Watts Enters 200 at TAC Junior Meet

An eager and well-rested Quincy Watts of Taft High will run in The Athletics Congress junior track championships this weekend in Tucson, Ariz. The meet is open to athletes under 20 years of age.

Even though Watts won the 100 and 200 meters at the state championships in Sacramento 11 days ago, his winning times of 10.49 in the 100 and 20.99 in the 200 were off his personal bests of 10.36 and 20.69.

Running six races in a 24-hour period may have taken its toll on Watts, 16, who complained of fatigue and lacked some of his usual late-race speed at the state meet.

Since the state championships, however, Watts has spent his time “kicking back and relaxing.” He won’t run the 100, opting instead for his favorite event, the 200. Qualifying heats are scheduled for Friday morning with the semifinals Friday night. The final is Saturday.

“I decided not to run the 100 because of all the heats,” he said. “I thought it would be smarter to stick with one race, especially with the hot weather down there.”

The hot weather will also concern pole vaulters Tom Parker of Notre Dame and former Burroughs standout Brooks Morris, who may have to endure a three- or four-hour qualifying round on Friday, then vault in Saturday’s final.

Parker, who placed second at this year’s state championships, has a personal best of 16 feet. Morris, whose personal best is 15-7, and Parker will compete for the San Fernando Valley track club Advantage Athletics, and Watts will represent the West Valley Eagles, an age-group track club in Canoga Park.