Second Has a Different Look to Parker, Alsen at Sunkist Invitational

Pole vaulter Tom Parker of Notre Dame High had just tied his personal best in Friday night’s Sunkist Invitational at the Sports Arena, but the scowl that masked his face made it apparent that he was far from pleased.

“I guess I should be happy, but I’m not,” said the 5-10, 145-pound senior after finishing second in the high school pole vault by clearing 16 feet. “I should have jumped much higher than that--especially after yesterday.”

Parker, the runner-up in last year’s state championships and the defending Southern Section 2-A champion, was referring to a 17-3 height he had cleared in a workout at Cal State Northridge on Thursday.

“I figured I’d jump at least 16-6 coming in,” Parker said as he shook his head in disbelief.

Ian Alsen of Granada Hills felt better about his second-place photo finish in the boys’ seeded two-mile to Robert Kennedy of Westerville High in Ohio. Kennedy--the Kinney national cross-country champion--and Alsen were both clocked in 9:16.6, but Kennedy was ruled the victor after films were examined.

“I’m happy with my performance whether I won or not,” Alsen said. “I made him work for it. I didn’t hand it to him.”

Other top Valley-area performances were turned in by juniors Angela Burnham of Rio Mesa and Mike Esparza of Newbury Park.

Burnham, the 1986 state 100-meter champion, came from behind to win the first heat of the 500-yard dash with a time of 1:08. She also anchored the Spartans to a second-place finish in the first heat of the mile relay (4:09.3) and a victory in the fourth heat of 4 x 160-yard relay (1:16.0).

Esparza won the rated two-mile with a personal best of 9:25.2. Craig Lawson of Granada Hills placed second in a personal best of 9:30.7.

Bryan Dameworth of Agoura, the state Division I cross-country champion, placed fifth in the seeded two-mile with a time of 9:24.7.

Parker cleared the same height as winner Todd Lehman of North High in Phoenix, but did it on his second vault. Lehman’s 16-0 clearance was a personal best, exceeding by two inches his previous high.

The bar was raised to 16-4 after both vaulters had cleared 16-0, but neither was able to negotiate the height. Parker came very close on his first two attempts, knocking the bar off with his chest both times.

“I didn’t have enough speed on the runway,” said Parker, who first cleared 16-0 at last year’s Mt. San Antonio College Relays.

“I’m frustrated because I know I should be jumping higher.”

Alsen, the Kinney West regional cross-country champion, led for most of the two-mile then was caught 200 meters before the tape by Kennedy.

Kennedy was content to let a surprised Alsen set the early pace.

“I expected him to run harder in the middle of the race,” Alsen said. “I thought he was more of a strength runner than a kicker. But he showed some good speed tonight.”

Alsen, who had paced the field through an opening mile of 4:41.3, was caught off-guard when Kennedy surged past him with 1 1/2 laps remaining on the 160-yard track.

“I knew someone would make a move,” Alsen said. “But I didn’t think it would be him.”

Alsen, however, kept his composure after Kennedy passed him, though the pole vault bar was knocked onto the track in front of him.

“That threw me completely off stride,” Alsen said. “But I still thought I could catch him.”

He nearly did, losing by a couple of inches as both runners displayed sprinter’s lean at the finish line.