 |
the Internet home of high school track and field |
|
|
Outdoor Track 1999 |
  |
|
         
|
States - 1999 Outdoor - California State Meet
by Doug Speck Coach Terry Kennedy of Long Beach Wilson who tied with cross-town rival Long Beach Poly last year for the title, hopes to win his first outright title since 1996 this weekend. With a fine group of seniors, Joni Smith, Latrice Borders, and Kim Gildersleeve, on their ""farewell tour,"" a group of athletes who have probably accounted for more national indoor and outdoor relay records than any in U.S. prep history, Coach Kennedy hopes the individual and relay blend of this group, along with super soph Lashinda Demus, can bring home a team win. Long Beach Poly (SS) has two good relay squads, with some good veteran individuals such as Detra King (300LH) and Blessing Ufodiama (Triple Jump). JW North (Riverside) has Sprinter Tracee Thomas, Hurdlers Nichole Denby and April Holliverse, Discus Thrower Carri Soong, and two good relays. San Lorenzo (NCS) and Skyline (Oakland-OK) are prominent in a couple of areas should any of the above falter seriously. California's group of Girl sprinters have continued to improve all spring, with a flock of young flyers emerging to press senior stars Tania Woods (Skyline, Oakland) and Latrice Borders (Wilson, Long Beach-SS). Tania (7th 100 State 98 and 3rd 200) leads the State over 100 meters at 11.56 (#3 nationally) and 23.62 (also #3 in country), with Borders (5th in State last year over 100 and 200 meters) 11.72 and 24.06, both times among the top dozen in the entire nation. However, it has become crowded at the top, as junior Sani Roseby (Monterey-CCS) and a group of ninth and tenth graders are showing no respect at all! Roseby has raced 11.71 and 23.92, ranking among the country's top ten in both events, with Latalia Goins (International Studies, San Francisco) the nation's fastest frosh (and #4 overall) at 100 meters at 11.69! Soph 400 meter star Monique Henderson (Morse, San Diego) is #5 nationally over 200 meters at 23.84 (23.38w). Soph Porchea Carroll (Rio Mesa, Oxnard) is #5 nationally over 100 meters at 11.70 (11.51w) and 23.80w over 200. Goins is not the only ""super- frosh,"" with Tracee Thomas (North, Riverside-SS) 11.58w (11.89) and 23.20w (24.08) and late-season emergence of Angel Perkins (Gahr, Cerritos-SS) 11.69w- 23.68w the top two 200 meters seeds this weekend off their wind-aided Southern Section clockings. Rometra Craig (Mitty, San Jose-CCS) was 11.76w in the Section Finals behind Roseby, with Sierra Hauser-Price (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks-SS) 11.81 and 24.16 (24.06w), timewise among the top twenty in the nation at this point. This is a lot of good people on the track at once! There is going to be great sprint action here, the potential for more depth than ever seen at the State Meet level!!! The 400 meter event will feature a match-up that many have waited months for. Monique Henderson (Morse, San Diego) took last year's State title and had a seasonal best of 52.93, one of the fastest frosh times ever run! Nakiya Johnson (Ayala, Chino Hills- SS) was second in State, then continued amazing improvement into the summer, where she ended up second in the World Junior (under 20) Championships in France in 52.09. The 52.09 makes her the number ten U.S. High School performer ever, with improvement from up around 57 the year before marking her as the nation's most improved prep athlete during the 1998 year. Henderson and Johnson bring slightly different tools to the table, with Henderson blazing speed, 11.71 100m and 23.84 200m bests, with a 23.38w 200 meter time run with a barely wind-aided 2.1 meter per second breeze the top high school time run in the entire nation this year. The taller Johnson exudes total power as she drives through the one lap event. Henderson has raced 52.91 this season with Johnson 53.02 to rank 1-2 nationally at this point of the season. How each approaches the final will be very interesting to observe. It should be noted that Johnson has never beaten Henderson in high school competition. Laloni Anderson (Westchester) has run 54.00 (#5 time nationally) with the LA City title, with Joni Smith (Wilson, Long Beach-SS 3rd State 98) 54.05 last week (#6 in U.S.). Improving Aisha Margain (San Lorenzo-NCS 5th State 98) was an area winner at 54.90, with Central Coast Section titlest Maggie Vessey (Soquel) 55.32 and Quiana Webb (Morningside, Inglewood-SS) 55.43 last weekend. A bit of State history can take place this weekend over 800 meters. Lindsay Hyatt (Placer, Auburn-SJ) leads the nation last year and this (2:06.39 and 2:07.29), with an attempt by the local star to join all-time prep greats Marion Jones (100 meters 1990- 93) and Natalie Kaaiawahia (Shot Put 1980-83) in being the only California female athletes to win an event each of the four years of their high school years! With over three