Watts Wins 2 Events Using Cruise Control

On paper, Quincy Watts’ 1988 track debut at San Fernando High on Friday was not particularly impressive. The effortless way in which he won, however, was a thing of beauty.

Watts, the defending state champion in the 100- and 200-meter sprints, won the 440-yard dash, the 880-yard run, and ran the anchor leg on the winning mile-relay team as Taft (1-0), the two-time defending City Section champion, defeated San Fernando, 88-39. The Tigers are 1-1.

His times of 53.9 seconds in the quarter mile and 2:06.5 in the half mile were mediocre, even by early season standards, but it was obvious to anyone in attendance that the 6-3, 197-pound Watts was cruising.

“This was a workout, nothing more,” Taft assistant Hilliard Sumner said. “This was a chance for Quincy to get a couple of races under his belt, to get the kinks out.”

Watts, who averaged 19.4 points a game for Taft’s basketball team, has only been working out with the track team for two weeks. That’s why Sumner entered him in the 880, an event in which Watts had never competed until Friday.

“It’s a good race to build strength with,” Sumner said. “I didn’t want him to run a fast 100 or 200 this early in the season, especially in his first meet back. He’s got a very, very long season ahead of him. The 880 will help his endurance.”

Watts, the No. 1-ranked high school sprinter in the nation by Track and Field News, let teammate Darren Fields set the early pace in the 880. Fields clocked 59.5 for the first 440, with Watts following in third (60.7).

Fields attempted to break the race open by surging down the final backstretch, but he was unsuccessful as Watts strode past him with 40 yards remaining.

“I was hurting entering the last curve,” Watts admitted. “But I just told myself to concentrate on my form and maintain my speed.”

“He did what he was supposed to,” Sumner said. “I wanted him to run 2:05 with a 60-second first lap and a 65-second second lap. And he came close to doing that.”

In the 440, Watts ran with teammate Darren Mathews for the first 330 yards, then shifted into another gear and won going away. His time of 53.9 was more than 6 seconds shy of his personal best, but Watts was not concerned.

“I feel like I’m in better shape this year than I was at this time last year,” Watts said. “I feel much stronger.”

With Watts opting to run the 440 and 880, teammates David Feinstein and David Flores shone in the sprints.

Flores, who ran the third leg on Taft’s city champion 400- and 1,600-meter relays last season, was particularly impressive, winning the 220 in a wind-aided time of 22.4.

Although Feinstein’s 11.6 clocking in the 100 was mediocre, he is recovering from a hip injury.

Feinstein and Flores also combined with Jonathan Hart and Terrance Britt to win the 440 relay in 44.5 seconds.

Toreadors Mike Weaver and Marlon Rodriguez also turned in good performances. Weaver won the high jump at 6-4 and Rodriguez had an uncommon triple victory in the mile (4:56.4), two mile (10:59.1), and triple jump (39-5).