Andreas Dybdahl of Santa Barbara High ran the race of his life and won a stirring 1600 meters at the CIF State Track & Field Championships on Saturday at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis.
Dybdahl became a state champion by running a personal-best of 4 minutes, 8.64 seconds. He edge out Ryan Thomas of Torrey Pines (4:08.82) and Channel League rival Anthony Fast Horse of Ventura (4:08.84). His previous best time was 4:09.75, set at the Arcadia Invitational back in April.
“Wow! We’ve felt for a while like it was possible, but for him to come through and get it done… No words…,” said Santa Barbara coach Olivia Perdices. “The race was bunched for three laps, which was nerve-wracking, but played to his favor. He moved to second with 300 meters to go and I knew it was his for the taking. When he took the lead, there was no way he was giving it back.”
Andreas Dybdahl
State Champion
1600 meters
4:08.64@NoozhawkSports @sbnpnews @PrepCalTrack @MilesplitCA pic.twitter.com/OF8MVjHeUQ— Olivia Perdices (@Oli805SB) May 28, 2023
The junior clocked 56.89 seconds over the final lap to hold off Thomas and Fast Horse. Fast Horse, who beat Dybdahl in the Channel League Finals and CIF-SS Division 2 Finals, ran a last lap of 56.52 but couldn’t catch the Santa Barbara runner at the finish line.
Dybdahl is Santa Barbara High’s first State Meet champion since Sam Cunningham won the shot put in 1969.
Dybdahl said his race strategy “was just stay in the front pack and get a good position and hold on until the last lap so I can out-kick at the end. But it was really hard to maintain that position at the front because there were so many people jostling around, trying to get that position.
“I found an opening and I just took it and went for it.”
He’s been a top-five finisher in every 1600 race he’s done this season. But until winning the state title, his only victory came at the All-City Meet with San Marcos and Dos Pueblos back on April 5 at Peabody Stadium.
His season included four second-place finishes (Arcadia Invitational, Channel League Finals, CIF-SS Division 2 Finals and CIF State Prelims), three thirds (Ventura Invite, Mt. SAC Relays, CIF-SS Division 2 Prelims) and a fourth (CIF-SS Masters).
“When I ran my first couple of races, I just knew this was my season and it’s all going to work out,” said Dybdahl of his progression. “Then I ran my PR of 4:09 at Mt. SAC. That’s when I was on a running high. I was super excited.
“It’s all gone great. I peaked well and ran a PR here today and won state. I’m super excited and super stoked.”
Santa Barbara senior Davis Flanagin finished his high school career with an 11th-place finish in the long jump at 21-8.75.
“He’s an exceptional young man and I wish him all the best. Having him out there today was something special,” said Perdices of Flanagin, who is headed to NYU.
“I’ve got to give credit to these guys’ event coaches,” she added. “Matthew Oatis at horizontal jumps and Rusty Snow at distance do a phenomenal job for us.”