Hawthorne Shows Off Newcomers

The Sunkist Invitational is supposed to be one of the showcases of the season for Southland prep stars, but Hawthorne High School took the opportunity to show off what it will have for the next couple of years.

The Tigers, having graduated star sprinters Henry Thomas and Michael Marsh and middle-distance ace Sean Kelly from the boys’ team that won the State title in 1985, got some old results Friday night.

But of the almost 30 competitors they brought to the Sports Arena, many of whom have already run in six all-comers’ meets, none was more impressive in winning than a freshman, two sophomores and a junior who combined to come from behind in the 4 x 160 relay.

Anaheim Katella, with star Terry Johnson running the second leg, jumped out to the early lead on Hawthorne’s Leroy Thomas, a sophomore, and Curtis Conway, a freshman. But junior Yke Vallery closed the gap--and then left the rest to the other sophomore, Travis Hanna.

Hanna took the baton in second place and made it look in easy in breezing to the finish. Hawthorne’s winning time of 1:07.5 was nearly a second better than Katella’s.

“Hanna went by the other guy like he was standing still,” Hawthorne Coach Kye Courtney said. “That kid can run. He’s got great acceleration and endurance.”

Locke High, meanwhile, dominated the individual races with victories in the boys’ and girls’ 880 and the boys’ 500. The Saints also got a good race from a new face.

Vincent Thompson, a transfer from Pomona Ganesha, held off Neil Fitzgerald of San Francisco St. Ignatius to win the half-mile in 1:55.9. Fitzgerald had a 1:56.2, while Mike O’Boyle of Hemet was third in 1:57.4.

Thompson’s win came after Kim McAllister ran a strong 2:16.1 to win the girls’ version by 3 1/2 seconds, and Joseph Hart won the first boys’ 500-yard race in 58.9

J.J. Flannigan of Pomona interrupted his football recruiting visit to USC long enough to drive a couple of blocks to the Sports Arena and set a meet record in the Football 60-yard dash.

Gary Wellman of Westlake, known as a fast starter, was first out of the blocks and led for about half the race.

But then Flannigan broke into his stride and glided to a time of 6.41, bettering Chris Richards’ 6.48 set in 1984. Junior Calvin Holmes of Carson was second in 6.43 and Wellman third in 6.45.

“The gun went off and I looked up and he (Wellman) was two or three strides in front of me,” Flannigan said. “That’s when I knew I better get moving.”

In contrast to Wellman, who was running indoors for the first time ever, Flannigan had finished third in the race last year and knew what to expect from the track.

“That’s the edge I had over the other runners,” he said. “But there was a lot of good competition.”