Scotts Valley's Ava Decleve, Aaron Weiss earn wins at CCS Top 8 Invitational | High school track and field

LOS GATOS - Some of the top high school track and field athletes in the Central Coast Section gathered at Los Gatos High on Saturday to test their mettle against top-notch competition at the 45th annual CCS Top 8 Invitational.

Two Scotts Valley seniors, UCLA-bound Ava Decleve and Aaron Weiss, earned victories, giving them a good idea of where they stand on a bigger scale before likely dominating at the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Championships at the end of the month.

Decleve took first place in the 800 meters race and second in the 200.

"I wanted to come out here, have fun, and enjoy it, because you realize these meets are coming to an end," she said. "It's really special."

She completed the 800 in a season-best 2 minutes, 11.26 seconds, the fastest time turned in by a CCS runner this season. Her personal best of 2:09.56 came in her victory at the 2025 CCS Championships.

"I was hoping to come up with a PR, but I got a season best, so I'll take it," Decleve said.

After an early burst to the open the 800, Decleve settled into second behind Crystal Springs Uplands senior Anna Salter, who is committed to Columbia University, and drafted her for the first 600. Decleve made her move with 200 remaining. After gaining the lead on the final turn, she held off her closest competitor down the home stretch.

"We all get out fast," Decleve said. "It's really tight in the beginning. So just stay in the front, make sure not to get boxed in was the goal. But the last 200 was giving it all you've got."

Decleve has been running the 200 to better prepare her for the starting and finishing portions of the 800. She labeled the 200 as "fun," but proved to be among the section's best with her 25.34 finish.

"Running the 200 is an all-out sprint," she said. "You don't have much to think about. Once the gun goes, it's like 25 seconds of running. The 200 has helped me get out a lot faster and try and get into the lead more, and maintain that position. … And when you're legs feel lactic, you gotta keep using your arms. So it really helps with that."

Scotts Valley junior Hanna Shehorn, who unseated Decleve as the Central Coast Section D-IV individual cross country champion in the fall, took second in the 3,200 in 10:50.44. Leigh junior Gelila Hailu won in 10:49.18.

The ever-improving Shehorn has a faster time in her: she ran a career-best 10:48.71 earlier this season at the Stanford Invite. That said, so does Hailu. She ran a 10:42.66 at the 2026 Arcadia Invitational.

Palo Alto senior Amaya Bharadwaj, who ran the fastest time in the CCS this season (10:01.93) at Arcadia, missed the event to compete at the 66th Mt. SAC Relays.

Aptos senior Ella Boyes took third in long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 8 inches.

Aptos junior Bella Briceno-Nicholson took sixth in the high jump (4-10), and Santa Cruz senior Joy Hilldale took ninth (4-8).

Santa Cruz junior Joy Roberts took seventh in the 100 in 12.64 and ninth in the 200 in 25.97. She took second in her 100 heat and fourth in her 200 heat, which was won by Decleve.

"It's kinda showing the competition that will actually be at CCS," Roberts said. "So I'm kinda prepared for it, a little. This is where I've had the most competition this year, so that's exciting,"

Harbor junior Elise Dawson took ninth in the pole vault (9-0), and Monte Vista Christian senior Nylie Joneson (9-0) took 10th.

The county had four runners compete the 1,600. MVC sophomore Anna Conca took ninth in 5:08.27. Soquel sophomore Taylor Glinkowski (5:08.82) took 10th, Pacific Collegiate School sophomore Iris Paten (5:09.93) was 11th, and MVC junior Finley Castro (5:29.33) took 17th.

Scotts Valley senior Dylan Turzak took 12th in the 800 in 2:20.36, and Glinkowski took 14th in 2:23.07.

Saint Ignatius (78) of San Francisco edged Los Altos (74) for the team title. Scotts Valley (26) took seventh.

Boys

Weiss took first in the 800 in 1:54.48. It was the second fastest time turned in by a Falcons runner in the distance behind current Duke University senior Jeremy Kain (1:51.32). MVC senior Conor Gilliam took eighth in the 800 (1:58.37).

Weiss went out fast and furious over the first 600 and built a lead of roughly 15-20 meters. The lead pack made its move with 200 remaining and closed the gap entering the home stretch. Weiss' legs and lower back were tightening, but he had just enough in the tank to hold off runner-up Chris Jewett (1:54.84), a sophomore at Henry M. Gunn.

"I took it out as fast as I wanted," Weiss said. "I wasn't intending really to be on my own, but, you know, I was happy with it. I'm stoked to PR, just progress throughout my season. It was a slow start, but I'm glad I could show up and go in the right direction, so I'm happy."

Santa Cruz senior Kaden Steele took sixth in the 300 hurdles (41.05) after winning his heat, and 11th in the 110 hurdles (15.94). St. Abe's senior Bryson Trent took seventh in the 300 hurdles (41.31).

"I wasn't expecting to be first in my heat," Steele said. "I was surprised by that. I came off the turn and I didn't see anyone in front of me and I'm like, ‘Wow, I'm a lot faster that I thought.' "

Steele landed flat-footed after clearing the sixth of eight hurdles and nearly bailed. But, he maintained his footing and recovered for the final 80 meters.

"I heard the guy coming behind me," Steele said. "I didn't want to lose, so I just kept pushing myself."

Steele, competing in his third year of track and second year of hurdles, is coming into his own. While he has locked down plans to attend San Jose State University next year, he's unsure if he'll try out for their track team considering the grueling nature of his major, aerospace engineering. Steele is an aspiring race car designer.

Watsonville senior Lisandro Pantoja took sixth in the discus (148-0) and 13th in the shot put (44-5).

Scotts Valley (William von Haunalter, Jackson Stull, Nate McKeon, and Weiss) took eighth in the 4×800 relay (8:27.01). MVC (Conor Gilliam, Gavin Beckmen, Owen Beckmen, and Joseph Palacios) took 11th in 8:35.40.

St. Francis senior Jacob Jimenez took 11th in the triple jump with a mark of 39-10.

Aptos senior Brady Bliesner took 12th in the 1,600 in 4:26.70.

PCS junior Jude Holmlund took 13th in the pole vault (11-6).

Aptos sophomore Ivan Cortes took third in the 100 unified race in 12.07, and classmate Jonny Espinoza took fourth (12.17).

Watsonville junior Alejandro Riquelme took fourth in the shot put unified competition (35-0) and senior teammate Leonel Jarquin took fifth (33-3).

Saint Francis of Mountain View won the team title with 90 points. Bellarmine (55) took second. Scotts Valley (11) took 22nd.

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This story was originally published April 19, 2026 at 12:52 PM.