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the Internet home of high school track and field |
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Outdoor Track 1999 |
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States - 1999 Outdoor - California State Meet
by Doug Speck Wow! One of the highlights of any prep sports year is the California State High School Track and Field Meet. Just look through the National Records listed in today's program. The names of the best athletes ever produced by U.S. High Schools are dominated by the Golden State. Former California preps, Marion Jones, Denean Howard, Kim Mortensen, Leslie Maxie, Juliana Yendork, Suzy Powell, Natalie Kaaiawahia, and relay groups from St. Bernard (Playa del Rey 400m) Wilson (Long Beach 1600m) have U.S. National Federation records on the female side, with Calvin Harrison, Michael Granville, Michael Mastalir, George Porter, James Stallworth, Charles Mayfield, and the Hawthorne 1600 meter relay group still holding prep bests for the Boys. The success and history of these stars are just a reminder of this most anticipated athletic event we are all lucky to be attending this weekend here at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento. Anyone here two years ago will never forget the St. Bernard Girls group who became U.S. prep history's first ever 400 meter relay group ever under 45 seconds with a wholesale destruction of the former high school record in the very first event of our inspirational state meet finals, with no one within a half a second of their 44.70 to this date. Sit back, we have some great team struggles described below with a ton of great athletes in every event with these two afternoons and evenings of action certainly a highlight of anybody's sports viewing year. The balance of team and individuals in the sport of Track and Field creates an interesting blend. Outstanding individuals compete along with those from teams in sufficient number to possibly snare the team title to give the weekend an interesting ebb and flow of individual and team fortunes that add a special backdrop to our viewing. This year on the Boys' side it appears that Coach Don Norford's Long Beach Poly (SS) team is in the driver's seat, with a squad attempting to win its third consecutive title, and give Norford a total of six team titles on the male side since 1992. Whew, as the 1980's were the decade of Coach Kye Courtney and Hawthorne, the 90's will be remembered as the Long Beach Poly decade. However, the Jackrabbits do have to get out on the track this weekend and they will face fierce competition. Vallejo (Sac Joaquin Section) has great relay teams, and solid individuals in Rico Hatter and Giovanni Miles, with Dorsey (LA) and Chino relay teams and individual athletes in a number of events that are capable of totaling a good number of points. With Southern Section teams rarely going through meets with Qualifying one day and Finals the next, the state meet is always a particularly challenging setting for teams that need to depend on solid performances from a number of athletes to pull a win off. We will see, and it will be a lot of fun! The name of the game in the sport is speed! Long Beach Poly is a model urban high school, hoping to book end the school year with a State Cross-Country title in the Fall and a Track and Field win here where the scoring emphasis will be a few miles short of the 5000 meters the Harrier group traveled in competition in Fresno. Kareem Kelly and Darrell Rideaux are the Jackrabbit leaders this spring. Between them they form the best 1-2 sprint punch ever at a California high school. Kelly rocketed 10.30w and 20.61w to win the Southern Section titles last week, with Rideaux 10.30w and 20.73w next. It took a microscope to separate the duo in the 100, with 40.14 (#3 All- Time Team in U.S. Prep History!) and 3:13.76 relays wins that brought in other talented Jackrabbit stars. Rideaux took the State 100 title last year and was third over 200, with Kelly setting a New State Meet Record 20.76 with his 