Culver City High School track and field program is still one of the best in Southern California and the state in 2026. After graduating some of the best boy track athletes in the nation in 2025, and losing their Co-head coach, LaShinda Demus, who is now coaching track at USC, the 2026 team was looking for new faces to step in and continue the tradition of very good track and field teams. It appears they found what they were looking fo“It feels good to see this team improving,” said head coach Jahmal Wright last week at Culver City after their meet against four schools, Beverly Hills, El Segundo, Laces and Wiseburn Da-Vinci. “It looks the teams are trending in the right direction. The athletes’ hard work is paying off with some really good times in a lot of races. We are pretty much healthy, so we are excited about the future.”
When the topic of the future comes up the first name that pops up is freshman Aliza Rush. She has run 10.84 twice this season and that puts her in the category as one of the fastest freshmen in school history. She also runs on the girls 4X100 relay which has one of the fastest times (47.39) in the state.
“It feels great,” said Rush last week. “I have been trying to crack 12 seconds for the longest time, and I finally got it a few weeks ago. I did not think I would be running that fast, especially this early in the season but I am proud of myself. I love my team and they are very supportive of me and I love my coach. She pushes me to be the best version of myself.”
Her coach is Faith Burt who replaced Demus. Burt is s former 16-time state track and field champion from the state of Iowa. Burt brings a lot of experience to the Centaur coaching staff. She talked about replacing Demus. “I didn’t feel any pressure. I pray that God blesses this program. I have a good track and field background, and I am out here trying to give the kids what I did not get in high school and college”
This is what Burt had to say about coaching Rush. “I knew she was capable of doing it. It’s good to be able to watch her progress and be able to run a time that she did not think she would achieve this year. It feels good and I am excited for her. I am proud to be a part of her journey.”
On the boys’ side in 2026 the spotlight is on Jonah Givens. Givens is the only returning runner from some of the best 4X100 and 4X400 relay teams in the nation in 2025. Givens runs the 100, 200 and 400 meters and both relays this year. In the meet last week Givens clocked 10.88 in the 100 and 22.05 in the 200 which are very fast times right now. Givens was also part of the Centaur 4X100 relay team that placed second (42.41) in the California Relays last Saturday at Long Beach Wilson High School.
Givens talked about running 10.88 last week at Culver City. “I knew I could do it. I just believe in myself, and I believe in the people that believe in me. Knowing that we went to the big leagues last year really helped me. I want the team to stay hopeful, and I want to help the younger teammates get better and be consistent.”
“The foundation has been laid over the years and it’s great that we have excellent coaches.” said Wright. “It’s all about giving back. We have a lot of former Centaurs that played football and ran track on the coaching staff. We want to give back to the next generation. That’s what coach Myles taught us.”
Coach Cornell Myles, who is still coaching football at Culver City, is a legend when someone mentions great coaches in Culver City High School sports history.
The Centaurs’ next home meet is April 8, at 3:30 p.m. against West Torrance and several athletes will compete in the Arcadia Invitational on April 10. The Senior Day Meet will be Apri 15, at 3:30 p.m. against Santa Mónica.
