Bryant’s 55-11 in Shotput Leads City Qualifiers

Keith Bryant is hoping history won’t repeat itself next week.

Bryant, the shotputter from Birmingham High, finished second in last year’s City track and field semifinals.

He was confident going into the finals.

“Then it all fell apart,” he said, remembering his sixth-place finish.

Friday afternoon at Birmingham’s track stadium, Bryant was the top qualifier in the shotput competition at the City semifinals. And next Friday at Birmingham, he will get his last shot at the City championship.

“I feel more confident and relaxed this year,” Bryant said.

Performances like the one he had Friday will definitely help.

Bryant won with a toss of 55-11, easily outdistancing the rest of the field. Granada Hills’ Scott Schain was second at 53-5 1/2, El Camino Real’s Dan Barnes was third at 53-1 1/2 and Monroe’s Paul Kim placed fourth at 53-1.

“It doesn’t count now,” Bryant said. “Next week is the big one. That’s the one that counts.”

Bryant also had the best marks at the City quarterfinals last week. He has been bothered both outings by a sinus problems.

“If it takes being sick for me to win, then I’ll be sick,” the senior said.

The top eight shotputters qualified for next week’s finals. Each running event featured two heats, the top four in each advancing.

Several other Valley athletes had noteworthy days:

--Kelly Peacock of Van Nuys won two of her running heats and the long jump competition.

Peacock began her day by running a 14.14, a personal best, to win the 100-meter low hurdles.

Locke’s Chewuakii (Choo Choo) Knighten easily won her heat with a time of 14.10.

“She’s an excellent runner,” an admiring Peacock said of Knighten, who won four events on the day.

Peacock’s time of 45.03 was the top time in the 300-meter low hurdles. She also had the best long jump with a leap of 17-5. Peacock was second in the 100-meter dash. Her time of 12.30 was behind Locke’s Tesha Giddens (11.84) and Knighten (11.91 in the second heat).

“During the 100 I didn’t feel that good,” Peacock said. “I started to tighten up. So I’m glad I finished second.”

Peacock had a jump of 18-11 in the long jump, but fouled.

“A 19-footer is gonna be here soon,” she promised.

--Michael Pringle of Kennedy surprisingly finished second in the long jump to James Reese of Palisades. Reese went 22-5, Pringle 22-2 1/2. Locke’s Joseph Hart and Pringle both ran 10.88 in their 100-meter heat, Hart getting credit for the win.

Pringle was second in the 200 with a time of 21.70. Gardena’s Brian Brown won it at 21.60. The Kennedy 400-meter relay team, which Pringle anchors, finished third--behind Fairfax and Crenshaw--in its heat because of several bad handoffs. It was only the team’s second loss this season.

The Kennedy girls’ 400-meter relay team had the best time of the day (48.00), edging Crenshaw (48.74), which won the second heat.

--Arvis Greene of Granada Hills won his heat of the 300 intermediate hurdles at 38.55 and finished second in the 110 high hurdles at 15.04. Bernard Jones of Crenshaw had the best time at 14.87.

--John Martin of Chatsworth cleared 13-4 to qualify for the pole vault finals. Martin’s mark was the second best in the City this season, behind the 15-0 posted by Huntington Park’s Patrick Johnson earlier this season. Johnson qualified for next week at 13-0.