California State Meet
Doug Speck's Report - Boys

From: <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 12:19:05 EDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: Cal St boys Event Sums

Boys' State Meet Event Stories, by Doug Speck

100 Meter Dash
The state had perhaps its finest groups of sprinters in history, and that's saying a lot based upon the Golden State tradition.
Thirty million people and almost one thousand high schools give you a pretty good base to build upon.
During the season match-ups had a variety of speedsters take individual honors. Noteworthy in his absence was Sultan McCullough (Muir, Pasadena), who when healthy in 1997 had destroyed this entire 1998 group by frightening margins on the way to 10.24w and 20.62 sprint bests.
Coaches Clyde Turner and Corey Ealy of Muir had wanted to ease McCullough into the season after his injury problems at the state meet in 1997 (he pulled in the State Finals 400m relay), with McCullough relaying and racing 200's and 400's along the way. It was working until, after Coach Turner's arrest for child molestation, McCullough pulled a hamstring the week of the League Prelims while doing 60 meter sprints.
He did not show for the Pacific League Prelims. A USC- bound footballer, McCullough probably did not wish to further destroy things this spring.
During the season for the rest of the athletes, action down south heated up in the Southern Section Divisional Finals, where Darrel Rideaux nipped teammate Kareem Kelly 10.36 (w +1.7)-10.39 in the Division I Finals, and Justin Fargas, using a standing start with the Moye blocks after a hamstring injury a couple of weeks previous, caught a flyer, but was run down by Miguel Fletcher 10.36 (+2.0)-10.37. Kelly shockingly false started out of the overall Section Finals with Rideaux winning there at 10.62. Rick Cottingim eventually recorded the best state meet qualifier at 10.46w, with a good season to back up that mark. Ike Okenwa rocketed in the Finals in San Diego, racing 10.46 also, with Quincy Wright, winning the award as "top athlete who never ran in a high quality Invitational during the year" taking the LA City Finals at 10.54w. It was going to be a great state meet.
Fargas (-2.1) won heat one in the Prelims at 10.68, with Rideaux (+1.2) 10.49 to take heat two over Okenwa (10.64), with Fletcher 10.61 (+1.4) the winner of heat 3. A great field lined up for the Finals on Saturday, with Darrel Rideaux in lane 5, Ike Okenwa 4, Miguel Fletcher 6, and Justin Fargas 7. A clean and even start had Rideaux and Fargas edge ahead early, with Rideaux inching away over the length of the event.
Fletcher came back to nail his league-rival Fargas in the final 25 meters, with Rideaux taking the title at 10.43 (wind +0.8), Fletcher 10.50 and Fargas 10.58. Fletcher will sprint for USC next year with Fargas headed for Michigan for football in the fall. Rideaux will play for the Poly football team which should be ranked among the top in the nation.

200 Meters
People "rock and rolled" over 200 meters also. McCullough (see 100m) from Muir had looked so great while racing 20.62 as a junior that close to 20.0 seemed possible this year, but as the "wheels fell off at Muir" it was just one of those tragedies you looked back upon and say,

"What could have been."
There was plenty of speed left over. Kareem Kelly had rocketed 20.53w (+3.2) in the Section Divisional Meet, with a 20.89 wind legal seasonal best that was among the best in the country. Miguel Fletcher had won at Arcadia in 20.94, with Ike Okenwa nipping rival Devon Ward 20.97-21.07 in San Diego. Tyrone Reynolds took the LA City affair at 21.12. Ric Cottingim had been under 21.50 a number of times by himself out of the Sac Joaquin Section. It would be a great event, with the Poly Boys team extra-motivated to repeat as team champions.
Friday's prelims had Fletcher crank 21.00 in Heat #1 (wind +0.5), with Cotingim, a non-qualifier in the 100 returning here for 21.32 in second, with Okenwa next at 21.41. Kareem Kelly blasted 20.99 in heat #2 (nwi), with teammate Rideaux next at 21.33. Warren Rogers took heat #3 (making it a Southern Section sweep of all the sprint heats up through 200m) at 21.22 (nwi), with the LA City's Tyrone Reynolds 21.41 and Devon Ward 21.43 next. Eight of the nine finalist had run 21.43 or better in Friday's qualifying! On Saturday, the final competition for the year individually with this super group of California Boys' sprinters would take place. Ike Okenwa (Lane 2), Darrel Rideaux (3), Warren Rogers (4), Kareem Kelly (5), Miguel Fletcher (6), and Ric Cotengim (7) would compare with any group in the nation.
Kareem Kelly really cranked the turn, racing past the 100 meter starting point at 10.5, with Miguel Fletcher on his outside shoulder as they entered the homestretch. Darrel Rideaux worked hard, aiming at a Poly 1-2 sweep, but he was not able to get up to Fletcher by the finish line.
Kelly was the winner at 20.76 (#3 prep time in nation for year), with Fletcher 20.97 and Rideaux 21.31. Four of the top five are underclass athletes!

