High School Track & Field: Sage’s McCord, Tars’ Bender advance to state finals

CLOVIS — Sage Hill School senior high jumper CJ McCord and Newport Harbor High senior hurdler Hope Bender qualified Friday for Saturday’s finals at the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Buchanan High.

McCord, who finished second at the state meet last year, was one of 10 boys who cleared 6 feet, 8 inches and qualified eighth.

Bender, competing in the 300-meter hurdles, qualified fifth with a time of 42.18 seconds, a personal best.

McCord, a two-time CIF Southern Section Division 4 champion who is bound for Yale, made 6-8 on his third attempt after clearing 6-4 and 6-6 on one attempt. His best this season is 6-9 at the Southern Section Division 4 finals.

Bender, who finished second at the CIF Southern Section Division 2 meet in 42.51, her previous best, will compete in the nine-runner final on Saturday. She has committed to compete collegiately at UC Santa Barbara.

— From staff reports