Prep Track MID-VALLEY LEAGUE : Greene Blacks Out, Falls Over Hurdle, but Finishes Second

The most notable performer Friday at Van Nuys High did not finish first.

That Granada Hills’ Arvis Greene even was able to finish his race, the 330-yard intermediate hurdles, was amazing.

Greene, a 6-0, 140-pound senior, had qualified with a 38.6, fastest of all entrants by three seconds.

He clipped the first hurdle, but maintained his stride and moved into a comfortable lead down the stretch.

But Greene quickly started losing ground and even fell behind Birmingham’s Derrick Solomon as they approached the last hurdle.

Greene hit the hurdle, took a violent spill and landed on his shoulders. He somehow got up--albeit dazed--and staggered across the finish in second place at 42.6 seconds. Solomon won with a 40.03.

Green crossed the line, then collapsed to the ground.

“He was out cold, for about 15 seconds,” said Norm Raffish, who was shooting photos and revived Greene by putting drops of water on him. “When he came to he said, ‘Is the race over?’ ”

Still shaken, Greene was carried to the bleachers to rest. About 20 minutes after the fall he said, “I feel pretty good.”

Greene said he had the flu all week and had practiced just twice.

“And all I had to eat today was half a tuna-fish sandwich at 10 a.m.,” he said.

Greene said he blacked out after the second hurdle. “I was trying to breathe, but I couldn’t get any oxygen. I remember running the first hurdle and the second, but I don’t have any idea what happened after that.

“I don’t remember the fall. I just remember being walked back to the bench.”

He was scheduled to be part of Granada Hills’ mile relay team later in the meet, but was pulled because of his fall.

Greene said he wasn’t too discouraged. After all, he still had qualified in the event for the City quarterfinals, to be held next Thursday and Friday at Birmingham High. And, he had won the 120-yard high hurdles earlier in the day in 14.93 seconds.

While Kelly Peacock’s performance was not as dramatic as Greene’s, it was still memorable. Peacock, from Van Nuys, set league records in the long jump (17-9 1/2) and in the 330 intermediate hurdles (45.93). She also won the 100-meter hurdles (15.11).

Monroe’s Paul Kim won his shotput duel with Birmingham’s Keith Bryant and Granada Hills’ Scott Schain. Kim tied the league mark with a 56-1 1/2. Bryant finished second at 54-11, and Schain was third at 53-4 1/2.

Kennedy’s Michael Pringle won three individual events, the long jump (21-1), the 100 meters (10.95) and the 220-yard dash (22.31). He also anchored Kennedy’s 440-yard relay team to an easy win (43.39).

Hebert Saravia of Kennedy won the mile (4:34.18) and two mile (9:52.68).

Michelle Malcolm of Birmingham high-jumped 5-0 for a first-place finish. She won the shotput with a 32-6 1/2.

Other double winners included Granada Hills’ Kiersten Church in the 100 (12.09) and in the 220 (26.11) and Monroe’s Lori Anderson in the mile (5:41.85) and two mile (13:06.09).