400 Meters
The 400 developed into a fine event, with a number coming together here who had run fast in local action. Blaine Bussey started the season as the number three 400m runner at Taft of Woodland Hills, but steadily improved to record a 47.52 in winning the City Finals. Mike Ryan looked very smooth and capable of much faster in taking the Southern Section with a 47.38 best, with Arthur Orange surprising with his 47.77 in winning in San Diego over Maurice Douglas 47.93. It would be a good state finals run when this crew came together.
Blaine Bussey took Friday's first heat in a personal best 47.49, with LA City-mate Raheem Barnes 47.97 in second. Mike Ryan was the prelim #2 winner at 47.79, with four qualifiers coming from heat #3 with Ernesto Salinas from the Central Coast Section the winner at 47.79. Jafar Williams (47.90) and Rod Arzu (47.99) were under 48.00.
In Saturday's Finals, Ernesto Salinas (lane 4) was out quickest (12.1 at the 100 meter mark). Down the backstretch Blaine Bussey, the quickest qualiifer, was lagging way back in lane 5, with Salinas, Raheem Barnes, and Mike Ryan (out quicker than usual) battling evenly as a group hit 23.5 for the halfway point. Out of Lane 1, Arthur Orange raced a wicked third 100 to challenge for the lead through the 300 at 35.4. Down the

homestretch, it was the tall, loose Ryan who finished strongly, as he had each of last three weekends on this track, to win at 47.62. Salinas held on to second at 47.97.

800 meters
This event received an interesting boost when Jon Stevens, defending State 1600m champ, and arguably the nation's top miler, decided to race both the 800 and 1600 here this weekend. In addition to a 4:09.77 recorded in taking the North Coast 1600, Stevens had raced 1:51.70 for two laps and typically raced the two in big Invitationals during the spring. A good group would keep him honest, with the qualifying and finals of the 1600 before the finals of the 800 interesting in pacing of effort and all. Should Stevens go all-out in the 1600 on Saturday and come into the 800 very fatigued, he had his state title, with an interesting double possibility, so all was not lost.
Gabe Orosco (Tulare) had a good season in the Central Section, winning there at 1:53.50, with Sean Ricketts taking the San Diego Finals 1:53.51 over Mohamed Aden 1:53.61, with sub- 1:53.0 runner Justin Diaz (West Hills, Santee), the Mt. SAC winner, surprisingly not making it out of that area's finals. Ryan Meuse (Simi Valley) was the Southern Champ, and had run 1:52.67 in 1997, with the Stanford-bound athlete capable of very quick running.
An interesting group came to run hard in Heat #1 on Friday, with Gabe Orosco setting a personal best and dragging a number of others to good times with his 1:52.90 win over David Juliano 1:53.21, with five moving on from this first contest. Ryan Meuse took heat 2 over D.J. Ozan 1:54.47-1:54.69. Jon Stevens, pointing out an example why qualifying in this event this year was switched to the two two placers in heat heat plus the next three overall fastest times, controlling the race and racing in at 1:55.22, with Ontario's Chris Burns securing the second spot at 1:55.82.
In Saturday's Finals, Gabe Orosco sped out around the first turn, coming through the 200 meters at 25.7. David Juliano was closest, with doubler Jon Stevens fourth at that point. At 55.5 for the 400, with the tempo visibly slowing, Orosco was challenged by Phil Tabor. At 500 meters as the race started down the backstretch, Jon Stevens edged up to the leaders and past, looking full of run. The 600 was 1:24.4, with Stevens off to the races. Juliano kept the Mission San Jose star honest to the finish, but the Stevens starwas quite up to the task of his double here.
Stevens' controlled 1:52.07 run won over Juliano, who the previous year was a basketballer racing the 300 Intermediates during the track season.

