Crespi Win Overshadows Parker’s Vault

It is not often that a state-leading mark is overshadowed by the drama of a high school track meet, but that’s what happened at Wednesday’s Crespi-Notre Dame Del Rey League meet at Notre Dame.

Tom Parker, the runner-up in the pole vault in last year’s state championships, cleared 16 feet, 2 3/4 inches in that event--the best mark in the state this year--but his effort took a back seat to the tense team battle that was waged between the Knights and Celts.

Parker’s victory helped Notre Dame maintain a narrow lead midway through the meet. But Crespi, led by junior Russell White, captured the final four events to win, 70-57.

Crespi trailed, 49-46, after 11 events, but White won the 200 meters in 22.1 seconds to put the Celts (4-0, 3-0 in league) on track for their second consecutive Del Rey League dual-meet title.

“The score came out about how I thought it would,” Crespi Coach Jim Benkert said. “But some of the events turned out much differently than I expected.”

The biggest surprise was Angelo Palazzo’s victory over White in the 100 meters. Palazzo (11.2) appeared to jump the gun, but White (11.3) made no excuses.

“Everyone kind of hesitated when he jumped,” said White, who is nursing a bruised heel. “But they didn’t call it. And that’s not why I lost. I just wasn’t into it mentally. I wasn’t concentrating like I should have been.”

White followed the 100 with victories in the 400 meters, 200 and triple jump.

He led teammates Ron Redell and Dave Lefner to a 1-2-3 sweep in the 400. Their times of 50.0, 51.4 and 51.8 were impressive considering the strong wind that blew into the runner’s faces in the final 100.

White only took one attempt in the triple jump (44-1), but it was enough to win. And when teammate Rob Harrington placed second with a 41-3 effort, Crespi wrapped up the victory.

“All week long, we’ve emphasized competing,” Benkert said. “And that’s what our kids did today.”

In addition to White, Crespi got big wins from Eric Kieling in the 110-meter high hurdles (15.0), Lefner in the 300 intermediate hurdles (39.9) and Mike Preston in the 3,200 (10:12.5).

Lefner’s victory led Jim Nau (40.5) and Kieling (40.8) to another Crespi sweep. Nau, whose previous best exceeded 43 seconds, was moved up from the junior varsity ranks this week.

“The kid was amazing,” Notre Dame Coach Jon Mack said of Nau. “It just shows you what a big meet can do to a kid.”

Preston’s victory may have been the biggest upset of the day. Tabbed by Benkert to place third, the Crespi senior ran his best time of the season to easily defeat Notre Dame’s Mike Belmontes.

Mike Glaze of Notre Dame (3-1, 2-1) was favored to win the 3,200 after winning the 800 in a personal best of 1:58.0, and the 1,600 in 4:32.8, but he was unable to start the race because of a stomach ailment.

Parker’s performance came four days after he failed to clear a height in the Bishop Amat Relays at Cerritos College.

“I felt good, but I was kind of nervous because I had no-heighted on Saturday. I didn’t want that to happen again.”

Parker, who sprained his ankle playing basketball 1 1/2 weeks ago, won the event with his opening clearance of 15 feet, then cleared 15-6 and 16-2 3/4 on his second attempts.

He missed three times at 16-6.

“I was kind of burned out after making 16-2 3/4,” Parker said with a smile. “I just didn’t have it in me to clear the next height.”

According to Parker’s personal coach, Tim Werner, it won’t be long until his protege clears 17 feet.

“He’s not in real good shape right now,” Werner said. “The injuries have forced him to miss a lot of workouts. He’s really huffing and puffing after each jump. He’ll jump much higher when he gets back in shape.”

Always aware of his competition, Parker had the bar moved to 16-2 3/4 because Tom Richards of San Marcos had cleared a state- leading 16-2 1/2 at the Santa Barbara Relays on Saturday.

Parker’s teammates Ed Cogan and Lee Cruz also turned in fine performances.

Cogan won the high jump with a 6-6 effort; Cruz threw a season-best of 49- to win the shotput.

Notre Dame’s 400-meter relay team of Scott Chiu, Andy Chaleff, Brian Charles and Palazzo ran a season best of 42.9.

In the girls’ meet, Notre Dame routed Louisville, 89-29, in a San Fernando Valley League contest.

Jenny Stewart and Linda Kang led the Knights. Stewart won the high jump at 5-0 and the long jump with a 15-4 1/2 effort. Kang won the 100-meter low hurdles in 17.0 and the 300 low hurdles in 51.1.