Evan Gardner, a sophomore at Homestead High in California, led all qualifiers in the boys 800-meter prelims by clocking 1:52.47 at the CIF State Championships at Buchanan High's Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis. Gardner held off Buchanan seniors Noah Ray (1:52.62) and Zach Weaver (1:52.86) in his qualifying race, as the trio were the only athletes to produce sub-1:53 efforts.