All-Orange County boys track and field team, athlete of the year 2025

Santa Margarita’s Leo Francis won the long jump and finished third in the 200 meters at the CIF State Track and Field Championships. Earlier this season he won three individual events — 100, 200 and long jump — at the Orange County Championships for track and field on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

ALL-COUNTY BOYS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM 2025

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Leo Francis, Santa Margarita, Senior

Leo Francis went to work right away when his track and field season ended last year.

“It all started around this time last year,” said Francis, a senior at Santa Margarita. “I focused immediately on my offseason training, getting in the gym and getting stronger and focusing on the coaches’ plan. I really got stronger as the season went on.”

And what a season it was.

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Santa Margarita’s Leo Francis jumps 25-00.75 to win the Boys Long Jump during the CIF State Track and Field Championships on Friday at Buchanan High in Clovis on Saturday, May 31, 2025. Francis is the Orange County boys track and field athlete of the year for the 2025 season. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Francis was the CIF State champion in the long jump and finished third in the 200 meters at the CIF State meet. He also finished second in the 100 at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet.

Francis supplied 16 of the 24 team points that gave the Eagles their third-place finish in the CIF State team standings.

His wind-aided mark of 25 feet, ¾ inches in the long jump set the Orange County record in the event for all conditions, the best all-conditions mark in California this season, and was the eighth-best long jump mark under all conditions this season.

Francis’ time of 20.84 seconds in the 200 at the state meet was the fourth-best time in California this season. He finished third in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 finals at 10.45 seconds, the third-fastest time in Orange County this season, and was second in the Masters Meet 100 with a wind-aided 10.43.

He qualified in the 100 for the CIF State meet but opted to limit his state meet activities to the 200 and the long jump.

Francis won the 100, 200 and long jump at the Orange County Championships in April and anchored the Eagles’ winning 4×400 team. He led Santa Margarita to the boys team title, providing 30 of the Eagles’ 64 points.

“If I had to pick one favorite meet,” Francis said, “it would have to be the Orange County meet because I was first or part of being first in four things at Orange County. It was fun finding out I could be that good in so many things.”

Francis will attend the University of Pennsylvania this fall.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Brandon Thomas, Servite

Brandon Thomas of Servite is the Orange County boys track and field coach of the year.

The Friars won the CIF State championship, scoring 33 team points to second-place Clovis North’s 30 points.

Servite’s Brandon Thomas is the Orange County boys track and field coach of the year for the 2025 season. (Photo courtesy of Brandon Thomas)

Servite finished second to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame for the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championships, 106.50 team points for Notre Dame to Servite’s 104.

Servite’s stable of sophomore and freshmen sprinters set Orange County records in the 4×100 relay (40.00 seconds) and in the 4×400 relay (3 minutes, 9.46 seconds). The Friars also collected points during the season in hurdles and in the long and triple jumps.

Thomas also the assisted the Rosary girls team that was a CIF-SS Division 3 co-champion this year.

All-Orange County girls track and field team, athlete of the year 2025

ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM

(Selections made based on top marks and level of performance in the CIF Southern Section Finals and CIF State meet.)

100: Benjamin Harris, Servite, So.

200: Leo Francis, Santa Margarita, Sr.

400: Jaelen Hunter, Servite, Fr.

JSerra’s Alden Morales smiles as he crosses the finish line during the Division 3 boys 800m race during the CIF Southern Section track and field finals at Moorpark High School in Moorpark on Saturday, May 17 2025. (Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer)

800: Alden Morales, JSerra, Jr.

1,600: Evan Noonan, Dana Hills, Sr.

3,200: Evan Noonan, Dana Hills, Sr.

110 hurdles: Blaise Burwell, Servite, So.

300 hurdles: Peyton Brown, Tesoro, Jr.

High jump: Brandon Gorski, Mater Dei, Sr.

Long jump: Leo Francis, Santa Margarita, Sr.

Triple jump: Oliver Jones, Fairmont Prep, Sr.

Pole vault: Brady Furr, Santa Margarita, Sr.

Shot put: Jayden Legaspi, Canyon, Sr.

Discus: Jack Paalova, Ocean View, Sr.

4×100 relay: Servite

Robert Gardner of Servite reacts after winning the boys 4×100 Invitational race during the 2025 Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 12, 2025. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

4×400 relay: Servite

4×800 relay: JSerra

ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM

100: Leo Francis, Santa Margarita, Sr.

200: Benjamin Harris, Servite, So.

Servite’s Benjamin Harris takes the baton from teammate Jorden Wells in the boys Division 3 4×100 relay during the CIF Southern Section track and field finals at Moorpark High School in Moorpark on Saturday, May 17 2025. (Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer)

400: Jace Wells, Servite, Fr.

800: Mattheus Dos Santos, San Clemente, So.

1,600: Max Douglass, Corona del Mar, Sr.

3,200: Aidan Antonio, Woodbridge, So.

110 hurdles: Baron Giacchetto, Orange Lutheran, Fr.

300 hurdles: Jett Gary, Beckman, Sr.

High jump: Henri Huntington, San Clemente, Jr.

Long jump: Brandon Gorski, Mater Dei, Sr.

Triple jump: Judah Clark, Servite, Jr.

Pole vault: Garrett Higgins, Trabuco Hills, Sr.

Shot put: Jack Paavola, Ocean View, Sr.

Discus: Jayden Legaspi, Canyon, Sr.

4×100 relay: Mater Dei

4×400 relay: Northwood

4×800 relay: Beckman

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