Taft Comes Out Ahead in Long Run

Jayda Bailey, defending City Section champion in the girls’ 400 meters, has transferred from Taft High to El Camino Real.

Jason Lovell and Tricia Bratford, who attended Cleveland last year, have transferred to Taft.

Bailey, a junior, won the City title in the 800 as a freshman before winning the 400 and placing second in the 200 in the City finals in May to help Taft win its first championship.

Her best of 54.20 seconds in the 400 ranks sixth on the all-time region performer list.

Lovell, a sophomore, clocked 49.2 in the 400 during his freshman season at Cleveland and also ran on the Cavaliers’ 1,600 relay team that ran 3:18.07 to finish third in the City championships.

Bratford, a junior, placed third in the high jump in the City finals and has a best of 5 feet 2 inches. She also plays volleyball.

BASKETBALL

Committed: Nick Jones, a 6-foot-4 senior guard at Santa Clara High in Oxnard, said Thursday he has committed to UC Santa Barbara.

Jones averaged 13.2 points last season in nine games after recovering from a broken leg.

Jones’ Santa Clara teammate, guard B.J. Ward, also might wind up attending Santa Barbara.

SURFING

Surf’s up: The California Beach Festival Longboard Championships are slated for Saturday and Sunday at 6 a.m. at Surfer’s Point in Ventura.

There will be competition in men’s divisions from 19-and-under to 60-plus, and a women’s open division.

Information: (805) 644-2678.

MOTOR SPORTS

On the road again: Mike Ryan, a Hollywood stuntman who lives in Santa Clarita, will compete Sunday in the 10th Silver State Classic, to be held on a 90-mile closed portion of Nevada State Highway 318 between Lund and Hiko.

Ryan’s appearance in his race-only Freightliner semi-truck will mark the first time a Class-8 truck has competed in the race.

Ryan has driven the truck to two consecutive victories in the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.