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SC’s Eli Fitchen-Young withdraws from World Athletics U20 Championships with injury | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz track and field talent Eli Fitchen-Young suffered an ill-timed injury that forced him to withdraw from the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Aptos native Nikki Hiltz extends 1,500 win streak in thrilling fashion at 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships
Star middle distance runner Nikki Hiltz, a Paris 2024 Olympian, needed to pass one runner and hold off another in the final 10 meters if the 31-year-old Aptos native was to keep an impressive win streak alive.
Nikki Hiltz, Jessica Kain advance to 1,500 final at 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships
Aptos native Nikki Hiltz and Scotts Valley native Jessica Kain both advanced from qualifying to the women’s 1,500 meters final at the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships on Thursday.
Local trio to compete in 2026 USATF Outdoor Championships | Local Roundup
Three former Santa Cruz County residents — Aptos High alumna Nikki Hiltz and Scotts Valley alumna Jessica Kain and Vanessa Fraser — will compete at the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships.
Chattanooga Lookouts slugger Ruben Ibarra homers twice, including 489-foot blast | Local Roundup
Watsonville’s Ruben Ibarra, 27, produced the longest home run in the Cincinnati Reds’ farm system this season and led the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts to a 9-3 win over the Rocket City Trash Pandas in the teams’ Southern League game at Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama, on Sunday.
Aptos native Nikki Hiltz runs to record-setting mile victory at 2026 Prefontaine Classic | Track and Field
Star middle distance runner Nikki Hiltz, 31, produced more fireworks on the track with a record-setting performance on the Fourth of July.
Santa Cruz surfer Riviera Hunter wins two titles at NSSA National Championships | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s Riviera Hunter made four finals and earned the Open women’s and Girls Air Show titles at the National Scholastic Surfing Association National Championships, which concluded Thursday in Huntington Beach.
Santa Cruz’s Haley Jones rejoins WNBA’s Dallas Wings with development contract | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz basketball star Haley Jones, 25, a former All-American at Stanford University, is back with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings.
Record-setting pole vaulter Jonelle Scott will transfer to UCLA | Track and field
When star pole vaulter Jonelle Scott was trying to secure college plans three years ago, UCLA caught her attention.
Santa Cruz Little League’s 50-70 All-Stars win D-39 title | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz Little League’s 50-70 All-Stars beat Capitola-Soquel 7-6 in the District 39 championship on Friday.
Santa Cruz’s Eli Fitchen-Young qualifies for World Athletics U20 Championships in 3,000 steeplechase win | Track and Field
Eli Fitchen-Young’s finish in the men’s 3,000 meters steeplechase at the 2026 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships was sensational and his reward was stupendous.
Aptos native Nikki Hiltz wins 800 at LA Grand Prix | Local Roundup
Aptos native Nikki Hiltz, 31, named to Time’s The 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 earlier this week, won the women’s 800 meters ‘A’ final at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix at Allyson Felix Field on…
Scotts Valley resident Kyleigh Mace shares WCAL Pitcher of the Year honor | Local Roundup
Archbishop Mitty High senior softball star Kyleigh Mace, a Scotts Valley resident, repeated as West Catholic Athletic League’s co-Pitcher of the Year. She shared the honor with Saint Francis sophomore Mercedes Coller. (As a junior, Mace share the accolade with Lancers senior Ava Bulanti.)
Scotts Valley’s Ava Decleve saves best showing for final prep race | CIF State Track and Field Championships
Scotts Valley High senior Ava Decleve saved her best showing in the girls’ 800 meters run for the final race of her high school career. And, oh, what a showing.
Scotts Valley’s Ava Decleve makes 800 final at state meet | Local Roundup
Scotts Valley High senior Ava Decleve posted a top-three finish in her 800 meters prelim race on Friday to qualify for the final at the 2026 CIF State Championships at Buchanan High.
Scotts Valley senior Ava Decleve repeats as 800 champ at CCS Track and Field Championships
Scotts Valley High senior Ava Decleve didn’t turn in her best time in the 800 meters race at the Central Coast Section Track and Field Championships at Gilroy High on Saturday.
Six local girls, four boys advance from CCS Track and Field semifinals
Scotts Valley High senior Ava Decleve and Aptos senior Ella Boyes advanced in two individual events from the Central Coast Section Track and Field Semifinals at Gilroy High on Saturday.
Aptos baseball secures sole possession of second in SCCAL | Local Roundup
Freshman James Reilly had four hits and four RBI, and Aptos High’s baseball team routed host San Lorenzo Valley 19-3 in its regular-season finale on Friday to secure sole possession of second place in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League.
More than 6,095 runners compete in 16th annual She.is.beautiful Santa Cruz 10K and 5K | Local Roundup
More than 6,095 runners competed in the 16th annual She.is.beautiful Santa Cruz 10K and 5K races on Saturday, including three competing virtually.
Locals earn six event wins at PCAL Masters Meet | High school track and field
Monte Vista Christian School sophomore Anna Conca took first place in two running events on her home oval at the Pacific Coast Athletic League Masters Track and Field Meet in Watsonville on Friday.
MVC girls earn top spot at PCAL Mission Division Championships | High school track and field roundup
Monte Vista Christian School sophomore Anna Conca was victorious in the four events, three individual and one relay, to help the Mustangs’ girls track and field squad win the team title at the Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division Championships at Watsonville High on Friday.
Aptos’ boys, girls earn team title repeats at SCCAL Track and Field Championships
Aptos High’s Ella Boyes and Scotts Valley’s Ava Decleve went out with a bang at the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Track and Field Championships at Harbor High on Saturday. The seniors both earned three individual event wins.
Addie Somerville helps Soquel girls lacrosse secure win on senior night | Local Roundup
Soquel High senior midfielder Addie Somerville scored four goals, and the Knights girls lacrosse team beat visiting Santa Cruz 10-2 in Pacific Coast Athletic League action Friday.
Aptos earns 4×800 titles; Soquel’s Jack Cash, Harbor’s Elise Dawson crowned pole vault champs | SCCAL Track and Field Trials
Aptos High took first place in the 4×800 meter relay for both boys and girls, and Soquel senior Jack Cash and Harbor junior Elise Dawson won pole vault titles at the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Track and Field Trials at Harbor High.
Santa Cruz’s John Mel ties for 13th at WSL’s Jack’s Surfboards Pro | Local Roundup
Mother Nature did Santa Cruz’s John Mel no favors on Finals Day at the World Surf League’s Vans Jack’s Surfboards Pro in Huntington Beach on Sunday.