South Pasadena’s Omar Soufi left his mark in the boys shot put, saving his best throws for the biggest moments, and several accolades followed, including being named the San Gabriel Valley boys track and field athlete of the year.

Soufi shined in the event at the CIF State track and field finals at Buchanan High School in Clovis, earning a second-place medal with a personal-best throw of 60 feet, 11 inches.

Clovis North’s McKay Madsen won the title with a mark of 69-11, which is the best throw in the state by more than 7 inches.

But for Soufi, clearing 60 feet, and in the state finals, was dreamy.

“It’s surreal almost, it’s picture perfect,” Soufi told Youth Runner Magazine after the state meet. “I don’t remember the last time I cried, but I had to contain myself. I was about to cry when I saw it go over 60 (feet). The amount of work I put into this, even my nose started gushing blood in my first throw here. Adverse conditions make me better.”

For Soufi, it was a great way to finish the season.

Soufi won the CIF Southern Section Division 3 title with a throw of 58-5 on May 17 and was third at the Masters Meet at 56-7 1/2 on May 24. Soufi also won the prestigious Stanford Invitational on April 5 with a throw of 59-3, which had been his personal best before breaking it at the state finals.

Soufi also won the Rio Hondo League title and was the Pasadena Games champion in the shot put.

The San Gabriel Valley 2025 boys track and field All-Area team is comprised of athletes in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News and Whittier Daily News coverage areas.

FIRST TEAM

All race distances in meters

100: Jaxson Gates (Damien), 10.35

200: Daiveon Woodley (Bonita), 21.62

400: Daiveon Woodley (Bointa), 48.13

800: Erick De Leon (La Serna), 1:53.89

1,600: Grant Miller (La Serna), 4:07.45

3,200: Grant Miller (La Serna), 8:59.02

110 hurdles: Nicholas Hoang (Gabrielino), 14.36

300 hurdles: Jacob Davis (Wilson), 39.01

4×100 relay: Glendora, 41.86

4×400 relay: Damien, 3:15.63

4×800 relay: South Pasadena, 8:05.82

High jump: Tyren Mosley (Santa Fe), 6-4

Long jump: Daniel Li (Walnut), 22-3 3/4

Triple jump: Justin Guerriero (South Hills), 46-3

Pole vault: Jesus Diaz (California), 14-10

Shot put: Omar Soufi (South Pasadena), 61-2

Discus: Dang Tran (Schurr), 160-8

SECOND TEAM

100: Max Mccune (Bonita), 10.63

200: Tyler Ostrom (St. Francis), 21.87

400: Zephyr Enriquez (Monrovia), 48.82

800: Grant Miller (La Serna), 1:55.36

1,600: Kevin Sandoval (Glendora), 4:11.11

3,200: Dylan Flores (Glendora), 9:02.73

110 hurdles: Jacob Davis (Wilson), 14.36

300 hurdles: Michael Ferland (Walnut), 39.15

4×100 relay: La Serna, 41.87

4×400 relay: Monrovia, 3:20.09

4×800 relay: Covina, 8:44.60

High jump: Sam Kolody (Bointa), 6-4

Long jump: Edwin Sandoval (Covina), 22-2

Triple jump: Daniel Li (Walnut), 45-2

Pole vault: Braeden Yokoyama (Rio Hondo Prep), 14-0

Shot put: Nickolas Tamayo (Walnut), 54-8 3/4

Discus: Daniel Morales (La Mirada), 153-9