1600 Meters
Jon Stevens was the winner in 1997 at 4:10.08, and had put together a great season up north. The Arcadia rain-out was unfortunate, as he would have been tested by a good out of state group. Jon's 4:09.77 from the Northern Coast Section Meet put him up by about four seconds on the rest of the state. Australian triathlete, Chris Kemp nipped teammate Mark Gleason 4:13.54-4:13.56 in the South, with Jason Taylor 4:13.79 in that race. Kemp and Gleason had put together great seasons, with the duo

possibly working together to set a fast pace and pull the entire field to good times in the State Finals.
In Friday's heat #1, Juan Chavira, used to controlling things pretty much as he pleased in the Central Section, had some company, but still pushed things to a 4:14.34 heat win over Jon Stevens, with six moving on from the first race (6th was 4:19.24). A much slower paced Heat 2 had the three placers who automatically move on, as fast-finishing Mike Altieri won at 4:19.12.
In Saturday's Finals, Ryan Mack led the first 200 at 29.3 with Jon Stevens 5 meters back leading the pack. By the 400 things started to slow a bit (60.7), with Mark Gleason now third. The 600 went by at 1:32.9 (32.2) with 2:06.6 at the 1600 (33.7 200) (65.9 second 400). The relaxed running continued through the 1000 meters 2:41.5 (33.9), with Mark Gleason moving into the lead as the race came by the 1200 point (3:14.3 32.8 half lap). Lap three was 66.7 (4:26 mile pace).
Gleason pushed down the backstretch of the last lap to a 30.0 200 (3:44.3 1400). Moving into the final stretch (1500 meters 3:58.8) Stevens moved outside and rocketed by, racing 13.8 for the final 100 meters (55.2 400 pace). Stevens was close to 58 seconds overall for the final 400. Mike Altieri seemed to have been pacing himself nicely during the event and had a lot left for the stretch run, blasting in and placing second at 4:13.10.

3200 Meters
The Southern Section surprisingly ended up with the top five qualifiers into the meet with Chad Durham nipping surprising Aaron Sharp 9:11.32-9:12.06 in the area Finals. Gary Passanisi (Aptos), who had recorded a 9:05.9 (#3 time nation) in an all- comers affair the evening of the rain-out Arcadia competition, was 9:19.52 to take the Central Coast (with a 4:12.3 1600m best during the year). Mike Baskin was 9:14.19 to win in San Diego, with a solid 1600-3200 season of racing that indicated faster possiblities, the Sac Joaquin's Mike Altieri showed fine abilities during the year and was 9:19.16 in winning his area, and Juan Chavira 9:21.68 while taking the Central title in comfortable style. It would be a good State Finals run! In the actual championship race, Andrew Hill (Los Altos) was out at 30.9 for the first 200 and 65.3 for the first lap. Chad Durham took the lead during the second lap and was 2:14.7 at the 800. Hill was back up in the lead at 3:23.0 for the 1200, with Mike Baskin and Gary Passanisi closest. At 4:31.7 for 1600 meters it was Baskin and Durham, with Passinisi assuming a relaxed position between them in third. The trio led through a 5:42.6 2000 meter time. At 6:54.6 for six Baskin accelerated to a narrow lead, with Passinisi edging back up with Durham and Justin Wood the rest of the leading pack of four. Ronnie Buchanan led the rest of the field in fifth, back about five meters. At the gun in 8:04.8 Justin Wood went by, with Passinisi again appearing very capable of responding to the move of another. the 3000 meter was pased by at 8:36.1 with Passinisi a narrow lead, with the Central Coast star accelerating into the tape, a controlled full three second winner at 9:05.74.


