Bishop’s Miears and Sharkey Shine at California State Games

By Coach Miears

LA JOLLA, Calif. — More than 80 track and field teams from across California, along with athletes from New York, Washington, and Nevada, gathered at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) on July 18–19 for the 2026 California State Games. The annual event showcased some of the nation’s top athletes, from youth competitors to Masters athletes over the age of 50.

One of the weekend’s biggest crowd moments came during the Masters pole vault competition, where spectators watched an athlete over 50 years old make an exciting attempt at a world record. Although he narrowly missed the mark, the effort brought fans to their feet and reminded everyone that the love of competition has no age limit.

Among those representing Bishop were two 16-year-old athletes whose stories could not have been more different—but both left San Diego with performances to remember.

Four Events, Four Medals

Right after competing against the nation’s best high school discus throwers at Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, Bishop Union High School thrower Wyatt Miears set an ambitious goal: compete in four events at the California State Games.

The challenge wasn’t just the workload.

When Wyatt left Nike Nationals, where he placed 27th among 40 Elite high school discus throwers and finished as the top sophomore in the field, he had never competed in either the hammer throw or javelin.

Training immediately shifted toward learning two of track and field’s most technical events.

Even finding the proper equipment became part of the adventure.

Because shipping a regulation javelin from Torrance to Bishop would have cost more than $400, Wyatt’s family made the trip to Southern California to pick it up themselves. Until then, Wyatt had only practiced with a training javelin, meaning he arrived at the California State Games having never thrown a competition javelin.

Day One Success

Wyatt’s first event was the javelin.

Despite having only a few weeks of training, he launched the spear 111 feet, 9 inches to earn the bronze medal. The throw would also place him into the No. 7 ranking among California high school javelin throwers this season.

Later that afternoon, Wyatt returned to his specialty, the discus.

He threw 166 feet, 7 inches to capture the silver medal, giving him two medals on the opening day.

A Newcomer’s First Meet

While Wyatt was chasing medals, teammate Ryan Sharkey was making memories of a different kind.

Ryan entered the California State Games after just two weeks of track and field training.

Two weeks earlier, he was literally learning how to come out of the starting blocks.

Despite his lack of experience, Ryan confidently entered both the 100-meter and 200-meter races in the 15–16 boys division.

He opened the meet by running a 12.65-second 100 meters, finishing 25th overall while competing well within his heat.

For a first-ever track meet, it was an impressive debut.

Drama on Day Two

Sunday brought two more events for Wyatt—the shot put and hammer throw.

The shot put competition produced one of the most dramatic moments of the weekend.

Wyatt led most of the competition until another athlete launched a throw over 50 feet in the final round to move into first place.

Knowing he needed a huge throw, Wyatt delivered his last throw of nearly 54 feet, but his momentum carried him just outside the ring after completing the throw, resulting in a foul.

The heartbreaking finish left Wyatt with a best legal throw of 48 feet, 2¾ inches, good enough for another silver medal.

Then came the hammer throw.

Few events in track and field are more difficult to learn. Wyatt quickly discovered that while distance came naturally, staying balanced through multiple turns inside the circle did not.

During practice he had already thrown beyond 150 and even 160 feet, but consistency remained a work in progress.

Choosing control over maximum distance, Wyatt completed a safe three-turn throw that traveled 116 feet, 7 inches, capturing the gold medal and his first-ever championship in the event.

Wyatt definitely has a new respect for both the hammer and the javelin. They’re a lot harder than they look.

Sharkey Turns Heads

Ryan returned to the track Sunday afternoon for the 200 meters, running 25.80 seconds to place 19th overall, narrowly missing a victory in his heat.

His performance caught the attention of one of the race officials, who approached Ryan afterward to compliment him on his natural ability and encourage him to stay with the sport.

For someone who had only been training for two weeks and competing in his first meet, it was high praise—and well deserved.

Looking Ahead

When the weekend ended, Wyatt returned home with a complete set of medals:

Gold – Hammer Throw
Silver – Discus
Silver – Shot Put
Bronze – Javelin

Ryan left with something equally valuable—confidence and experience after proving he belongs on the track.

For two young athletes from Bishop, traveling hundreds of miles to compete against some of the best athletes on the West Coast was well worth the journey.

Wyatt’s season isn’t finished yet.

He now turns his attention to the 2026 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championship, where he will compete in the 15–16 Boys Discus on July 31 at Falcon Stadium on the campus of Cerritos College.

Entering the national championship, Wyatt is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in his age division at the Junior Olympics.

Whether it’s learning two entirely new events or stepping onto a track for the very first time, the California State Games proved one thing: hard work, determination, and a willingness to take on new challenges can produce unforgettable moments.