Track and field: Here are the Fresno-area athletes who qualified for CIF state finals

Several Fresno-area track and field athletes have a chance to place in the CIF state championships.

And maybe become a state champion.

Friday’s preliminaries concluded and 20 Fresno-area athletes will hope to stand on the podium on the final day of the state championships at Buchanan’s Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis.

Derek Smith of Buchanan had the best preliminary mark in the discus, with a throw of 206-11. The second-best throw went to McKay Madsen of Clovis North who had a mark of 201-10.

Madsen also qualified in the shot put when he had a throw of 59 7 1/8. But that wasn’t the best in the field event. That went to Brayden Bitter of Buchanan when he had a throw of 64 3/4.

Malachi Carrasco of Selma had a decent showing in the prelims in the high jump when he had a jump of 6 feet, 6 inches.

Also qualifying to Saturday’s final day were Noel Felix of Central (110 high hurdles, 13.85); Ethan Avalos of Lemoore (400, 47.51); Brooklyn Epperley of Central (discus, 144-05); Finton Keegan of Buchanan (long jump, 23-04); Harold Duvall of Clovis East (long jump 22 9 1/4); Clovis North girls (4x400, 3:51.72); Central boys (4x400, 3:15.98); Torres boys (4x400, 3:20.97); Derek Smith of Buchanan (shot put (56 10 3/4); Duke Pascoe of Central (shot put, 56 10 1/4); Illicia Ross of Central (high jump, 5-5); Indiana Davis of Clovis East (high jump 5-5); Jade Lewis of Lemoore (high jump, 5-5); Ashlyn Reed of Tulare Western (triple jump, 38 8 1/4); Vivian Moore of Central (triple jump, 37-2); Samuel Agbakoba of Central (triple jump, 47 5 3/4).

Saturday’s finals begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday with the field events, followed by track events at 5:45 p.m.