110 Meter High Hurdles
Guy McGowan (Leigh, San Jose) had a super season, racing 13.96 along the way before not making it out of the Central Coast Finals race.
The 1997 State Finals field was made up of all seniors. The LA City Dorsey duo of Greg Lee (13.92w) and Terry Ellis (13.98w) continued their steady improvement, with Marcell Allmond (14.02) a half-step better during most meets during the spring. Marlin Beaver shocked with a 14.00 at the North Coast Finals, with Tim Bogdanoff 14.15 in the Central Finals. It would be a good event.
Big heat wins were Friday's story, as Greg Lee (14.03 +1.4), Terry Ellis (14.10 -1.6), and Marcell Allmond (13.93 +1.0) were all at least four meter winners with the next qualifiers back at 14.51 or slower.
In the Finals, Marcell Allmond (lane 5), Terry Ellis (lane 4), and surprising Tim Bogdanof, on the outside in lane 8, were all out quickly.
Positions did not change much during the event, with the powerful Allmond holding his margin and Bogdanof, closing very strongly, challenging Ellis for second. Allmond's winning clocking was a fine 13.83 (+0.4 #7 prep time nation for year), with Ellis 13.92 and Bogdanof 13.97 recording personal bests also.

300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
Guy McGowan, a non-qualifier in the 110 Meter highs after a 13.96 seasonal best, was undoubtedly on a mission here, racing 37.32 in the Central Coast Finals. Elmo Traylor, last of the Muir team standing, won the Southern Section at 37.69, with Tim Bogdanoff 37.77 in winning the Central title by a second and a half. Al Williams was third in 1997 (37.55) and here once again, with San Bernardino's Leonard Lexion a good Spring season.
Guy McGowan took Heat one during Friday's Prelims, racing 37.67, with Leonard Lexion improving his best to 37.31 in taking Elmo Traylor (37.43) in Heat 2, with Al Williams very impressive in a 37.14 prelim #3 win.
After the good running in the Prelims, Tim Bogdanof, Al Williams, and Guy McGowan were out strongly through the first 150 meters in the Finals. Heading into the stretch Williams, who had PR'd at 37.14 on Friday, edged ahead of McGowan, with the Irvine football star crashing through the final hurdle on the way to his 37.17 win.

400 Meter Relay
Often times the curse of great teams, the qualifying and finals format of the State Meet is alien to most California preps, with the Muir demise of 1997 started when Sultan McCullough, after a full day of qualifying on Friday, felt a serious twinge at the end of the Muir Finals 40.35 winner here. Long Beach Poly, scary in a 40.39 run the previous week to win the South, was antsy after dropping the baton the previous year during area qualifying, with University City (SD) a fine 40.66 in taking their area win. Serra (Gardena) was potentially very dangerous, 40.91 in the Southern Section run, but 1997 State finalist, Dashaun McCullough had not lined up for the 100 meters at the Southern Finals, nursing a bad leg late in the year.
Poly could be the first California squad under 40.0, with the 40.39 appearing quite under control.

Friday's qualifying had Poly take prelim one by over 10 meters at 40.63, with University City looking sharp in prelim #2 with a 41.04 win, and Serra a strong 40.90 heat 3 victory.
In Saturday's Finals, Serra and University City were outside and inside of Poly in lane 5, and both ahead of the Jackrabbits through the first leg. Down the backstretch eventual 100 meter champ Darrel Rideaux put Poly into the lead, with Sammie Parker holding the lead around the turn, with anchor Kareem Kelly for Poly a meter lead over Serra. Kelly added a meter and a half to the margin into the tape, with the Jackrabbits recording a 40.45 and Serra 40.62, neither squad putting a dent in their team championship plans.

1600 Meter Relay
Dominguez (Compton) had raced 3:13.62 to handle Long Beach Poly (3:14.75) each weekend lately. Vallejo had shocked with a 3:13.94 in mid-
season up north. Taft (Woodland Hills) had three legitimate sub 48.0 people in a relay situation, with a 3:14.49 in winning the City meet by over three seconds. Morse was 3:16.79 in San Diego, with a flock of teams capable of sub-3:15.0.
Some very competitive heat running had Serra take Dominguez, St. Mary's, and Morse (3:14.05-3:14.31-3:14.44-3:15.08) in Heat 1. Taft was the heat 2 winner over Vallejo 3:15.73-3:16.04, with Notre Dame 3:16.66 the third prelim winner. A surprise was the 3:19.25 non-qualifier for Poly, with the talented sprint crew capable of a high finals placing, important team points they might need.
In the Finals, Dominguez and Vallejo were out quickest early in the first leg, with Taft (all three teams in red) charging hard and handing off first with Valljo next. A great second leg had Dominguez challenging Taft at the second hand-off, with the Compton school taking the lead through the third leg, which they stretched to some 20 meters at the final hand-off with a 47.7 effort.
The Dominuguez group had fifty meters half-way down the backstretch of the final leg, with Taft's Blaine Bussey racing 46.7 to pull close.
Dominguez's 3:12.64 is a new 1998 prep national leader, with Taft 3:13.21 in second. The competitive race was a great close to the meet!

