NCS Meet of Champions: El Cerrito sprinter overcomes doubt, injury to claim 100-meter title
DUBLIN - Chad Works-Wright is no doubt an elite athlete.
The El Cerrito sprinter has had a terrific season and came into Saturday's 100-meter North Coast Section Meet of Champions final at Dublin High as the favorite after running the fastest time in Friday's prelims.
But on the morning of the race, some doubt crept into Works-Wright’s mind about whether he could capture an section title in the competitive 100 sprint.
Would his hamstring injury flare up once again? Would his past disappointing results be the reason he'd come up short? Was the competition going to be too tough?
But as the junior put his hands on the track, he quickly remembered why all the doubt in his head was just that. In the end, it was Works-Wright who came out with a 100-meter NCS title.
"I came here down on myself," Works-Wright said. "But I talked to my dad and he gave me the confidence to come out here and win. I've been hurt all year with a hamstring injury and I haven't been placing the way I was supposed to.
"I came here last year and lost, but I knew I had to come back here and win first place."
Works-Wright ran 10.55 seconds to edge Pittsburg's Kenny Ward (10.57) and De La Salle's Damari Dean (10.57) in one of the closest races of the day. The El Cerrito standout qualified for state on Friday after finishing the prelims in 10.45.
Works-Wright didn't get off to a great start Saturday, but picked it up near the half way point. With Ward and Dean by his side, Works-Wright knew he had to finish strong.
As the trio crossed the finish line, it was still unclear after a few seconds who made it through first. But once the results flashed across the scoreboard, there was no doubt.
"I knew I won when I leaned forward," Works-Wright said. "I didn't really see anybody when I did that. I wasn't sure 100%, but I was just praying and it happened."
Works-Wright also helped El Cerrito defeat De La Salle in the 4×400 relay after the Spartans defeated the Gauchos in the 4×100.
Running the second leg of the race, Works-Wright helped El Cerrito build a lead they would never give up.
Campolindo edges Pittsburg in thriller
Senior anchor Sarah Graves didn't celebrate once she crossed the finish line in the 4×100 final.
In a close race with East Bay powerhouse Pittsburg, there was no clear winner for a few moments.
But then the results came in: Campolindo 46.99, Pittsburg 47.00
In the tightest girls race of the day, Campolindo's team of Graves, Emma Stumbler, Sophia Moore and Jasmine McCasland barely edged Pittsburg by a tenth of a second to capture the 4×100 crown.
After a strong push from Pittsburg in the final 100 meters, Graves held onto the lead to give Campolindo a statement win.
"I just had to push through and run my own race," Graves said. "I was in the lead for a while and I knew she was coming for me. I just had to push."
Bishop O'Dowd runner goes from worst to first
O'Dowd senior James Prater did his own version of load management going into Saturday's 800 race.
In Friday's prelims, Prater intentionally finished 12th - the final qualifying spot for Saturday's finals - to rest himself for the championship race.
The calculation paid off as Prater captured the 800 title by finishing in 1:53.95.
"I knew I could phone it in yesterday to give everything I had today," Prater said. "I had fresh legs and I felt great coming around the corner. I knew I had the ability to just send it."
Dougherty Valley's Parker finds motivation
Ayden Parker took a page out of the Michael Jordan book of motivation.
After winning the 400 in 47.43, Parker put his index finger over his mouth and told the crowd to quiet down.
"I couldn't get the record today, but I wanted everyone to know that I've been doing this from the start," Parker said.
Parker said he overcame a few injuries and was happy to finish with a section title.
"Last year, I stopped because of an injury and I've really elevated myself this year," Parker said. "I'm just so proud of myself."
De La Salle's anchor doesn't play football
De La Salle's 4×100 relay team has a common thread.
Between Duece Jones-Drew, Damari Dean and Jayden Nicholas, the Spartans have a trio of athletes that have Division I football offers.
But their anchor does not play for the Bay Area's most storied high school football program.
Senior Dylan Rodgers ran the last leg of the 4×100 race, never giving up the Spartans' lead as they took home the section title with a Meet of Champions record time of 40.79.
"My teammates normally ask me why I don't play football," Rodgers said. "I don’t know. My dad really wanted me to play, but I just didn’t have the love like he did. I love what I do. I love running track."
James Logan sprinter takes 100, 200 titles
Essence Anderson-Brown made it look easy.
The Logan senior took home the 100 and 200 title with ease, punching her ticket to next week's state meet. In the 100, she edged Liberty sprinter and prelim winner London Shedd, crossing the finish line in 11.56 – .15 faster than Shedd.
In the 200, she edged Pittsburg standout Amirat Temi Aganju (24.15) by finishing in 23.87.
Anderson-Brown said she persevered through some minor injuries en route to winning her titles.
"I've been here three times and I didn't make it at all," Anderson-Brown said. "I persevered and I do have some injuries, but I just pushed through it and ran."
El Cerrito ready for state meet
Following its win in the 4×400, El Cerrito had one message for any SoCal team going to state next week.
"We're underrated here in NorCal," 4×100 anchor Phinehas Browne said. "Down there in L.A., everyone got cameras and the lights. But we're just up here working, keeping our heads down and working. The biggest thing for us is keeping the brotherhood and making sure everybody stays locked in."
Other local winners
Boys
Team title: De La Salle, 69 points
Pole vault: Las Lomas' Roee Dascalo, 16-00.50
110 hurdles: De La Salle' Chase Young, 13.77
300 hurdles: De La Salle's Chase Young, 38.08
200: El Cerrito's Michael Boyer, 21.43
3,200: St. Mary's-Berkeley's Djali de Chalus, 9:10.31
Girls
Long jump: St. Mary's-Berkeley's Corinne Jones, 19-02.00
High jump: California's Rachael Osicka, 5-08.00
Shot put: Bishop O'Dowd's Najae Ellison, 41-10.50
1,600: Carondelet's Gretchen Yakaitis, 4:48.83
100 hurdles: Carondelet's Tatum Trucks, 13.86
400: Heritage's Jaelyn Wilkins, 55.94
300 hurdles: San Ramon Valley's Hope Diekmann, 42.53
3,200: Carondelet's Gretchen Yakaitis, 10:37.58
4×400: Campolindo, 3:55.10
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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 8:34 PM.