THE SUNKIST INVITATIONAL : High School Runners Start Season Early

Although the outdoor track season is two months away, many of the Valley area’s top high school track athletes will begin their season tonight in the Sunkist Invitational at the Sports Arena.

The meet, which begins at 4:45 p.m., features Angela Burnham of Rio Mesa and Desiree Joubert of Westlake in the girls events and Simi Valley’s Mike Carnes and Agoura’s Bryan Dameworth in the boys events.

Burnham, defending state meet champion at 100 meters, will run in the 500 yards against Janeene Vickers of Pomona. Last year, Vickers won state titles in the 100- and 300-meter low hurdles and placed fourth in the 400 meters at the inaugural world junior championships, which are held for athletes who are aged 19 or younger.

Joubert, who placed third in the 800 meters at the state championship last year as a sophomore, is entered in the 880 along with Sharon Manship of Thousand Oaks.

Carnes, who finished sixth at last season’s state championship, will renew his rivalry in the long jump with Percy Knox of Antelope Valley, who placed second. LaMark Allen of Saugus also is entered.

Dameworth, teammate Matt Thomson and Mike Esparza of Newbury Park are entered in the boys seeded two-mile race.

The field includes Marc Davis of San Diego High, the Kinney national cross-country champion; Aaron Mascorro of Rosemead, the two-time Southern Section 3-A Division cross-country champion, and Richard Erbes of Glendale, the two-time Southern Section 4-A cross-country champion.

In the girls seeded two-mile race, Melissa Sutton of Newbury Park, the three-time Southern Section 4-A cross-country champion, renews her rivalry with Christy Farrell of Thousand Oaks.