Watts Headlines Taft’s Bid to Defend City Track Title

Quincy Watts of Taft figures to be the main attraction at today’s City Section track championships at Birmingham High, but his unheralded teammates could determine whether the Toreadors become the first Valley boys team to win two consecutive City titles.

Barring injury or mishap, Watts should win his second straight title in the 100 meters and 200 meters and anchoring the 400-meter relay. Taft also has a excellent chance to win the 1,600-meter relay with Watts running the anchor leg.

Victories in those four events would give Taft 40 points, but the Toreadors may need 60 or more to defeat Dorsey.

That’s where Sean Roberts & Co. come in. Roberts, a senior and one of the most improved sprinters in the City, could score with third- or fourth-place finishes in the 100 and 400. He also runs the second leg on both relays.

David Feinstein, the leadoff runner in the 400 relay and the third leg in the 1,600 relay, could pick up two important points with a fifth in the 200. Daryle Smith, the leading qualifier in the semifinals, is the favorite to win the triple jump.

High jumper Mike Weaver and pole vaulter Greg Sheets are also candidates to finish in the top six. The top six finishers in each event score points: 10 for first, 8 for second, 6 for third, 4 for fourth, 2 for fifth and 1 for sixth.

Dorsey will attempt to offset Taft’s numbers with a handful of athletes who are expected to score points.

Hurdlers Ronald Copeland and Darryl Lockett and shotputter Jason Wyatt lead the Dons. Copeland and Lockett will run in both hurdle races.

Copeland is a co-favorite in the 110-meter high hurdles and Lockett is a co-favorite in the 300 intermediate hurdles. Wyatt is favored to win the shotput after throwing a City-leading 57-7 3/4 at last week’s semifinals.

Dorsey also has strong entries in both relays.

San Fernando’s Shelton Boykin could have an impact on the race for the team title. Boykin, who has City bests of 14.22 (110 highs) and 37.89 (300 intermediates), is a co-favorite in both hurdle races. If he wins, Dorsey will lose valuable points.

The pole vault features four of the Valley’s best. Jeff La Monica of Poly (15-0 personal best), Jay Bettinger of Chatsworth (14-7), Frank Bray of Van Nuys (14-6) and Lynn Ford of Sylmar (14-0) are the favorites.

Field events begin at 4 p.m.,running events at 4:30 p.m.