200 title, so the experience is there. Heats and finals over two days are tough here, but if the act holds together at all Poly should go home with the Boys Team Plaque for the third year in a row. Warren Rogers (Serra, Gardena- SS) was third to the Poly duo last week at 10.36w and 20.91w, with 10.42 and 20.88 wind legal clockings two weeks back, and a fifth here over 200 meters last year. With their wind- legal bests, Rogers (2nd 200, 3rd 100), Rideaux (6th 100 and 10th 200), and Kelly (5th 200) sit high on the U.S. yearly national lists, with the possibilities for some great sprinting in a stadium that through the decades has seen some of history's top dash action, High School through Olympic level. Claude Melvin (Brea, Brea-Olinda-SS) 10.40w and Micheal Mitchell (Paramount-SS) 20.98 (that won over over Kelly and Rideaux over 200 meters two weeks back), can also fly. LA City Champ Machtier Clay (Carson) was fourth in the 100 at State last June, with Atari Callen (De La Salle, Concord-NCS) seventh, and Lamont Long (University City, San Diego) ninth. James Johnson (Tulare Western-CE) looked good in a Section 21.49 200 win, with Larry Miles (Crawford, San Diego) 21.44 and Haddon Weatherbourne (Dorsey, LA) 21.45 probably in the medal hunt somewhere. Over one lap, 400 meters, Blaine Bussey (Taft, Woodland Hills-LA) has been very hot lately, with the third place finisher from last June's State affair down to 46.3 this year, the nation's number two prep clocking. He has a number of timings under 47.0 in the last month, with a 46.97 to take the LA City title. Michael Mitchell (Paramount-SS) was 47.54 to take the Southern title, with Gus Ezell (Roosevelt, Fresno-CE) 47.67 in an upset Central Section win. Giovanni Miles (Vallejo-SJ) won out of lane one over a top field that included most all the state's top runners at Arcadia in April, and ran 47.70 last weekend. Vallejo is one of the teams that lurks in the wings should Long Beach Poly run into trouble. Travon Walton (Chino- SS) has run 47.41, with Raheem Barnes (Gardena) winning the LA City title in 47.76 and placing seventh place at state last June. Maurice Douglas (San Diego) has run 47.71, with Daniel Mentu (Antelope Valley, Lancaster) 47.77, and Reginal Allen (McLane, Fresno-CE) 47.7 under 48.0. In the 800 meters Chris Burns (Ontario-SS) is the top placing returnee from the State Meet, with a field-leading 1:53.72 clocking this year. Sean Ricketts (Rancho Bernardo, San Diego) 1:54.11, Jared Emmons (Vista-SD) 1:54.20, and Nick Thornton (Rancho Buena Vista, Vista-SD) 1:54.50 have toughened up racing each other in San Diego. Brandon Shaw (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley-SS) 1:54.36, Andre Young (Marshall, LA) 1:54.52, Ben Armal (Damien, La Verne-SS) 1:54.74, and Stephen Nestinger (Santa Clara-CCS) 1:54.86 are others under 1:55.0. D.J. Ozan (Del Mar, San Jose) has run 1:55.19 and was eighth in State last year. The 1600 and 3200 meter events are shaping up very nicely! In the four lap run, Justin Willingham (Beyer, Modesto-SJ) has patiently come back from mid-season illness difficulties to blaze 4:12.25 in the Sac Joaquin Section Meet, with Evan Fox (West Hills, Santee- SD) edging Marcus Chandler (Serra-SD), 6th last year at State, 4:13.10-4:13.50 in San Diego. Fox leads the State with one of the nation's top ten times of 4:11.68 from two weekends ago. James DeBruhl (Chino-SS) was very impressive in his solo 4:13.42 Section win, showing 48 second 400 meter speed and a wicked kick that could win it all with good positioning. Josh Roddy (Manteca-SJ), missed Cross-Country due to injury, wowed the section crowd with a 4:13.70 behind Willingham. Ryan Mack (Ukiah- NCS) was eighth in this meet last year, with Andre Young (Marshall-LA), the LA City champ at 4:17.55, ninth. The 3200 has become very exciting lately! Southern Section juniors Augie Escobar (Villa Park) and Josh Spiker (Ventura) battled to an amazing finish a week ago, with Escobar recording an 8:56.23- 8:56.66 win for the nation's top two times! With six underclass athletes