Claremont’s Kori Carter shows rare quality while qualifying at Southern Section prelims

Claremont’s Kori Carter didn’t celebrate after she won the 100-meter hurdles in 13.90 seconds at the Southern Section Division II preliminaries at Moorpark High.

Instead she approached a complete stranger who had fallen during the race and was crying.

“We share a hurdle bond,” Carter said of Rebecca Doty, who had blood dripping down her leg.

Carter grabbed Doty’s hand, hugged her and sat with her while she iced her leg.

“I have more races to do,” Carter told Doty, who competes for Hemet. “I can’t worry about you being sad.”

Doty’s mood improved after that act of kindness, and Carter went on to qualify for next weekend’s section championships at Cerritos College in her two other events, the 300-meter hurdles (43.66) and the 100-meter dash (12.28).

Sam Barkley, younger brother of USC quarterback Matt Barkley, ran a personal best in the 110-meter hurdles with a wind-aided time of 14.41, the fastest qualifying time in the event. The Mater Dei junior also had the fastest time in the 300-meter hurdles, 37.98.

Before every race, Matt Barkley sends his little brother a text message. Saturday’s must have been extra special.

“It was words of encouragement,” Sam said.

Jenna Vincej from Saugus won the 400-meter race with a time of 56.22 seconds, though she said it wasn’t as easy as it may have looked.

“Oh my God,” Vincej said. “I felt like my legs were going to fall off.”

In the boys’ 400, Josh Mance from Chino Don Lugo coasted to victory in 47.46. Mance, the state leader in that race, was not even out of breath when he finished.

“I felt good,” he said, smiling.

Oxnard Rio Mesa posted the fastest time in the 4x100 relay, 41.38, but the team had a close call. Jordan Jamison, who ran the first leg, said he had to scream at the second runner to slow down during their handoff, which they narrowly completed within the legal distance.

Gardena Serra wasn’t so fortunate. Its 400 relay team, which is the fastest in the state, was disqualified in the Division IV preliminaries at Carpenteria High.

“That opens a huge window for us,” said Jamison, who had the fastest qualifying times in the 100 and 200 meters, 10.50 and 21.34.

Rio Mesa also dominated in the girls’ sprints. Valexsia Droughn ran the 100 in 11.78 and the 200 in 24.35, the fastest times of the day. The school’s 4x100 relay squad finished ninth overall with a qualifying time of 48.99. Carter High had the fastest time, 47.71.

In the 800-meter race, Valencia’s Sean Krinik had the fastest boys’ qualifying time, 1:51.22, and Redondo Union’s Chloe Curtis had the fastest girls’ time, 2:12.

Evan Barr and Clint Rosser of Loyola, Scott Cook of Mater Dei and Max Van Bergh and Mark Sakioka of Newport Harbor cleared 14 feet 6 inches in the boys’ pole vault.

melissa.rohlin@latimes.com