Track and field: Hughes beats three Dominguez runners to 400 finish

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State leader Joey Hughes, pictured right, of Long Beach Poly was half a second off his season’s best, but it was still good enough for him to emerge as the Southern Section-Toyota Division I champion and No. 1 qualifier for Friday’s Masters meet.

Hughes ran the 400 meters in 47.47 seconds, beating three runners from Compton Dominguez -- Leon Dillihunt, Aaron Hestor and Kivon Grant -- to the finish line.

Duane Walker won the the Division II title, Phillip Rivera of Apple Valley the Division III title, and Blayne Lewis of St. Bonaventure the Division IV title with a time of 49.20 seconds, which failed to qualify him for the Masters.

Mark Watley of Crespi appeared to win the Division III race, but he was disqualified, apparently for stepping outside his lane three times. He had run a 48.16, which was fifth-best overall; his failure to advance allowed Marquis Pilcher of Eisenhower to move into the Masters meet.

Boys’ 400 meters qualifiers for the Masters Meet:

1. Joey Hughes, L.B. Poly, Div. I, 47.47
2. Leon Dillihunt, Dominguez, Div. I, 47.61
3. Aaron Hestor, Dominguez, Div. I, 47.81
4. Duane Walker, Compton, Div. II, 47.95
5. Phillip Rivera, Apple Valley, III, 48.62
6.Dewayne Booker, San Bernardino, Div. II, 48.54
7.Bryan Adams, Roosevelt, Div. II, 48.82
8. Kivon Grant, Dominguez, Div. I, 49.07
9. Marquis Pilcher, Eisenhower, Div. II, 49.09

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image by Glenn Koenig/Los Angeles Times

-- Editor Bob: For complete Southern Section divisonal championship results, check here.