in this field under 9:15, this weekend and the next year could be very exciting in the distances! Oswaldo Pina (Lakewood-SS) is the nation's fastest soph off his 9:05.57 last week, with Jose Herrera (Loara, Anaheim-SS) the top returnee from last year in this meet, in seventh last June, with 9:10.47 in qualifying. Marcus Chandler (Serra) nipped Matt McInvale (Ramona) 9:11.40-9:13.10 in San Diego, with Ben Morales (San Benito, Hollister) 9:14.95 in winning the CCS. David Ulibarri (Sierra, Manteca- SJ) showed a dangerous kick earlier in the season in his 9:13.70 best, with Jason Finch (Granite Hills, El Cajon-SD) 9:14.03 and Fernando Cabada (Buchanan, Clovis-CE) 9:14.39 challenging the top pack. In the 110 Meter High Hurdles defending Champ Marcell Allmond (St. Paul, Santa Fe Springs-SS), probably the nation's top all-around prep athlete, raced 13.68w to take fast-rising Christian Rhodes (Loyola, L.A. 13.77w) in his section finals. Charles Ryan (McClymonds, Oakland) has run 13.88 with a fine seasonal record. LA Dorsey stars Greg Lee (14.01 4th State 98) and Terry Ellis (14.14 98 State runner-up), and Rico Hatter (Vallejo-SJ) (14.03) have strong seasonal records. 1998 State fifth place finisher Terry Jenkins (Muir, Pasadena-SS) looked sharp in a 14.01w Section Finals run. The 300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles feature an interesting story from Muir's Terry Jenkins. Two weeks ago he nearly went to his knees while staggering over the final hurdle in the Southern Section divisional meet, barely making the State Qualifying competition with a lane nine seed. Given a reprieve, he was off to the races last week, never seeing anyone or looking back on the way to a flawless 37.16 state leading effort. Marcell Allmond (St. Paul, Santa Fe Springs-SS) has run 37.20 with a great season in both hurdles, and Rico Hatter (Vallejo- SJ) at 37.52 have very solid credentials. Tony Golston (Point Loma- SD) surprised with his 37.40 Section Finals win, with Bruce Giron (Monte Vista, Danville-NCS) a solid season to back up his 37.72 Section finals championship. The Relays often tell the tale of the team championships at this level. Many times a top team has come in smoking and a slight injury or dropped baton totally turning over the apple cart and sending the prognositcators back to the drawing board. Long Beach Poly (SS) meets the competition ""heads-up"" here, with U.S. Prep History #3 clocking ever in the 400 relay (40.14) a week ago that took down Hawthorne's All-Time State best of 40.24 from 1989! Poly was 3:13.76 in the 1600 baton event last weekend to lead the rank list for this competition. Super sprinters Kelly and Rideaux lead Poly who obviously looked very sharp last weekend! Vallejo (SJ) raced 3:13.61 to win at Arcadia against the Poly #1 team, with Coach Mike Wilson's team spread across the board in a number of events should Poly falter a bit here as a team or in the individual events! Vallejo is 41.16 in the short stick run, with Dorsey 41.10 to win the LA Finals, and a dangerous University City (San Diego) team 41.24 in edging San Diego 41.25 in their Section Finals run. Gardena (LA) was 3:14.08 in the 4x400 to nip Dorsey 3:14.66 in the LA City Finals. A warm Saturday evening in Sacramento (our weather prayers have started!) could lift us out of our seats with either the 400 meter stick event first on the program and/or send us home with a warm glow after the final four lap baton race! No seven-footers thus far this year. Athletes seem to enjoy this facility, so maybe Gabe Zarate (Parlier-CE), who leads the state at 6-11.25, and won at his Section Finals at 6-10, will glide over 7-0. During a checkered career he has cleared as high as 7-02, but this is his first state meet ever. He has the ability to arch over the bar like few athletes ever so keep an eye on him. Challengers include Jeremy Richards (Righetti, Santa Maria-SS), who improved to 6-10 to win the Southern title a week back, Preston Norman (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley-SS), who has been over 6-10 