Seniors Annie Boos and Ryan Renken each added another victory to their long lists of accomplishments by winning the 1600-meter race at the CIF Masters meet on Saturday in Arcadia.

Renken posted a time of 4:10:95, a personal record (PR), less than a second ahead of Great Oak’s Solomon Fountain. Claremont senior Owen Bishop was fourth at 4:12:88, which is good enough to qualify for the CIF California State meet this weekend in Clovis.

Renken stayed in a pack of five or six, biding his time until the final 300 meters when he made a move. “It was kind of a surprise,” he said.

“The race went out fast, so I knew I would get an at large time so I could relax and go for the win,” Renken said. “It was fun.”

Bishop was a bit frustrated with his performance, although he won the 1600 two weeks ago in the CIF Division Two Finals.

“I had trouble keeping in contact and got cut off a couple of times. It was a tough race for me,” Bishop said.

Boos’ winning time of 4:49:74, her fastest for the season but not of her career, was also less than a second ahead of second place Capistrano’s Haley Herberg.

“My legs felt fresh, I finally had a kick,” Boos said following workout on Tuesday.

Also headed to the state meet is senior Max McGuire, who cleared 15 feet in the pole vault, which was good enough for fourth place.

The top six place finishers in each event at the masters, as well as anyone who hits a preset “at large” time (or height) qualifies for the state meet.

“Over the past three weeks their [Boos, Renken and Bishop] times have been coming down, so we must be doing something right,” assistant track coach Bill Reeves said. “We have a good chance to win state.”

Sophomore Sydney Hwang set a PR in the 3200-meter event at 10:46:21, but missed the cut for state.

“The 3200 was really fast, the girls at front were mainly juniors and seniors, she [Hwang] stayed with the pack but faded in the last two laps said,” coach Reeves said.

The four seniors will be headed to Buchanan High School in Clovis for state prelims on Friday, with the finals on Saturday.

“It’s a nice facility and it is right in the middle of the state,” coach Reeves said. “But it’s always kind of hot. They should have it in San Diego.”

—Steven Felschundneff

steven@claremont-courier.com