High School Spring Sports : Watts, Alsen Sparkle in Pasadena

Quincy Watts of Taft High and Ian Alsen of Granada Hills entered Saturday night’s Pasadena Games at Occidental College with big reputations to uphold. Each accomplished that in spectacular fashion.

Watts, the No. 1-ranked high school sprinter in the country by Track and Field News, reaffirmed his status with victories in the 100 and 200 meters in his first invitational meet of the year. And Alsen, the defending City Section champion in the 3,200 meters, won that race and the 1,600 meters with the withering last-lap finish for which he is renowned.

Alsen was named the male athlete of the meet for his efforts. His time of 9 minutes, 2.06 seconds in the 3,200 was a meet record and personal best, and he won the 1,600 in 4:15.01.

Alsen’s victories featured blistering finishes. In the 3,200, he ran the final 400 meters in 59.3 seconds and the final 800 in 2:08.4. In the 1,600, he completed the final 400 meters in 60.2.

Watts won the 100 in 10.66 seconds and the 200 in 21.18. Both times were season bests for the Toreador senior, the defending state champion in the 100 and 200.

He also ran scorching anchor legs for Taft’s 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams. In the 400 relay, Watts brought the Toreadors from fourth to second in a season best of 41.31. Hawthorne won in 41.30.

In the 1,600-meter relay, Watts turned in a 45.7 400-meter leg to move the Toreadors from seventh to fifth (3:19.85).

Watts was awarded the Charles Paddock Award as the meet’s outstanding male sprinter for the second consecutive year.