DUBLIN — The crowd at Dublin High barely had time to blink before De La Salle sprinter Jaden Jefferson crossed the finish line.
In 10.30 seconds, the junior not only captured the 100-meter dash title at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions, he also made history.
Jefferson set a new NCS record in the event, breaking the previous mark held by El Cerrito’s Robert Stitts, who ran 10.31 in 2023. The De La Salle junior won the 100 title on Saturday for the second year in a row as he finished ahead of El Cerrito sophomore Chad Work-Wright, who took second in 10.43.
“This one means a lot,” Jefferson said. “Me winning last year as an underclassmen was huge. I knew coming back this season that I had to keep my head down and focus.”
Jefferson, also a standout on De La Salle’s football team, won his second consecutive NCS title in the 200 as well. He beat Works-Wright again, finishing with a time of 21.11 – a personal record.
The University of North Carolina commit said he wasn’t worried about breaking records, but had a feeling that he was going to do great things during Saturday’s finals.
“The night before, I was really painting the picture, just dreaming about me winning and putting myself in this position,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson also helped De La Salle take second in the 4×100 relays. The Spartans crossed the finish line in 41.20, finishing just behind El Cerrito (41.02).
Up next for Jefferson will be next week’s state meet at Buchanan High in Clovis. Last year, Jefferson came in fourth in the 100 and did not participate in the 200.
“It will be all about focus next week,” Jefferson said.
De La Salle’s Jaden Jefferson celebrates while crossing the finish line in the Boys 100 Meter Dash during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Jefferson set a NCS record and a Meet of Champions record with a time of 10.30. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle wins team title for late coach
Fueled by the desire to honor the legacy of their late coach, De La Salle captured its third straight NCS team title.
John Harvey, who coached track at the Concord school for nearly 20 years, died suddenly in late April. The team dedicated Saturday’s NCS championship to him.
“I was running for coach Harvey,” said De La Salle sprinter Toa Faavae, who helped the Spartans capture the 4×400 relay crown. “I knew I could do anything with him watching over me. … Coach Harvey is a man of few words, but when he spoke, he touched our hearts. He was always there for us, always cared for us and always pushed us.”
Jefferson added, “Our coach’s passing was motivation for me. He was always hard on me. He never told me what I wanted to hear, always told me what I needed to hear. He was very motivational.”
De La Salle finished with an overall score of 93 — 55 points higher than second-place El Cerrito.
Sophomore Chase Young took first place in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.04. Senior Trey Caldwell finished first in the 3,200, crossing the finish line in 9:08.91.
De La Salle’s Chase Young leaps over a hurdle in the Boys 300 Meter Hurdles during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Young placed second with a time of 39.20. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Pittsburg star does it all
Pittsburg junior Amirat Temi Aganju was understandably exhausted following the conclusion of Saturday’s finals.
Aganju participated in four events, snagging first-place medals in three.
She won the 100 in 11.78 and helped Pittsburg win the 4×100 (46.98) and 4×400 (3:53.33) titles. She came in second in the 300 hurdles, recording a time of 44.36.
Aganju said she wanted to put on a show for all in attendance.
“I wanted to do my best today because I know people are always watching,” Aganju said. “People come from all over to just watch me and I don’t want them to feel like they wasted their gas.”
Pittsburg took the NCS girls team title for the second straight year.
Pittsburg’s Amirat Temi Aganju, center, competes in the Girls 100 Meter Dash during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Aganju placed first with a time of 11.78. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Pittsburg’s Amirat Temi Aganju leaps over a hurdle while competing in the Girls 300 Meter Hurdles during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Aganju placed second with a time of 44.36. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Dublin senior pulls off upset
Emma San had a long road to get to the NCS championships.
Before the track season her freshman year, San had a season-ending ACL injury. In last year’s East Bay Athletic League championships, San came in last in the 110 hurdles after falling on the third hurdle.
But on Saturday, the senior was motivated to finally win a big event.
San shocked the field when she came in first in the 100 hurdles, upsetting top qualifier Hope Diekmann from San Ramon Valley. She crossed the finish line in 14.59 to seal the win.
“This was my revenge tour,” San said. “Yesterday was not the best result, but I came out here and showed everyone what I got.”
San is committed to run track at UC Davis in the fall.
Stanford commit runs past the competition
Montgomery-Santa Rosa runner Hanne Thomsen made it look effortless.
The Stanford-bound senior took first place in two long-distance races. Thomsen won the 1,600 in 4:47.25. In the 3,200, she lapped a few of her opponents and finished in 10:19.56.
She has amassed six NCS championships in her four years at Montgomery.
“Just to come back and perform year after year is special,” Thomsen said.
Thomsen signed a Name, Image and Likeness deal with New Balance last year.
Montgomery’s Hanne Thomsen competes in the Girls 3200 Meter Run during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Thomsen placed first with a time of 10:19.56. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
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Other local winners
Boys
Pole vault: Pittsburg’s Kaliq Muhammad, 17-01.00
4×800: Las Lomas, 7:53.64
Long jump: Clayton Valley’s Ernest Okere, 23-04.75
High jump: Benicia’s Grady Wachob, 6-06.00
1,600: Dougherty Valley’s Arrin Sagiraju, 4:10.46
400: San Ramon Valley’s Chase McMullen, 48.90
300 hurdles: Foothill’s EJ Boeschenstein, 38.90
Dougherty Valley’s Arrin Sagiraju gestures as he crosses the finish line in the Boys 1600 Meter Run during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Sagiraju placed first with a time of 4:10.46. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle’s Trey Caldwell smiles as he approaches the finish line while competing in the Boys 3200 Mete Run during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Caldwell placed first with a time of 9:08.91. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Dougherty Valley’s Arrin Sagiraju crosses the finish line in the Boys 1600 Meter Run during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Sagiraju placed first with a time of 4:10.46. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
De La Salle stands in the first place spot after competing in the Boys 4×400 Meter Relay during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. De La Salle finished with a time of 3:20.78. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Runners compete in the Boys 4×400 Meter Relay during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. De La Salle finished first with a time of 3:20.78. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Girls
Triple jump: St. Mary’s-Berkeley Kira Gant Hatcher, 40-10.50
High jump: San Ramon Valley’s Riley McMullen, 5-06.00
Long jump: St. Mary’s-Berkeley Kira Gant Hatcher, 16-07.25
4×800: Monte Vista, 9:13.96
Dublin’s Miranda Howeth clears 10 feet 1 inch while competing in the Girls Pole Vault during the North Coast Section Meet of Champions at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Howeth would finish in third place clearing a height of 10 feet 11 inches. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)