Track and field: Flawless baton handoff for qualifying Crespi

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Just hustled off the Warren High track where I chatted to quicksilver Mikio Island -- the Crespi anchor in the boys’ 400-meter relay at the Southern Section-Toyota Division III preliminaries. ‘Safe baton handoffs,’ Island huffed. ‘That was our goal.’

‘Were you more worried about the handoffs than the running?’ I asked.

‘Always. Just get the baton and the running takes care of itself.’

Island was right -- it took care of itself as the Crespi quartet snared batons, flawlessly, and clocked in at a speedy 42.71 seconds, which ranked second behind Inglewood’s 42.56. That was also a qualifying mark for next Saturday’s division finals.

Bishop Amat won the girls’ 400 relay at 48.64, while Laguna Hills came in second at 48.89.

-- Anthony Stitt