CIF track championships: Two Fresno-area athletes are state champs, plus other placers
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- Clovis West junior Julius Sanders won the CIF long jump title with a 24-5.25 jump.
- Buchanan senior Karsyn Van Grouw won the state discus title with a 202-01 throw.
- Central East boys finished third in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:14.38.
For Clovis West’s Julius Sanders, the moment was years in the making.
After battling injuries and enduring setbacks early in the season that threatened to derail his campaign, Sanders delivered when it mattered most, capturing the long jump championship at the CIF track and field championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis on Saturday.
As he stood atop the podium, the significance of the achievement was still sinking in.
“Yeah, I knew all my hard work — it can go two ways,” Sanders said. “I’ve been through too much. That’s pretty much it.”
The title was the culmination of a season that tested Sanders’ patience as much as his talent.
Injuries slowed him during the opening months, preventing him from showcasing the potential he always knew he possessed.
“In the beginning of the season, just injuries, pretty much,” Sanders said. “I knew my potential, but it was kind of holding me back. Now I’m fully healthy.”
Once healthy, Sanders quickly reminded everyone why he has long been considered one of the area’s premier athletes.
His championship performance was the reward for months of persistence and determination.
“A lot of people, ever since I was younger, were looking up to me,” Sanders said. “So I feel it feels great to win, man. Kept working hard..”
Buchanan’s Karsyn Van Grouw leaves no doubt
Buchanan senior Karsyn Van Grouw was the clear favorite in the discus throw, and he proved it in grand style.
Van Grouw unleashed a throw of 202 feet, 1 inch to claim the state title and separate himself from the field.
The winning mark not only secured the championship but also underscored his dominance throughout the season, as he delivered when the stakes were highest.
With the victory, Van Grouw capped his high school career as a state champion and one of the premier discus throwers in the state..
Other Fresno-area placers
Central East senior Sofia Lopes placed fourth in the 100 high hurdles. She hurdled to a 13.74 finish. Lopes then placed fourth in the 300 low hurdles in 42.17.
Clovis North sophomore Cooper Haydock placed fourth in the discus with a throw of 188-05.
Redwood junior Wyatt Ruby came in fifth in the 110 high hurdles in 13.59.
Redwood senior Graycie Serpa was eighth in the 400 (55.77).
Central East senior Emanuel Morgan finished seventh in the 400 race in 47.42.
Clovis senior Ella Merrihew was eighth in the discus (145-02).
Buchanan senior Donovan Dunmore eighth in the 100 in 10.48.
Central East junior Davion Cockheran tied for sixth with Jaxon Silverstrom of San Joaquin Memorial in the high jump, with a mark of 6-7. Bullard junior Montrell Henix was 10th with a mark of 6-5.
The Buchanan girls placed sixth in the 4x800 relay in 9:10.14.
Clovis West girls were eighth in the 4x400 relay in 3:53.62.
Central East boys had a strong showing in the 4x400, placing third in 3:14.38.
Redwood junior Austin Alcantara was fourth in the triple jump, with a mark of 47-11 1/2.
Torres senior Hunter Hannah finished sixth in the 3,200 (8:56.69).
This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 11:34 AM.
