NORWALK ­­— Last season, Saugus and Valencia were the only two Foothill League schools to send athletes to the CIF State Track and Field Championships.

There are more Centurions and Vikings headed to Fresno this season.

For the first time ever, they’ll be joined by a Grizzly and a Wildcat.

Seven total Foothill League athletes from four different schools qualified for the state meet at the CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet Friday night at Cerritos College.

The top five finishers in each event advanced to the state meet automatically, while others advanced if they met the at-large qualifying times or marks.

The state meet will take place next Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High School in Clovis.

Golden Valley hurdler Joey Darko qualified for the state finals in the 110-meter hurdles, becoming the first Golden Valley athlete to reach the CIF state track meet. For West Ranch, Jennifer Owen qualified for the state meet in the 1,600-meter run to make history for the Wildcats.

For the first time since 2004, Saugus didn’t qualify a girls distance runner for the state finals, but head coach Christian Standley said it was important to focus on the Centurion athletes who did advance.

“There’s not necessarily any disappointment,” he said. “I’m happy our sprinters made it through.”

Saugus sprinter Jenna Vincej qualified in two events, including the 4x400-meter relay, in which she teamed with Amber Wright, Alex Hampton and Nicole Penick to finish the race in 3 minutes, 52.81 seconds. The qualifying time for an at-large bid to the state meet was 3:53.15.

Vincej also qualified in the 400 after running the race in 55.94 seconds, comfortably clear of the qualifying time of 56.15 seconds.

“I’m so excited,” Vincej said. “This doesn’t feel real to me.”

Owen had qualified for the 800 and 1,600, but she dropped the 800 after running the 1,600 in 4:54.74. Her time was almost three seconds clear of the at-large qualifying time.

Darko’s time of 14.33 seconds in the 110 hurdles was just under the qualifying time of 14.38, and he finished second overall despite a considerable crosswind at the time of the race.

“I wanted to come out and represent the school,” he said. “I’m going to practice really hard this week. I’ve really got to sprint and attack every hurdle.”

Valencia’s Jasmine Hall qualified for the state finals in the high jump as one of six girls to clear 5 feet, 7 inches.

“I’m so happy to get my state patch,” she said. “It’s good I get to see more competition (at the state meet).”

Canyon had two athletes at the Masters Meet, but neither qualified for the state finals. High jumper Kevin Enge cleared 6-2 but the qualifying height was 6-6, while long jumper Tiffini Stone’s best mark was 17-4 3/4, short of the qualifying mark of 18-5.

Karis Frankian was the last Saugus distance runner standing, but she finished the 3,200 in 11:01.19, well short of the qualifying time of 10:45.62. She finished 15th in the state in the event last year.

The girls 3,200 was also one of the fastest races of the night, with several athletes finishing in less than 10:30.

“All of them are amazing,” Frankian said. “It was so much harder.”

Because Owen and Redondo Union’s Chloe Curtis dropped out of the 800, teammate Ashley Welker got the chance to run in the race but finished in 2:15.98, a couple seconds shy of qualification for the state meet.