Submitted photos – Del Norte senior Deken Hanks recently signed his letter of intent to compete in track and field for College of the Redwoods next spring.

By Ray Hamill — It’s been a very successful spring for the College of the Redwoods track and field team.

And they haven’t done too badly on the field of competition either.

Head coach Reed Elmore and his staff of assistants have been busy on the recruiting trail, adding 15 local standouts to their roster as they continue to build momentum and establish themselves as a viable option for local athletes.

“This is the best recruiting class we’ve ever had,” Elmore said. “It’s incredible.”

Among the most notable recruits, CR has added the two fastest athletes in the H-DNL, including the fastest ever.

Del Norte senior Deken Hanks, who holds the league record in the 100 meters, will join the local community college, along with 2026 league champion Kavi Bolden of Fortuna.

Hanks, who set the league record of 10.57 seconds during the 2025 North Coast Section postseason, was limited this spring because of injury and his season never really got going.

But he is expected to be back fully healthy next year and will give the CR program a boost with his recent commitment.

“We’re happy to get him. The guy’s a superstar,” Elmore said of the Del Norte senior, whose PR in the 200m is 21.91 seconds. “His times speak for themselves, and he comes from a good program. He can make everyone around him better.”

Likewise with Bolden, who also was an MVP in football and was named Fortuna’s male athlete of the year at the recent Husky ESPYs.

The Fortuna standout swept the 100m and 200m at this year’s league championships and has a PR of 10.82 seconds in the former and a PR of 22.07 in the 200.

Both speedsters not only bring their incredible talents to the local JC program, but they’re exactly the type of athletes Elmore wants.

Talent is one thing, but finding the right fit and athletes who can help build a successful team culture is more important, according to the coaches.

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Deken Hanks holds the H-DNL record in the 100 meters.

“There’s a certain culture we have and we want them to fit in,” the CR coach said. “We want them to be community based, gritty and supportive of their teammates. That’s kind of what we look for in an athlete. And we also want to be really competitive.”

The addition of the two outstanding sprinters will help in that regard.

And they’re not alone.

Eureka’s Isaiah Herbst, who placed second to Bolden in the 100m at the league championships, also has committed his future to CR, as has his teammate Grecia Ortiz, who was the third fastest female senior sprinter at this year’s league championships.

St. Bernard’s senior Sahara Tupua also will compete for the local community college after helping the Crusaders to a league title in the 4x100m relay this spring.

Fortuna speedster Madison Ruiz also has joined the team after winning a White Star in the 400m at last month’s league championships.

Ruiz also placed second in the 200m at the league meet.

She will be joined at CR by her Fortuna teammate Brida Lester, a middle and long distance specialist who played a key role on the Fortuna girls cross country league championship team in the fall, along with Ruiz.

Lester will also run cross country for CR.

Teagan Nazzisi from Sierra High School in Manteca will compete for CR next year.

Hoopa’s Quincy Macdonald will compete for CR next year.

Another distance standout who is getting ready to join Elmore’s team is Eureka’s Sean Morris, who placed first in the 800m in a pair of league meets this spring.

But Morris brings a lot more than that to CR.

“He’s got a fierce attitude,” Elmore said. “He really likes to compete. He really likes to go for it.”

The list of new recruits doesn’t end there.

Ferndale seniors Anthony Kasso and Quinn Stokesberry will each also compete for CR next spring.

Kasso is a hurdles specialist who took first place at this year’s NCS Class A championships in the 110m race with a PR of 15.42 seconds.

Elmore is particularly excited about the addition of the Ferndale standout, who will join a couple of Ukiah hurdlers at CR next spring.

“We’ve got a good hurdlers crew,” the CR coach said. “We’re excited about that.”

Grecia Ortiz signs her letter of intent to compete for CR next year.

A busy Stokesberry competed in track and field and softball for the Wildcats this spring and specializes in the throws.

Two more Del Norte Warriors will join Hanks at CR.

Zakayla Robinson will compete in the 200m and the 400m, having placed fourth at the league championships in the latter this spring, while state qualifier Sebastian Espinoza has also committed this future to the local JC after an outstanding spring in his final high school campaign. 

Espinoza will compete in the shot put and discus after placing second to Arcata’s Skyler Collenberg in the shot put at this year’s NCS Meet of Champions and following that with a 19th place finish at the prestigious state meet.

“He’s a good kid and he’s got a great relationship with our throws coach (Eric Wright),” Elmore said. “We’re super happy about that.”

Espinoza joins Teagan Nazzisi from Sierra High School in Manteca , who also recently signed his letter of intent to join the team.

Another impressive thrower, St. Bernard’s Kohlton Hall, also recently signed his letter of intent to compete for Elmore’s team, as well as the CR football team.

Quinn Stokesberry will compete in track and field for CR next year.

The versatile Hall competes in the sprints and throws and capped an outstanding spring by placing first in the discus at the NCS Class A meet with a PR of 146’ 5”.

Elmore is hoping his versatility will allow him compete in the decathlon at the collegiate level.

Other recruits include Eureka’s Madelis Martinez, who is coming off a good spring in the discus and shot put and signed her letter of intent at Eureka High last week.

Hoopa’s Quincy Macdonald also recently signed his letter of intent to compete for CR.

MacDonald, who also played football for the Warriors, will compete in the throws after a standout spring in both the shot put and discus, including a sixth-place finish in the latter at the NCS Class A meet.

The momentum-building recruiting coincides with the new facilities at CR.

“With the new facilities, it’s really starting to catch on that we’re the place to go in Humboldt and Del Norte counties,” Elmore said of the CR track team. “We know the athletes and we know the coaches, and that helps.”

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – St. Bernard’s Kohlton hall will play football and compete in track and field for CR.

Ferndale’s Anthony Kasso recently committed his future to CR.

The return of freshmen Alexis Heuberger and Zanai Vainuku-Johnson will help the women’s team.

Both are coming off big springs competing for the team and both are expected to only improve next year.

Heuberger was the team’s lone representative at this year’s state championships after a fantastic debut season in the javelin.

The former Del Norte Warrior was ranked No. 1 in the state in the javelin and broke Josie Peterson’s school record with a throw of 138 feet in her first year ever competing in the track and field.

“She took it on and she did amazing,” Elmore said.

So too was Vainuku-Johnson, who competes in the 100m and 200m and placed eighth at the NorCal championships in the latter.

Alexis Heuberger set a new CR record in the women’s javelin this spring in her first year competing in track and field.