in his first year in the sport, Kevin Weaver (McKinleyville-NCS) Section champ with a 6-10 clearance, LA City winner Fernando Lopez (Taft, Woodland Hills) with a best of 6-10, and San Diego Champion Jason Gatewood (Rancho Buena Vista, Vista- SD) is a section winner who comes in at 6- 09. In the Pole Vault the State has one 16-footer, with Sam Boswell Covina (SS) adding an inch to his seasonal best with a 16-01 Section Finals win. Boswell was third in last year's State Meet one place behind Brandon Braunstein (Newark-NCS) 15-10 and 15-06 thus far this season. Jason Lueck (St. Ignatius, San Francisco- CCS), Logan Odden (Marina, Huntington Beach-SS), and Adrian Carbajal (Mt. Pleasant, San Jose-CCS) have all cleared 15- 07 and are from solid field event programs. Southern Section stars Jeff Ryan (Huntington Beach), Dustin Morrison (Alta Loma), and Troy Becker (Malibu) have all cleared 15-06 this year. Adam Giovanetti (Lemoore-CE) has a 15-01 best, with Sac Joaquin stars Eldwin Chappel (Modesto), and Tung Nguyen (Bear Creek, Stockton) adding personal best 15-0 clearances in their Section Finals. The Boys Long and Triple Jump have showed steady development, with five 24-0 Long Jumpers and five 48-0 Triple Jumpers. Oliver Jackson (Royal, Simi Valley- SS) has topped all comers all season long with a 24-04.75 seasonal best (#6 mark in nation), with his first loss coming last week in the Section Finals. Robert Kennedy (El Camino, Sacramento-SJ), 24-05w (23- 10 wind legal) was second to Jackson in their only meeting, with his best coming last week in area qualifying. Super soph, Paul Brown (Sierra, Tollhouse-SJ), has a 24-04.75w best and strong competitive record, with Tony Allmond (St. Paul, Santa Fe Springs) 23-10.25 (24-02.5w) the Southern Section winner last week. Vince Ibia (Silver Creek, San Jose) has been out to 24- 03w with another strong competitive record. Jarius Ellis (Blair, Pasadena-SS) 23-11w, Michael Mitchell (Paramount-SS) 23- 09.75w, and soph Chris Morgan (Taft, Woodland Hills- LA) 23-09w were strong in Section qualifiers a week ago. Improved Foluso Akinradewo (Clovis West, Fresno- CE) helped his team win the Section title with his come-through 49-03 effort (#10 prep mark nation 1999) in the Triple Jump to lead the field. Vince Ibia (Silver Creek, San Jose) 48-05.75 (49- 03w) is also very strong here, with Kyle Carano (Hoover, Fresno- CE), at 48-07 having a great season so far. Derrick Wells (University, LA) 48-05w, Tony Ortiz (Helix, La Mesa-SD) 48-01.5, Royce Jennings (Bakersfield- CE) 47-10, Rodney Woods (Littlerock-SS) 47-08.5w, and Robert Nunn (Gahr, Cerritos-SS) 47-08.5 with seasonal results indicating medal possibilities. In the weight events it has been a super year. Luke McKay (Hughson-SJ) has thrown 62-09 in the Shot and 203-10 (#2 nationally) in the Discus. Luke and was the 1998 State runner-up in the Discus and trails only Joe Weber (Pacific, San Bernardino- SS) (63-11) on the yearly State shot list (McKay was 6th in the State Shot last year). Bernard Grady (Scripps Ranch, San Diego) has been very consistent in the Shot (61- 06.5), with Josh Robb (Shasta-No) (61-02) winning over team-mate Greg Huston (61-05 seasonal best) for that treasured single spot out of the Northern Section. Sam Lightbody (Huntington Beach 60-08.25 SP and 195-11 DT #7 nationally) has had a fine spring and will be a threat in both events. 1998 State Discus placers Dam Ames (El Capitan, Lakeside-SD) 4th last year, with 192-00 99 best, and Tim Adrian (Moorpark-SS 184-00 99 best, 5th in 98, will be dangerous. Darrell Barnett (Leuzinger, Lawndale-SS) was an impressive 186- 06 in his Section, with Travis Pendleton (Esperanza, Anaheim-SS 183-07), Jerome Stevens (Rio Mesa, Oxnard-SS 183-01), and junior Rusty Price (Atwater-SJ) 182-00, also solid. 1998 State Shot Put Finalists Rodney Leisle (Ridgeview, Bakersfield-CE 58-11 4th 98) and Peter Bjorkland (Los Altos-CCS 60- 11 9th 98) will be competitive once again) in the Shot Put. These will be two dynamite events!
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