seconds on the field coming into this weekend a bit of history is truly possible here for the charming Sac Joaquin Section athlete. Katie Hotchkiss (Mission San Jose, Fremont-NCS) 2:10.91, Liz Morse (Corona del Mar, Newport Beach-SS) 2:11.28, Katie Scarlett (Woodland-SJ 5th 98 State) 2:11.36, Kim Gildersleeve (Wilson, Long Beach-SS 2nd State 98) 2:11.66, Spring Dawson (Vallejo-SJ) 2:11.69, Jessica Marr (Hayward-NCS) 2:11.78, and Camille Dredge (Torrey Pines, Encinitas) 2:11.79 are all seasoned two laps stars. Frosh stars Shannon Rowbury (Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Francisco-CCS) 2:13.30 and Jenny Aldridge (Maria Carrillo, Santa Rosa-NCS) 2:13.46 shocked with their Section Finals improvement, and Arlene Bledsoe (Poly, Long Beach-SS) 2:12.73 was third at State last year at 2:11.05, but get ready to celebrate Hyatt's success at the end of this event! In the recent tradition of Julia Stamps, Kristen Gordon, and Kim Mortensen, California distance runners are the nation's tops! History will hold true here, with great groups in the 1600 and 3200! Spectacular soph, Sara Bei (Montgomery, Santa Rosa-NCS), was a double winner last year in these two events, with 4:55.58 and 10:28.75 in qualifying, but she will face some stern competition. Some wicked finishers lurk in the wings! National 1600 meter leader (4:47.94) Alejandra Barrientos (San Lorenzo Valley, Felton-CCS) amazed at the early April Arcadia Invitational, racing 65 seconds for final 400 and 31 for the final half lap, showing finishing quickness unseen lately since National Mile Record Holder Polly Plumer (University, Irvine) from the early 1980's. Lauren Fleshman (Canyon, Canyon Country- SS) went an unpressed 67 for the final 400 during her nation- leading 10:21.36 3200 at Arcadia, with a 65.6 final lap in her 10:33.58 Section winner last weekend. How the above mentioned athletes approach the tactics in their events will be very interesting to watch, with one wondering how the Bei-Montgomery camp will deal with challengers who appear quicker in the finishing sprint. There is back-up here also. Sophomore Angela Sanchez (Capuchino, San Bruno-CCS) was 4:51.97 (nation's #4 clocking of year! and 4th here last year) behind Barrientos' 4:50.05 in the CCS Meet, with Spring Dawson (Vallejo-SJ 3rd State 98 1600) 4:55.76 and Julie Komosinski (Torrey Pines, Encinitas) 4:56.43 also among the nation's top twenty over four laps. Anita Siraki (Hoover, Glendale-SS) is the country's #7 3200m runner at 10:30.81, with Katie Brizgys (Palo Alto-CCS 2nd 98 State) 10:35.44 in the top dozen. Other potential high placers are Lauren Gustafson (Mills, Millbrae-CCS) 10:40.52, Courtney Baird (Helix, La Mesa) 10:41.88, improving Alex Guerrero (Hughson-SJ) 10:45.76, and we cannot forget Miss Consistency in the big meets, Trina Cox (Santa Rosa-NCS), third in last year's State meet and 10:46.35 last week. The Hurdle events are dynamite in 1999! Lashinda Demus (Wilson, Long Beach- SS) put it all together in the Section Finals in the 300 Meter Lows, blasting a 40.4 clocking that is the number three High School clocking ever behind a couple you may know, Golden Staters Leslie Maxie 40.18 and Janeene Vickers 40.26, with the 40.4 a new National Soph class record. Nichole Denby (JW North, Riverside- SS) is number two nationally in the 100 Meter Hurdles (13.87), with a short career in the longer barrier event already having her down to 42.08 (#3 in the country!). Nichole was runner-up to Natasha Neal in the 100 Meter Hurdles at State last year. Demus was 13.93w in chasing the 13.54w of Denby in the Southern Section Finals, with the duo, along with April Holliverse (JW North, Riverside- SS 14.05w), North Coach Charles Leathers' latest utterly amazing tale of development in a short time, all thinking ""team-team- team"" as they focus on these races. Dana Bethel (Mission Viejo- SS 6th State 1998 100mH 14.11 nation's #2 soph), and quick improving Latoya Phillips (Mitty, San Jose- CC) 14.18w will press for high placings in the short Hurdles race, with Detra King (Poly, Long Beach-SS 3rd 98 300mLH) among the nation's top ten in there at 42.3. Becky Rauth (Harvard- Westlake, North Hollywood-SS) 43.49, Daneeka Torrey (Taft, Woodland Hills-LA) 43.74, and Danielle Perry (Murrieta Valley-SS) 43.94 have run below 44 seconds in the longer event. Relays will be hot!! San Leandro (NCS) leads the nation in the 400 Meter race with their 45.95, with Long Beach Wilson (SS) narrowly missing their National Record 1600 meter recrod set in last year's State Meet with a 3:37.31 Section run! Long Beach Poly, #3 in the nation at 46.24, will press San Leandro in the short event. In case you are wondering what happened to Wilson (LB) here, their 46.04 squad dropped the baton in Section qualifying. JW North (Riverside- SS) 46.65, surprising Mitty (San Jose-CCS) 46.84, Skyline (Oakland-OK) 46.91 are among the nation's top