, he stayed composed before unleashing a dominant final 200 meters to capture his second title of the day—going back-to-back as CIF champion in the 3200m as well.

The meet concluded with the girls 4x400m relay team of Llamas, Lochard, Guzzetta, and Drewitz. The group competed with heart, finishing just outside the qualifying standard and bringing their season to a close.

Overall, it was a strong showing for the Wolves, with multiple athletes advancing to Masters and continuing the program’s push toward the State Meet.