Every now and then, the news editors at The Californian will see something budgeted for sports publication that interests them and ask for the story or photo to put on the front page. It's not that common, but sometimes sports crosses over to the point where it's interesting to everyone instead of just the fans of that particular sport. Local team wins championship. Local kid makes it big. Local pro team folds up shop. Local athlete in trouble.

To me, track and field has a natural advantage in this. Even if you can't tell me who's in first place in the National League Central or who led the NFL in rushing last year, it's still of natural interest to see how fast humans can run, how high or long they can jump and how far they can throw. We're all familiar with the tasks, so it's awe-inspiring and interesting to see or hear about those who can do them so well — why do you think everyone watches the Olympics?

That's why this weekend's CIF State Track and Field Championships should interest just about everyone. The high school kids who win California state championships turn out to be national champions and Olympians. It's at Buchanan High School in Clovis, only about an hour and 45 minutes away, with preliminaries today and finals Saturday.

As a bonus, you get to see some elite athletes from right here in Kern County.

Start, of course, with Anna Jelmini. There's a big story I wrote about her in Friday morning's paper, but I don't think even that does justice to how much she's accomplished. No high school girl has ever thrown the discus farther. Only once has a shot put been launched farther, and that by just six inches. She'll go for her second straight state championships in both events — and possibly to better her records — this weekend.

Here are some other locals to watch, in order of their chances at winning state titles:

Matt Darr, Frontier, shot put and discus — Darr could keep both boys and girls throwing titles in Kern County, following in the footsteps of Dayshan Ragans of Foothill, who won both last year. Darr has the state's best discus mark and second-best shot mark this year.

Johnny Carter, Ridgeview, triple jump — He won the event as a freshman, but will have to do it as an underdog again because injuries have sidelined him for much of this year. He still managed to win his second Central Section title, though.

Chris Schwartz, Foothill, 3,200 meters — One last chance for Schwartz to end a wonderful high school distance-running career with another state championship. He won the cross country title as a junior and was second in this event last year to German Fernandez of Riverbank, who set a national record in that race. Unfortunately for Schwartz, another phenom, Erik Olson of Novato, has run under nine minutes four different times. Schwartz is capable, but it'll take his absolute best race.

Alex Collatz, Stockdale, shot put and discus — Collatz also is a great triple jumper, but a heel injury and a bad day kept her from qualifying in that event for the second straight year. That's OK; Collatz will just concentrate on the throws. If it weren't for Jelmini, this sophomore is who we'd all be talking about. She has easily the state's second-best discus mark (165-3) and finished fourth in the event last year. She also qualified in the shot put even though she'd never competed in the event until last month.

Kayla Kovar, Burroughs, shot put and discus — The only Kern Countian to emerge from the Southern Section, Kovar finished third in the discus last year. Her marks have slipped a bit behind Collatz's during this season, but she's still dangerous.

George Robbins, West, and Phillip McCullum, Garces, high jump — No event is as wide-open as this one. Robbins and McCullum are two of no less than 25 competitors who had qualifying marks of either 6-foot-6 or 6-8. Robbins won the state meet with a 6-8, but McCullum has the better jump this year at 6-8.25. Several jumpers around the state have cleared 7 feet, but if none do it Saturday, it could open the door for Robbins or McCullum.

Ridgeview's 1,600 relay team — The Wolf Pack were nipped by Centennial in the section final, so give the Golden Hawks a long look in this race, too. But Ridgeview is the team that's had the state's fifth-best mark all year long and might make noise at the state meet.

Others local qualifiers, girls: Brushay Wandick, Bakersfield (100 and 200); Taylor Jackson, Frontier (300 hurdles); Amanda Klinchuch, Liberty (pole vault); Bakersfield's 400 and 1,600 relay team; Shanesha Epps, Golden Valley (long jump); Shinead McDonald, Bakersfield (300 hurdles); Lacie Rasley, Shafter (shot put).

Other local qualifiers, boys: Isiah Purvis, Ridgeview (200 and 400); Jerrid Lewis, Ridgeview (800); Marty Affentranger, Liberty (400 and long jump); Centennial's 1,600 relay team; Nathan Alade, Stockdale (100).