Middlebrooks finished in 10.57 seconds, second only to state leader Randall Carroll of Cathedral (10.38). While the time wasn’t a personal-best — Middlebrooks ran a 10.48 at the OC Championships — he was definitely satisfied with the result.
“I got off to a pretty good start,” he said. “[Carroll] just came on. He’s fast; he’s a fast guy.”
He’s also a senior, while Middlebrooks can try again for a state title next year.
“I think it was a pretty good race for me,” said Middlebrooks, also a star running back for the Barons football team. “It’s crazy. It’s a good feeling knowing that I’m the second-fastest in the state. Coming back next year will be real fun.”
Hayes won’t have that luxury, as the senior is headed to Cal. But she finished off her high school career in grand style, placing fourth in the girls’ 3200 in 10 minutes, 28.79 seconds.
The time was nearly nine seconds faster than her third-place time at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet the week before, again breaking her own school record.
“I just wanted to PR again,” Hayes said. “I’m just so happy. It’s an amazing feeling; I couldn’t have asked for a better ending.”
Hayes said she wanted to focus on her last mile after the race went out at a pretty fast pace.
“All my splits were perfect,” she said. “It was a good race.”
McElroy also set another PR as he finished fifth in 8:56.44, over three seconds faster than his Masters Meet time of 8:59.91.
