Track and field: Cathedral’s Carroll takes top honors in boys’ 100

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Randall Carroll of L.A. Cathedral is officially the fastest high school runner in the state. Carroll just blazed to victory in a wind-legal state-leading 10.42 seconds, and it wasn’t even close Saturday afternoon at the CIF state championships at Cerritos College. Carroll, third in state in the event last season, finished well ahead of runner-up Charles Saseun of Rancho Cucamonga (10.63), who finished second last season as well.

Let’s see if Carroll can get that second victory in the 200. He’ll have tough company in Joey Hughes of Long Beach Poly, who will not only be running for individual honors, but also for key points in the team title race.

Everybody can’t be fast today, though. Ashton Purvis of Oakland St. Elizabeth won the girls’ 100 in 11.92, the slowest time since the meet went to the metric system in 1980. Purvis, who has a best of 11.74 seconds this season, ran into a pretty stiff headwind of -1.9 meters per second.

Jessica Davis of Highland, another sophomore, was second in 11.97, setting up a great rivalry for years to come. Top qualifier Valexsia Droughn, a freshman at Rio Mesa, got off to a poor start and finished eighth in 12.30.

The boys’ pole vault has been going on for the last 45 minutes or so. I haven’t paid much attention with all that’s happening on the track, but one competitor just missed the mat and landed feet first on the end of the runway, where he laid for a few minutes before walking away under his own power. Another snapped his pole attempting his jump -- a crack could be heard throughout the stadium.

Mothers don’t let your babies grow up to be pole vaulters.

-- Dan Arritt

Note: For up-to-the-minute results of the CIF state championship meet, check here.