Watts Clocks Fastest Times in 100, 200

When Quincy Watts of Taft and Angela Burnham of Rio Mesa ran at last year’s Arcadia Invitational, they were viewed by most high school track experts as promising, young talent for coming through with second-place efforts in the 100 and 200 meters.

Since then, Watts has won the 200-meter dash at the 1986 state championships and Burnham became the first freshman ever to win the girls state 100-meter title. With those credentials, it’s no wonder Watts and Burnham entered this year’s Arcadia Invitational as favorites.

And it’s no wonder they scored impressive victories in the 100 and 200 meters.

In the 100 and 200, Watts destroyed superb fields, running personal bests as well as the fastest high school times in the country this season.

Good starts by the Taft junior were the key to each victory. In the 100 he collared fast-starting Calvin Holmes of Carson at the 70-meter mark and won in 10.51. Holmes placed second in 10.73.

In the 200, Watts surged into the lead at the 150-meter mark and clocked 20.89. Watts set his previous personal bests of 10.56 and 20.97 in 1986.

Watts preceded his sprint victories by anchoring Taft’s 400-meter relay team to a second-place finish. The Toreadors ran a season-best of 41.45 seconds behind Muir’s 41.28.

Watts finished the evening with a 45.9 anchor leg in the 1,600-meter relay. Taft (3:18.79) placed second behind Independence High of San Jose (3:18.3).

Watts said the role of favorite didn’t bother him.

“I felt a little more pressure this year because I am the defending state champion in the 200,” he said.

“But that just made me concentrate harder.’

Regarding his good starts, Watts said, “I just concentrate better in the big races and it paid off in personal bests tonight.”

Although Burnham didn’t set any personal bests like Watts, she did display great finishes in both races. In the 100, Burnham (12.07) ran down fast-starting LaShawn Simmons of El Monte (12.09) and in the 200, she surged past Hawthrone freshman Kee-Sha Adams in the final 30 meters. Burnham clocked 24.47 and Adams ran 24.68.

Although Watts and Burnham were the Valley area’s individual stars many others turned in noteworthy performances.

Dave Swanson of Alemany won the boys high jump with a seson best of 6-10 and Tom Parker of Notre Dame placed second in the pole vault with a personal best of 15-9.

Dave Bultman of Royal turned in a superb double in the discus and the shotput. Bultman threw the discus 191-3 to place third and placed second in the shotput (61-0).

Three Thousand Oaks girls turned in season bests. Staci Leach placed third in the 100-meter low hurdles (14.25), Christy Farrell placed third in the 3200 meters (10:37.17) and Sharon Manship was second in the 300-meter low hurdles (43.61).