Southern Section Track : Two County Girls’ Teams May Make Title Run

The girls’ teams from Woodbridge and Newport Harbor high schools are the best bets from Orange County to win a championship today in the 73rd Southern Section divisional track and field meet at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

The meet will begin with field event competition at 11 a.m., and the first running event is scheduled for noon.

Woodbridge, paced by distance star Sherri Smith, should contest Pomona and its sprinting sensation, Janeene Vickers, for the 3-A division title. Newport Harbor, also in 3-A, boasts distance runners Maggie Henson and Buffy Rabbitt.

Smith is the leader in the Southern Section in the 800 meters (2:12.4) and is second to Mountain View’s Tracey Williams in the 1,600 meters. She also anchors the Warriors’ 1,600-meter relay team.

Henson has the second-best mark in the 800 meters with a 2:12.6 personal best and will also compete in the 1,600 meters. Teammate Rabbitt qualified in the 3,200 meters at 11:15.76 and in the 1,600 meters at 5:05.3.

Top female county performers in the 4-A division include Mission Viejo freshman Kathy Grayson, Ocean View triple jumper Debbie Orr and El Modena shotputter Shelly Lovati in the 4-A division.

Grayson is entered in the 400 and 800 meters. She has recorded a 57.16 in the 400 meters and 2:13.5 in the 800. Orr leads the Southern Section with a triple jump of 38-8 and has also qualified in the high jump (5-9) and long jump (17-10 1/2). Lovati will be a favorite in the shotput with a best of 41-5 1/2.

Defending high jump champion Yleana Carrasco of Anaheim (5-9) is the county’s top performer in the 2-A division, in which Morningside is the favorite.

Loyola and Centennial are the favorites for the boys’ 2-A division title.

Western junior Kirk Ayers qualified in the 100 and 200 meters and had the top qualifying long jump at 22-8 1/2. Mike Fritz of Anaheim has the top qualifying mark in the 400 meters at 49.53 and will also compete in the 200.

Saugus should win the 3-A title, but Terry Johnson of Katella, Eric Dorn of Estancia and Geno Howard of Los Amigos could have an impact on the final standings.

Johnson is entered in the 110 high hurdles (14.01), 300 intermediate hurdles (38.87) and the 200 meters (22.04). Howard will compete in the 400 meters (49.11) and the 300 intermediate hurdles (39.30).

Dorn has a personal best of 6-8 in the high jump and 23-2 in the long jump, which ranks him among the top five in the Southern Section.

Another top county performer in 3-A is pole vaulter Steve Williams of Servite (16-6).

The boys and girls’ teams from Hawthorne are the favorites in the 4-A division. Top male county performers in the 4-A division include shotputter Kaleaph Carter of Edison (59-5) and Santa Ana Valley’s 1,600-meter relay team (3:17.95).

The Falcons’ relay team, composed of Ellis Bradford, James Shipp, Paul Peters and John Hollis, is expected to give Hawthorne (3:17.04) a good race. The foursome is also entered in the 400-meter relay.

The top nine performers in each event will be invited to the intra-divisional Masters Meet on Friday at Cerritos College. The top five finishers in the Masters qualify for the State championships on June 6-7 at Cerritos College.