Stonerock Wins 3,000 by Fraction at Mt. SAC

Darren Stonerock of Saugus High was the leading Valley-area performer in Friday’s opening day of high school competition at the 28th Mount San Antonio College Relays at Walnut.

Stonerock, a senior, won the invitational 3,000 meters in a personal best of 8:25.5, narrowly defeating Aaron Moscarro of Rosemead, who was second in 8:25.9.

Darren’s twin brother, Kirk, was third in a personal best of 8:35.3.

A consistent front-runner, Darren Stonerock ran his usual race. He took the lead at the start and led the field through the 800 in 2:10.4 and through 1600 meters in 4:27.9.

At that point, Moscarro, Kirk Stonerock and Raul Serratos of Moreno Valley ran together, just a stride behind the leader. But Kirk Stonerock and Serratos dropped off the pace moments later, leaving only Darren Stonerock and Moscarro to battle the rest of the way.

Stonerock led at the bell lap in 7:21.5 and was able to hold off Moscarro in the final 400 meters.

His 8:25.5 is equivalent to a 9:06.0 two-mile. His previous best at 3,000 meters, 8:26.4, came while wining the Bishop Amat Relays three weeks ago.

Stonerock said he almost didn’t compete in the race.

“When I woke up this morning, I had a sore throat and wasn’t even sure if I was going to be able to run,” he said.

“I’m happy with the time and glad that I was able to hold him off in the last lap. Moscarro really ran tough. He hung in there the whole way.”

Today, Stonerock is scheduled to compete in one of the featured high school events of the meet, the 1,500 meters.

The field will include twins Eric and Mark Mastalir of Jesuit of Sacramento and Jim Zimmer of Simi Valley.

Eric Mastalir, the national leader in the 3,200 meters (8:48.55), has run 4:08.06 in the indoor mile this year. His brother has clocked 4:11.41.

Zimmer, the third-place finisher in the 1985 state meet, has a 1986 best of 4:14.19 in the 1600.

In the girls 3,000, Valley-area athletes also performed well.

Freshman Heather Scobie of Saugus finished third in a personal-best 10:07.9, and Hart senior Lisa Rizzo finished fourth in 10:09.4.

In the relays, Rio Mesa finished second in the girls invitational 800-meter medley relay in 1:45.9. Freshman Angela Burnham ran a brilliant 400 anchor leg for the Spartans.

Rio Mesa’s boys team also performed well, placing second (18:02.9) in the invitational 4 x 1600 meter relay. Ramon Perez’s 4:23.1 opening leg led the Spartans.

Today’s high school events were scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. and will include several of the Valley’s best prep athletes.

Among the boys entries will be sophomore sprinter Quincy Watts of Taft, hurdler Rodney Bradshaw of Saugus, freshman sprinter Russell White of Crespi and junior sprinter Robert Harris of Simi Valley.

Watts will compete in the invitational 100 and 200-meter dashes and will also anchor Taft’s 400-meter relay team. In the sprints, he will be challenged by Martin Cannady of Duarte, the Northridge Relays champion.

Bradshaw, who was a double winner in the 110 highs and 300-meter intermediates at the Arcadia Invitational two weeks ago, will attempt to duplicate that feat again.

White will compete in the invitational triple jump as well as the 400.

Harris will also compete in the 400 and run the anchor leg on the Simi Valley 1600-meter relay.

Leading the girls entries will be hurdler Kelley Peacock of Van Nuys, sprinter Burham and teammates Sharon Manship and Staci Leach of Thousand Oaks.

Peacock, the Northridge Relays champion, is scheduled to compete in the 100- and 300-meter low hurdles.

Burnham will compete in the invitational 200 meters and also anchor Rio Mesa’s 1600-meter relay team.

Leach was set to compete in the 400-meter dash and the 100-meter low hurdles. Manship, one of the best all-around track athletes in Southern California, was scheduled to enter the long jump, 400 and 800-meter runs. Manship and Leach will also run on the 400-meter relay team.