NORWALK -- Brett Campfield's birthday dinner may have been ruined earlier this week, but Friday, he got a gift he waited his entire high school career to earn.

The Temecula Valley junior overcame nerves and a history of near misses to qualify for the CIF-State Track and Field Championships in the boys 1,600 meters by finishing third at the Southern Section Masters meet at Cerritos College.

Campfield slipped to the back of the pack as he entered the last part of his third lap, but he found a way to put aside the uneasiness that had plagued him throughout the race and that had left his stomach so queasy that he didn't feel like eating much on his 17th birthday.

"I was pretty nervous before the race and even 2 1/2 laps into it," Campfield said. "Once I fell back to eighth, I said, 'What am I doing?,' and realized I had to go."

Campfield turned on his trademark kick in the final 600 meters and crossed the finish line in four minutes, 14.97 seconds with an emphatic fist pump. Even though he's had a distinguished track and cross country career, it was the first time he had qualified for a state meet.

"I had a huge monkey on my back," Campfield said. "The state meet will be more relaxed. I'll just go out there and see what I can do."

Campfield and three other Valley athletes -- each one that competed in the Masters meet -- will travel to Sacramento City College on June 4 and 5. The top five competitors in each of Friday's event qualified, plus any others who reached predetermined at-large marks.

Murrieta Valley's Liza Pasciuto qualified in the girls 1,600 and 3,200. Pole vaulters Kristen Dormanen from Temecula and Myles McDowell from Murrieta both advanced as well.

Next week will be McDowell's first state meet appearance and the second for Pasciuto and Dormanen.

Dormanen's day was particularly impressive because she won the event while setting a Valley and Riverside County record at 12 feet, 7 inches. She had set her previous best at 12-5 at the section prelims this year, and finished fourth in the state last year at 12-4.

She cleared 12-7 on her first try Friday, and then narrowly missed on each of her three attempts at 13 feet.

"It just all came together," Dormanen said. "I was shooting for 13, but I'm happy with 12-7. It saves something for next week.

"I was OK with 11-9 (the at-large mark). Once I cleared it, I think the stress came off and I was able to keep going."

McDowell reached the at-large mark of 14-8, even though his best previous height had been 14-3. He finished fifth.

Pasciuto ran tactical races in both the 1,600 and 3,200, which was smart considering the accomplished cross country runner had struggled with the track postseason in previous years. She beat the at-large time in both events, and did it with a pair of strong finishes.

Pasciuto placed fourth at 4:57.83 in the 1,600, and was fifth at 10:46.11 in the 3,200. She said after the 1,600 that she had eased up to save herself for the 3,200, despite the fact that the first event has been her focus throughout the postseason.

"I'm excited to be going in both races," she said. "It's exciting to end my high school career like that."

Greg Ball can be reached at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2629 or gball@californian.com .