Stonerocks Double Up for Saugus

Led by hurdler Rodney Bradshaw and distance-runners Kirk and Daren Stonerock, Saugus High won its first team title at the Southern Section track and field championships at Cerritos College on Saturday.

The Centurions finished first with 68 points to win the 3-A Division while Duarte was second with 56 and West Covina third with 33.

In the boys 4-A meet, Simi Valley repeated its second-place finish of 1985. Defending champion Hawthorne won the team title with 59 points, Simi Valley was second with 39 and Muir finished third with 30.

In the girls 4-A meet, Thousand Oaks placed third with 35 points behind team champion Hawthorne (66) and second-place Long Beach Poly (40). Rio Mesa was fourth with 40 points.

Bradshaw helped Saugus to the 3-A title by winning the 110-meter high hurdles in a personal best of 14.02 and finishing second in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 38.00. In the high hurdles, Bradshaw nipped fast-starting Terry Johnson of Katella at the wire. Johnson, who entered the race with an undefeated record in the event this season, finished second in 14.03.

Saugus, which also won the last two Southern Section 3-A cross-country titles, scored 40 of its points in the middle- and long-distance races. Kirk Stonerock won the 3,200 meters (9:10.51) and placed second in the 1,600 while twin brother Daren placed third in the 1,600 and second in the 3,200.

Mike MacLean of Saugus added another eight points to the team total with a second-place finish in the 800 in 1:55.72, a personal best. Teammate Lamark Allen also set a personal best in the long jump, finishing fourth with a 23- effort.

In the 4-A meet, Simi Valley would have finished closer to Hawthorne, but the Pioneers dropped the baton in the final exchange of the 400-meter relay.

Except for the botched handoff in the relay, Simi Valley performed extremely well. Jim Zimmer won the 1,600 in a personal best of 4:11.34, running a blistering 58.9 last lap. Mike Carnes finished second in both the long jump (23-3 3/4) and the 100-meter dash (10.80). Corey Ealy of Muir won the race in 10.59 with Gary Wellman of Westlake finishing second in 10.77.

Junior Sharon Manship of Thousand Oaks placed second in the 300-meter low hurdles and third in the triple jump.