Meet Elk Grove’s Cy Lugo, the ‘greatest HS sprinter in the history of Sacramento’
Bill Carr and David Stone pondered the question, studied their star pupil and issued their collective declaration.
“Cy Lugo is the greatest high school sprinter in the history of Sacramento,” said Carr, a regional prep coach for more than 45 years.
Said Stone, also a longtime coach, “No question about it. Cy’s the best ever.”
That’s high praise for the long and lean Elk Grove Thundering Herd sprinter who just two years ago was still coming out of his shell as a teenager and as a runner. He has gone from a silent, shy sort to a composed, confident champion without losing any bit of his humility.
Lugo is a two-time CIF Masters champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and his sizzling times in recent weeks have cemented his local legacy as an all-timer with the grand finale of the season looming Friday and Saturday in the 106th CIF State Track & Field Championships.
Lugo aims to reach the victory stand in both events at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Clovis, and he plans to stand on the highest step to accept the first-place medal.
As it stands now, before Friday’s state trials and Saturday’s finals at Buchanan High School, Lugo is indeed the fastest sprinter in CIF Sac-Joaquin Section and Sacramento history. His lifetime 100-meter-dash best, a wind-aided 10.26 seconds set at a section finals meet, is faster than what Albert Hollis of Christian Brothers blazed to in 2000.
Lugo’s 20.67-second effort in the 200 in those same section finals at Hughes Stadium obliterated the regional and sectional record held by Cordova Lancers great Kevin Willhite from the 1981 CIF State meet in a then-meet record time of 20.81. Lugo’s 20.80 time set at last weekend’s section Masters championships earned him first place and the second-fastest 200 in regional history.
So, yes, the coaches are right. The times cannot be disputed.
“It’s really cool to hear the coaches say that,” Lugo said. “But I still have to win in state. That’s what really matters.”
Only handful of Sacramento sprinters have won state title
Winning settles a lot of debates. Lugo won’t just be competing for himself and his school in the state meet. He will represent the entire region. The Southern California schools have for decades thoroughly dominated the sprints, the benefit of a major crunch of schools and athletes in the Southland with ideal training conditions and scores of big-time meets to attend.
The only Sacramento-area burner to win the CIF State 200 is Willhite, and the only Northern California winner since Willhite in that race was Andrew Ammonds, of Skyline of Oakland, in 1997.
There have only been five Sacramento sprinters to take the CIF State 100, the first being Roy Brown of Sacramento High School in 1915. The second was Carl McCullough of Sac High in 1972, then Steve Jones of Burbank in 1983, followed by Darren Stringer of Vacaville in 1988 and Jim McGee of Sac High 30 years ago.
Lugo owns Elk Grove High records in the 100, 200, the 300 hurdles, the 400 hurdles, the 4x100 relay and the 4x400 relay. He is the state leader in the 300 hurdles but did not pursue that race in the CIF qualifying meets.
“He really wants to win the 200,” said Carr, one of Lugo’s longtime coaches. “He was in the state 200 last year and has that experience.”
That experience included Lugo’s hamstring tightening up as he finished a frustrated fifth in 20.94. He has the second-fastest 200 time in the state this season.
“What Cy needs is competition because he wins his races easily, and that’s what makes the Southern California kids so good —competition,” Carr said.
Added Stone, Lugo’s primary coach: “I’ve worked with Cy for three years, and he gets better and better. He can win in state. He has it in him.”
Mastering races, growing as a person
Lugo said the thrill of the sprints is what inspires him. One has to master bolting out of the starter’s blocks, then the race.
“It’s the pace that gets everyone excited,” Lugo said. “Everyone’s blood is going like a dopamine rush.”
Lugo was gracious in victory, embracing rivals and friends. He smiles regularly from the joys of victory but also because of what this sport has afforded him. Racing has granted Lugo plenty of thrilling moments, national exposure and a commitment to a full athletic scholarship experience at Montana State. He wants to be a big-animal veterinary expert — horses, mules, cows — or a zoologist.
Elk Grove High has long been a haven for agriculture enthusiasts, and Lugo said, “We have it all: Hogs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, cows.”
As for Montana State in general, he said it was a fit. He is a 3.9 GPA student who isn’t afraid of competing in snow flurries or rain.
“I love to run in cold weather, and I love animas, so this will be great,” Lugo said.
Lugo added about his growth as a runner and a young man, “I used to keep to myself and not talk that much, but track helped me meet new people, strangers,” he said.
“I stand next to them, race them over and over, got to know them, so that helped with some of my social skills. I’m having a lot of fun.”
Fast Feet
Here are the fastest prep sprinters in Sacramento-area history.
100 meter
1. Cy Lugo, Elk Grove, 10.26 seconds* (2026)
2. Albert Hollis, Christian Brothers, 10.29* (2000)
3. James Hinex, Grant, 10.33* (1995)
4. Jim McGee, Sacramento, 10.33* (1996)
5. Brian Lewis, Highlands, 10.37 (1993)
*Wind aided
200 meter
1. Cy Lugo, Elk Grove, 20.67 seconds (2026)
2. Cy Lugo, Elk Grove, 20.80 (2026)
3. Kevin Willhite, Cordova, 20.81 (1981)
4. Carl McCullough, Sacramento, 20.94* (1972)
5. James Hinex, Grant, 20.95 (1995)
*Converted time from 220 yards
Fast Company
Here are the Sacramento area’s all-time CIF State sprint champions.
100 meter
1915: Roy Brown, Sacramento, 10.2 seconds
1972: Carl McCullough, Sacramento, 9.5
1983: Steve Jones, Burbank, 10.64
1988: Darren Stringer, Vacaville, 10.78
1996: Jim McGee, Sacramento, 10.52
200 meter
1981: Kevin Willhite, Cordova, 20.81 seconds