Ex-San Pedro Track Stars Return for Meet and Warm Memories

For some people the San Pedro Easter Relays is just another invitational track meet--a chance to see how one team measures up against another and an opportunity to fine-tune for the league season.

But for others, like Yasuo Tatsumi, Dick Harris and Tak Aoki, Saturday’s competition at San Pedro High is a homecoming.

Seven teams--San Pedro, Torrance, North Torrance, South Torrance, Garfield, South Gate and Narbonne--will participate in the competition at 11 a.m.

Tatsumi is meet marshal and was captain of the team that won San Pedro’s first Marine League championship in 1938. His marks of 9.8 in the 100 and 22 feet in the broad jump were impressive for that era. He also ran anchor on the 880 relay team that set an L. A. City record of 1:31.8 in 1938. “Sometimes I can’t believe how long it’s been,” he said

“It’s nice memories anytime I go back there,” said Harris, track coach at South Torrance High. “I spent most of my childhood in San Pedro and I remember competing there very well. I can’t believe it’s been so long. Time flies. I never thought I’d be this old.”

Aoki, former Gardena basketball coach and now in his first year at South Gate, also has vivid memories of his high school days at San Pedro.

“I’m looking forward to it because I’m an old Marine Leaguer,” said Aoki. “It sounds like a fun afternoon, and that’s what we’re looking for.”

The relays take on a special significance because San Pedro is celebrating its centennial and the 85-year-old high school is celebrating its 50th year at the present site.

It is also the only invitational track meet that pits City schools against CIF Southern Section competition.

“It’s a renaissance of sorts,” said meet director Mitchell Mardesich. “And it’s fun for the kids because they can compete in as many events as they want to. What really makes it nice, even though there are no team scores, is that we give medals for first, second and third place.”

San Pedro Coach Dennis Weyrauch says his team’s strength is it’s depth, while Aoki said South Gate distance runner Abel DeLuna has a chance at a City championship in the mile. DeLuna has run a 4:32, but Aoki claims his runner can get down to 4:20.

South Gate’s Carol Crackiola is Aoki’s best girl sprinter.

Weyrauch said his team should perform well in the field events, with John Jackson in the shot put and Andrew Nash in the long jump. Jackson has recorded a 49-4 in the shot and Nash has leaped 22-4.

Harris said he expects big things from Grant Walkup in the half mile and from his sprint relay team. “They’re not awesome,” he said, “but they seem to just peck away.”

North Coach Don Kasten said his team is rebuilding around a crop of talented sophomores. He expects sprinter Anthony Cole (11.3) to fare well in the 100-meter dash.

Tim Brunold and Victor Rios give Kasten a potent combination in the mile and half-mile, while Toa Aiono is strong in the shot.

Krista Arthur (long jump, triple jump) and Jade Hiramoto (long jump, 400-meter relay) head the North girls team.

Two weeks ago John Radcliffe gave up the track job at Torrance and Don Kalmar took over, inheriting a team with a strong girls squad.

Sprinter Deanne Call was named athlete of the meet at the recent Rolling Hills Invitational, running the 100 meters in 13.1 and the 330 low hurdles in 47.85.

Other top girl performers for Torrance include Erica Lindh (low hurdles, long jump) and Jennifer Tully, who Kalmar says is just a step behind Call in the 100.

“We have a good distance crew on the boys team but not much in the field events,” Kalmar said.

Seniors Curt Breskin, Josh Whitney and Tom Erskine are Kalmar’s most experienced runners, but sophomore Shin Nishara and freshman Israel Pose have turned in impressive times this season.

Tatsumi said he’s looking forward to seeing how today’s athletes fare.

“I’ve followed track all my life,” he said. “And the athletes just keep getting better and better. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the old fellas there, but I’m looking forward to seeing the athletes too.”