Monta Vista High's Laruelle equals best mark in state to win CCS Top 8 high jump title

Ellie McCuskey-Hay leads St. Ignatius to girls team title with wins in 100, long jump, and relay anchoring

Apr. 19, 2026 at 4:41am

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A fragmented, cubist-inspired painting depicting the explosive energy and multiple perspectives of a high jump competition, with sharp geometric shapes and bold, contrasting colors.A dynamic, abstract interpretation of the high-flying action and competitive spirit of the CCS Top 8 high jump event.Los Gatos Today

Monta Vista high jumper Lelani Laruelle cleared 5-10 on her first attempt to win the high jump at the Central Coast Section Top 8 meet, equaling the best mark in the state this season. St. Ignatius' Ellie McCuskey-Hay won the 100, long jump, and anchored the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams to lead her team to the girls team title.

Why it matters

The CCS Top 8 meet is a prestigious high school track and field competition that showcases the top athletes in the region. Laruelle's performance in the high jump and McCuskey-Hay's dominance in multiple events highlight the talent and competitiveness of Bay Area high school track and field.

The details

Laruelle, the defending state champion, had cleared 5-8 a number of times before finally breaking through with a 5-10 jump on her first attempt. McCuskey-Hay, who has committed to Oregon, won the 100, long jump, and anchored the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams for St. Ignatius. Other individual winners included Harker's Brady Tse in the 110 and 300 hurdles, St. Francis' Case Jacobson in the shot put, and Menlo School's Henry Hauser in the 1,600.

  • Laruelle cleared 5-10 on her first attempt on Saturday at the CCS Top 8 meet.
  • McCuskey-Hay reached the state finals last year in the 100, 200 and long jump.
  • McCuskey-Hay cracked the 20-foot barrier in the long jump with a leap of 20-4 3/4 this season.

The players

Lelani Laruelle

A high jumper for Monta Vista High School who won the high jump event at the CCS Top 8 meet by clearing 5-10, equaling the best mark in the state this season.

Ellie McCuskey-Hay

A sprinter and long jumper for St. Ignatius who won the 100, long jump, and anchored the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams to lead her team to the girls team title.

Brady Tse

A hurdler for Harker High School who won the 110 and 300 hurdles events at the CCS Top 8 meet.

Case Jacobson

A shot putter for St. Francis High School who won the shot put event with a mark of 61-0.

Henry Hauser

A distance runner for Menlo School who won the 1,600 event.

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What they’re saying

“'I recently switched coaches and spent a couple days practicing with him. He really got me in the right mindset. I'd kind of had a mental block about it. I've been trying to add speed to my runup, but not too much speed so I can still handle it and take off well. Still not perfect but I'm happy with today.'”

— Lelani Laruelle

“'I think my goal is to drop the 100 time. I had a huge breakthrough in the long jump and it's just taken me a little longer to get the 100 time down where I want it.'”

— Ellie McCuskey-Hay

“'I've always been a fast kid but never the fastest. But I've been training a lot since middle school. It's great to see the hard work pay off.'”

— Brady Tse

“'I think so,' Tse said, when asked if he could go faster. 'I ran that race by myself. I ran the 60 hurdles indoors and that really helped my start. I'm hoping later in the season, with a little adrenaline, I can bring it down a little more.'”

— Brady Tse

What’s next

Laruelle and McCuskey-Hay will look to continue their strong performances at the upcoming state championships, where they will aim to solidify their status as top high school track and field athletes in California.

The takeaway

The CCS Top 8 meet showcased the exceptional talent and dedication of Bay Area high school track and field athletes, with standout performances from Laruelle, McCuskey-Hay, and others highlighting the region's competitiveness and potential for future success at the state and national levels.