The CIF State Track and Field Championships return this week after a two-year hiatus.

COVID-related issues forced the event to be canceled in 2020 and ’21. This year’s state meet will be at Buchanan High School in Clovis as it was in 2019.

Orange County will be represented by several athletes, including Mission Viejo junior Jada Gatlin in the triple jump. Her mark of 40 feet, 3 inches is second best in the event in California this season. Los Alamitos senior Mackenzie Kirk’s 39-9.5 is the state’s No. 5 mark.

Corona del Mar senior Jason Plumb will contend in the long jump. His season-best leap of 24 feet, 5 inches is the second-best mark in California.

Servite senior Max Thomas is one to watch in the 100 meters. His time of 10.40 seconds in the 100 is the fifth-best time this season in the state. Thomas’ 20.68 in the 200 is the second-best time in California but he is not entered in that event.

Other county sprinters in the 100 are Los Alamitos freshman Devin Bragg with a seed time of 10.45 and Tesoro senior Dominic Gates (10.64).

Mater Dei junior Logan Lyght could be a factor in the 110 hurdles. His season best of 13.94 is the state’s No. 3 time in the event. His teammate Brandon Gorski, a freshman, could be a contender in the high jump, having cleared 6 feet, 8 inches, the state’s second-best height this season.

Dana Hills senior Jai Dawson is in the 800. He ran his season-best 1:51.13 in the event at last week’s CIF Southern Section Masters Meet.

Mission Viejo junior Emily Psarras has the state’s No. 6 mark in the long jump, 19 feet and 7.75 inches.

JSerra senior Ashlee Gallegos qualified for the 800 with a time of 2:10.61, a half-second behind her season best of 2:10.18 that is the ninth-fastest time in California this season.

The throwing events could find county girls taking home medals.

Los Alamitos junior Taylor Hofland’s season-best discus toss of 139-7 is the No. 6 distance in California. JSerra junior Siena Lambert has consistently added several feet to her discus marks this season, topping at 134-7 at the CIF-SS finals May 14.

Orange Lutheran senior Rebel Tuinuknafe started the season strong in the shot put. Her progress was slowed by injuries but she has rallied in recent weeks including a 41-10 throw at the Masters Meet.

Non-county athletes who could turn in stellar performances include Serra junior Rodrick Pleasant who last week set the state record in the 100 with a wind-legal time of 10.15. Pleasant’s 20.40 in the 200 is the state-leading time.

Qualifying for field events begins Friday at 3 p.m. Track events qualifying Friday begins at 5 p.m. Saturday’s field finals start at 4:30 p.m. with track finals beginning at 6 p.m.

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Admission is $7 and $12 on Friday and $8 and $14 on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at GoFan.co. Parking is $10.

The NFHS Network will provide live-streaming of the meet. The rtstp.com website will post results as they happen.