High Jump
Only two athletes cleared higher than 6'6 in their Section Finals. 7'1 3/4 jumper Gabriel Zarate (Selma) continued his bizarre career, disappearing once again late in the season after clearing 6'08 in his league meet, with Escondido 7-footer Eric Hollins was not in this event (though he was here in the Triple Jump). A flock of people were in the 6'10 area on a good day--
Darren Marble, Quincy Brown, and Ricky Duff appeared to show the most consistency.
Friday's qualifying had Brandon Hazelett over 6'07, seven others at 6'06, with Chris Sims even squeaking in a 6'04.
Saturday's action had the bar start at 6'04, with Ryan Vincent failing at that height, and Chris Sims over there but three misses at 6'06.
Ricky Duf, Quincy Brown, Darren Marble, and Santosh Swamidass were over 6'06 on their first attempt, with Marble over 6'08 on his second, and Jason Gatewood the same height on his final attempt to sort out the

placings up top, as no one could go higher this day.

Pole Vault
Lemoore's Mark Unzueta, one of the nation's best, emerged from injury status late in the season, with a 16'3 clearance to win the Central title. There were a number of other 15' footers who would attempt to deal with the tricky Cerritos wind conditions. Respectable qualifying on this tricky pit with switching winds had twelve athletes over 14'08. The Finals competition had the potential to be a good one!
As the bar moved up early in the Finals through 13'08 and 14'02 there were no casualties, as some passed, with most first attempt clearances.
Graham Taft, Garret Largent, and Aarom Hampton went out when the bar went to 14'08, sorting out places six through eight. The "Jimmy's", Camilo and Radford, were clean with no misses through 14'08, but could not get over 15'02 to tie for fourth. Covina's Sam Boswell ended third when he was over 15'02 but failed at 15'06. Brandon Braunstein was a first-time clearance up through 15'06, with Mark Unzueta one miss at 15'06 before clearing his second attempt.
At 15'10 Braunstein continued to lead, sailing over on his first attempt for a persnal best, with a huge cheer from those closely following the event. Unzueta was over again on his second trial.
With the bar at 16'02, one inch below Unzueta's winning Central Section mark, Braunstein could not snake his way over, as Unzuenta cleared on his third attempt, content to end the competition there with a win instead of try for a higher height.

Long Jump
Jerry Preciado was 24'04w out of the Sac Joaquin with the longest qualifier from the previous weekend. Daniel Herman had a fine season, with a 23'11.5 to win San Diego, and 24'03.75 from ealier in the spring. Duran Archie had jumped 23'11.75 to win at Arcadia and a fine Central area season, with Robert Hall surprising with a 23'10.25w in the Sac Joaquin Meet. Super all- arounder BB Malone had been out to 23'11 in the Central Section and shown fine potential.
In Friday's qualifying, Jerry Preciado shook things up as the last jumper in the final flight on his first attempt, sailing 23'09.25 (+1.7) to take the lead from BB Malone, who had closed out flight two with the lead at 23'02.5 (+1.4). Dan Herman answered with a 23'05.5w (+2.5), as nine were over 22'10 in the prelim competition.
Saturday's Finals had Charles James open things up with 23'09.5 (+1.1) on his first attempt to throw out a challenge. Dan Littlefield responded with a 23'09.25w (+2.8) on his second jump, with BB Malone, a fine all-around sprinter and horizontal jumper, 24'01w (+2.1) on his second effort. Dan Herman was 23'05.5 (+.07) on his second attempt following Malone. Herman crept close with a 23'09.25w (+2.6) on his fourth jump, with Malone responding with a 23'11.25w (+2.4), as the top six scorers could not better their jumps during the final two rounds. Malone had a consistent and successful season with a fine close here.


