Sometimes, all it takes is a little friendly trash talk to uncover a star. That's exactly what happened at Loyola High this season, where junior defensive back Zion Phelps spent the football season boldly claiming he was the fastest student on campus. He wasn't wrong.
In his very first season running track, Phelps put those words into action on Thursday, blazing to a Mission League title in the 100 meters with a jaw-dropping school-record time of 10.49 seconds at the finals held at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. The wind-legal mark wasn't just a win—it was a statement.
"I'm beyond grateful," Phelps said after sharing an emotional embrace with Loyola coach Sharaud Moore, the man who convinced him to channel his speed from the gridiron to the oval.
Phelps' story is already becoming legend on campus—a testament to what happens when raw potential meets the courage to try something new. And with this performance, he's opened up a world of options in both track and football.
He wasn't the only Cub making noise. Teammate Ejam Yohannes delivered a masterclass in the sprints, anchoring the 4x100-meter relay team to a 40.75 victory—their first win over rival Notre Dame in three years. At the finish line, Yohannes silenced the crowd with a finger to his lips. He also dominated the 400 meters (47.05) and the 200 meters (20.85), the latter ranking as the fourth-best wind-legal time in the entire state this season.
Notre Dame's JJ Harel was a triple threat, qualifying in the high jump (6-10), long jump (22-5¼), and triple jump. Meanwhile, the girls' 100-meter final produced a rarity: a dead heat. Chaminade's Nalia Keyes and Bishop Alemany's Maya Rios crossed the line together at 12.46 seconds. "It's weird," Rios admitted of her first-ever tie.
Over at the Marmonte League finals, Westlake's Demare Dezeurn—who transferred from Bishop Alemany and played football for Palisades this fall—clocked a blistering 10.39 seconds to edge out Newbury Park's Jaden Griffin (10.50) and Calabasas' Kingston Celifie (10.56).
With the Southern Section Division 1 prelims just around the corner, this week's performances are a clear signal: the season is heating up, and the stars are ready to shine.