CALABASAS — Advice, encouragement and blunt criticism was at a premium for Calabasas junior sprinter Malia Rainey either during practice or through a phone call or text.
If she wasn’t getting it from her coach Jeff Clanagan, there were her two senior teammates, Olivia Kirk and Marley Scoggins, to help guide Rainey along her journey as a sprinter.
Not a bad well to dig from if you’re Rainey, having two fellow elite sprinters at your disposal to learn from. Scoggins will be running at Tennessee next year and Kirk at Oklahoma.
North Hollywood runner embraces mental challenges
“They set an example for me and helped push me into the athlete I could be today,” Rainey said. “I wouldn’t have made it this far without them today. They pushed me harder than anyone else and just helped me with everything I needed.”
Rainey was the fastest girls sprinter in the state this season in the 100 meters. She won the CIF-SS title in 11.38 seconds and bested both Kirk and Scoggins. Kirk finished fifth in 11.53 seconds and Scoggins placed eighth in 11.62 seconds.
Rainey is now on her way to creating her own legacy with offers from Division I college programs. And it’s Rainey who is the 2026 LA Daily News girls track and field athlete of the year.
“It was so scary coming in because I did so great last year,” Rainey said. “I just wanted to come in and do better. I reached all my goals and all my expectations.”
The season was a testament to the hours of practice by Rainey, who swept the 100 titles at the CIF Southern Section Finals and CIF-SS Masters Meet. She ran a personal best (11.33 seconds) in the 100 at the Masters Meet.
Rainey was one of the state’s most improved sprinters this year. She placed sixth in the state last year in the 100 with a time of 11.63 before finding a path to true stardom in 2026.
“It was scary because it’s junior year, because it sets you up for colleges to come in, and so I really made an effort to do my best,” Rainey said.
Rainey gave credit to Scoggins and Kirk for their mentorship and their contrasting styles of leadership.
“Marley is more head on with her words of affirmation and Olivia is more like a teddy bear,” Rainey said. “I can talk things out with her and with the both of them.”
Longtime confidence builder in Scoggins
Rainey has been close with both of her sprinting partners but with Scoggins in particular. The two began competing together for Valley United Striders when Scoggins was 12 and Rainey was 11.
The one-year gap in age made Scoggins a motivating companion for Rainey early in her track career.
“I think I pushed Malia to her highest point,” Scoggins said. “I always told her no one can compete with her. She has a perfect approach. Everyone is back kicking, cycling and she puts her knees up and down. I always told her no one could beat her and she’s capable of doing whatever her mind is capable of.”
Scoggins’ motivating words have played a factor throughout Rainey’s track career and steady rise as an athlete.
Rainey placed sixth in the country at the USA Junior Olympic Championships in the 100. She also had an impressive time (11.87 seconds) as a freshman at the CIF Southern Section Finals.
There was potential for Rainey, who jumped from fourth to second at the CIF-SS meet her following year and placed third at Masters to qualify for state.
And there was Scoggins who achieved in her own right. Scoggins was a state placer in the 100 and 200 in 2025 and secured a scholarship to Tennessee.
Rainey provided her own leadership as well to Scroggins, who admitted to “fighting nervousness” before competing in races. The two formed a partnership that made Calabasas’ girls sprinters one of the premier teams this season.
“She’s pretty calm in her races and before we competed she helped ease my mind,” Scoggins said. “We want the best for each other.”
Scoggins kept Rainey accountable. Rainey became a better sprinter as a result.
Rainey sprinted to a time of 11.55 seconds in the 100 at the Mt. Carmel Sundevil Track & Field Invitational on March 28. She ran the 100 in 11.68 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 18 — considered the premier track and field meet of the regular season in California.
Obsession and long road back home
Scoggins said she knew Rainey was going to reach beyond her achievements and maybe surpass her in the process.
“She’s capable of doing anything and thought she was capable of winning it all,” Scoggins said. “I kept telling her she was going to win.”
She seeks more in 2027. She wants to lead Calabasas in the 4×100 relay and place in the 200 meters.
This season, Rainey outran them all. Now the work to repeat as champion starts with perfecting a stride that teammates already marvel at.
“This sport gives me a different type adrenaline and there’s nothing in the world that gets me as excited as track,” Rainey said.