PREP ROUNDUP:

Hillary Hayes is peaking at the right time, and records are falling.

The Edison High senior set a personal record by eight seconds and broke her own school record in the girls’ 3,200 meters Friday at Cerritos College in the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet. Hayes finished in third place in 10 minutes, 37.74 seconds.

The top-five ticket punched Hayes’ ticket to the CIF State Meet, which is Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High in Clovis. Other locals headed to state include UCLA-bound Huntington Beach senior Allison Koressel (girls’ pole vault), Fountain Valley junior Kyle Middlebrooks (boys’ 100) and Edison junior Matt McElroy (boys’ 3,200).

Hayes, headed for Cal on a scholarship, is no stranger to the state meet. A decorated cross-country runner, she finished eighth in the state in the 1,600 last year.

This year, she said she wanted to switch it up a little.

“I’m really stoked,” Hayes said. “The farthest I’d gotten in the two-mile was Masters my freshman year. [Running a PR] gave me a lot of confidence going into this week. It’s not nerve-wracking. Just getting there is an accomplishment I’m proud of.”

Koressel, Middlebrooks and McElroy all had second-place finishes at Masters. Koressel’s mark of 12 feet, 9 inches tied Santa Margarita junior Claire Hawkins, but Hawkins won due to fewer attempts at the height.

Koressel’s PR of 13-1 is still tops in the state. At state, she said she expects stiff competition from Hawkins, MacKenzie Landry of Del Oro (Loomis) and Kortney Ross from Westview (San Diego).

Ross has cleared 13 feet this season, and Landry matched Koressel at 13-1 at the Arcadia Invitational.

“I’m feeling pretty confident,” Koressel said. “I’m consistent at 12-8, 12-9 now, so that’s exciting. Going into state, I’m confident that I’ll make finals and do well.”

Middlebrooks finished second in the 100 at Masters in 10.68 seconds. Cathedral senior Randall Carroll was first in 10.50. Carroll is the national leader with a best of 10.30.

McElroy finished second in the 3,200 in 8:59.91, which he said was a PR by about four seconds.

He was second to Camarillo sophomore Heyden Wooff (8:57.66) for the second straight week, despite taking the lead midway through the race.

“I was looking to win it,” McElroy said.

“He just out-kicked me. I’m looking forward to state to get revenge, or try to get top three or top four.”

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SOFTBALL

A memorable season came to an end May 26 for the Edison High softball team, as the visiting Chargers fell to Riverside Poly, 1-0 in nine innings, in a CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinal game.

The Chargers were no-hit by Poly sophomore Desiree Ybarra, but Edison sophomore Allyson Hecht kept Poly scoreless until the ninth, when a double was followed by back-to-back wild pitches.

“The game was just a complete roller coaster,” Edison Coach Kendra Rosales said.

“Both teams showed tremendous heart and just a will to win. [Ybarra] hit her spots amazingly well, and her ball had late movement.”

But Edison had much to be proud about, in a season where the Chargers won their first league title since 1983.

“On the bus ride home, the girls fell asleep,” Rosales said. “The first thing they asked when they woke up was, ‘Hey coach, when’s practice tomorrow?’ They just have a competitive spirit.

“[Next year] this team has its eye on the CIF championship. They want to put that banner in the gym.”