Triple Jump
Jerriod Mack was 50'00.5w in the North Coast Section Meet, with Benson Jones improving to 49'00.75w there. Andy Badger rocketed out to

48'08 in the Southern Section Finals, with Brazilian foreign exchange student (this writer watched him in Havana, Cuba in the 1997 Pan American Junior Meet) 50'07 during the spring for Shafter HS, but was taken by Duran Archie (48- 08.75) in the Central Finals.
Prelims action on Friday had the top qualifiers come from the final flight of nine, with Andy Badger setting a personal best of 48'11.75 (+1.0) on his first attempt with that group. Benson Jones responded with a 49'05 (+1.8), and Jeriod Mack was 48'09 (+0.8) on his second jump to sort out the first three qualifying spots.
The Finals would be a "something else" competition. Duran Archie was 48'00.75w (+3.0) on his first attempt as jumper #5 to take an early lead. Jerriod Mack responded with a 49'04.25w (+2.9), with Andy Badger a 48'05w (+2.1). Benson Jones, who seemed like a 46-footer less than two months ago, exploded to 51'01.5w (+2.1) on the final jump of that first round! Vincent Ibia was 48'03.25w (+3.6) on his second jump, with Archie powering out to 50'00.5w (+3.2) during that series.
The Brazilian, Gerado Carrasco, was 48'02.75 (+1.5) on his third jump, with Mack creeping close with a 50'05w (+2.4) on his third effort. Mack continued to put his great series together, 50'09 (+1.1) on his fourth, 51'00 (+2.0) on his fifth, and 50'04.5 (+2.0) on his final effort, towering efforts that continued to fall just short of Jones' opener. The huge crowd on the backstretch this day was very appreciative of the efforts of the athletes in this group!

Shot Put
Van Mounts continued to look for inspiration to join Fallbrook's Brent Noon as the only Golden State preps ever over 70' in this event, with a 69'03.5 in late April's Arcadia Invite for a seasonal and national leading best. Joe Alexandrow was out to 63'04.25 in the Southern Section Meet with Lucas MacKay 61'01 and a fine peak at the Sac Joaquin Meet. Danny Ames was 64'08 at his Section Qualifier in San Diego, with Vili Makihele, Scot Wiegand, and Rhuben Williams out over 60' during the year.
Friday's qualifying was rather uneventful here. Dan Ames was 61'00.5, with Van Mounts surprisingly under 60'0 for probably the first time in a couple years at 59'01.25 as all nine qualifiers had 57'11.5 or better tosses.
On Saturday, Viki Makihele opened up at 58'05.25, with Joe Alexandrow out to 60'08.75 on his second toss. Van Mounts fouled his first effort, with a 66'07 that shut the door on everyone on round number two. With nothing to lose Mounts had four fouls in the Finals, with a 65'07.75 on his fourth throw his other fair effort. One can only hope that his post-season renewal of his rivalry with New Jersey's Kevin DiGiorgio (68-07.25 this season) will result in some competition and the 70-footer he has been looking for.

Discus
Reedus Thurmond had caught a perfect wind right down the line at Arcadia to launch a nation-leading 209'0 in late April, with training-mate Richard Legarra 194'09, improving Lucas McKay 194'03, and Danny Ames 191'01 capable of keeping the Serra star honest. It would be a good event!

Thurman led off Friday's qualifying with a 197'04 throw, responding to Ames's 192'0 on his first effort. Lucas MacKay joined the big throwing on Friday with a personal best 196'09 second toss as Legarra (183'08) and Adrian (182'10) also over 180'0. Saturday's Finals had Adrian 180'03, Legarra 185'08, and McKay 180'07 during the first round, with Thurmond's 188'05 taking the lead. McKay improved to 187'07 on his second toss, with Adrian 183'06 and Legarra 188'0 on their third efforts.
Thurmond exploded with a 202'1 fifth attempt to put his lead way out there. Legarra was 188'09 during that round, with Ames 188'05 and McKay 194'04 during the final round. Thurmond was 197'0 on his final effort to close out a sterling statewide twelfth grade season with a win here!