twenty teams with Poly, North, and Skyline all having some mathematical chance at the team title should Long Beach Wilson self- destruct along the way. Nice to have meaning to the events! In the longer event Long Beach Poly has run 3:46.06 (nation's #4 clocking), with San Lorenzo (NCS) 3:48.41, Ayala (Chino Hills-SS) 3:48.43, Taft (Woodland Hills-LA) 3:48.64, Morningside (Inglewood-SS) 3:49.92, and Westchester (LA) 3:49.65 all among the nation's top twenty squads. Others in the field can run under 3:50, but the main team champion candidates, Wilson and Poly (Long Beach), San Lorenzo, and North (Riverside) should all be here on Saturday night! In the High Jump, great all-around star Ann-Marie Turpin (Simi Valley-SS) reached 5-10.5 last week, making her the nation's #4 prep perfomer for the year. A flock of jumpers will chase her. Susan Schaap (Yreka-No 5th State 98), Michelle Mahlke (Marymount, L.A. 8th 98 state), Edison (Huntington Beach- SS) freshman twins Bianca and Rachael Ziemann, Cynthia Mallory (Milpitas-CCS), Kim Stone (York, Monterey-CCS), and Spring Harris (St. Mary's, Berkeley-NCS) have all cleared 5-08 lately with good competitive seasons to match! Schquay Brignac (Cleveland, Reseda- LA) was fourth at State last June, with Aoife Keane (St. Ignatius, San Francisco-CCS) fifth, and Nikki Avery (Lemoore-CE) ninth from last year's state competition. This will be a good field! The Pole Vault has really arrived! The State has a flock of 12-foot and better Vaulters who will make up the best group gathered anywhere in the nation this season. Kathleen Donoghue (Rancho Bernardo, San Diego) was third in this competition last year behind State Record setter, teammate Tracy O'Hara (12-08), with Kathleen matching that record with her nation-leading mark from this spring. Leora Ward (Peninsula, Rolling Hills-SS 6th State 98) 12-01, will battle 12-0 stars Laura Chen (Temple City- SS), Natalie Dennison (Rancho Bernardo, SD), and Debbie Samson (Mayfair, Lakewood-SS) for the top placings. The horizontal (Long and Triple) jumps have fine groups. Sani Roseby (Monterey-CCS) leads the rank sheet for this weekend in the Long Jump at 19- 05.75w, with a good chance for sprint wins and a victory here for the talented junior. Porchea Carroll (Rio Mesa, Oxnard-SS) 19-02 (19-03.5w), Dana Bethel (Mission Viejo-SS) 19-02w, improved Jimia White (Casa Roble, Orangevale-SJ) 18- 11.5w, Tiffany Jones (Eisenhower, Rialto-SS 5th State 98) 18- 10.5w (18-06.5), and Jamara Smith (Logan, Union City-NCS) 18- 10.25 (18-11.25w) have solid seasonal records. Dee Scott (South, Bakersfield-CE) was fourth in last year's State competition with an 18-06 99 best. Blessing Ufodiama (Poly, Long Beach- SS), state runner-up last June, has the sixth farthest jump in the nation in the Triple Jump with her 40-05.25 this season. Tinishia Johnson (Mitty, San Jose- CCS), fifth last June at State, is improving quickly after a successful basketball season, out to 39-07.75 last weekend in Section action. Lauren Chesnut (Laguna Creek, Elk Grove-SJ) has a good seasonal record with a 40-02.5w seasonal best, one of the top twenty marks in the country under any conditions. Soph Trinety White (Marysville-SJ) was 39-00.5 at the Section Finals competition. Brittny Roberts (Bullard, Fresno) has jumped 40-07.5w (38-11.75) with the Central Section title this spring, and Heater Contreras (Sutter-No) out to 40-06w and a 38- 09.5 to win her area championship. The Girls weight events will be some great competition by a super crew! Jill Camarena (Woodland-SJ) is the nation's top junior Shot Putter (49-08 #3 overall) and among the nation's top ten in the Discus at 158-05. She is certainly not home free, however, as competition abounds! Karen Freberg (Arroyo Grande- SS), latest star out of Coach Robert Budke's powerful Central Coast program, has thrown 48-05 in the Shot (nation's top soph while we are on the ""class"" thing), with April Burton (Bakersfield-CE), last year's State Discus runner-up, with a 161- 01 best (nation's #6 thrower) is finishing out a great prep weight career here this weekend. Carri Soong (North, Riverside- SS) is also among the nation's top ten Discus throwers at 160- 09, and hopes to help her team's title hopes with a big effort. L'Orangerie Crawford (Santa Monica-SS) is among the nation's top dozen Shot Putters (46-10.5), with 98 State fifth placer Jessica Cosby (Cleveland, Reseda-LA), who has quickly recovered from knee surgery and wonthe LA City Finals at 45-06.5. Sheni Russell (Ramona, Riverside- SS) was 8th in the State Discus last year and threw a fine 141-03 at the Section Finals. Krissy Schelir (Sierra, Tollhouse-CE) has had a good season to go with her 143- 02 best. Someone from Arroyo Grande always shows up in these events, and this year it is Amanda Andrews (143-08) book-ending teammate Freberg in the Discus.
|
|
This Web site is maintained by
John Dye [email protected]
|
