Triangular Track Triumph : Hawthorne Thin-Clads Prep for Arcadia

Like a high-performance engine, the Hawthorne High track team needs a tuneup once in a while.

The Cougars got just that Thursday afternoon at Culver City in a triangular meet that included the host Centaurs and Inglewood.

Hawthorne was clearly the superior team despite looking toward Saturday night’s Arcadia Invitational, a prestigious meet that features top athletes from across the nation.

“I think we’re going to need points from our hurdle teams and our relay teams,” said Hawthorne Coach Kye Courtney. “But we’re looking forward to good competition, especially from Texas South Oak Cliff.”

If Thursday’s results are an indication of the Cougars’ strength, they are a definite threat Saturday. Hawthorne scored 67 points to Culver City’s 51. The Centaurs beat Inglewood, 82-29.

The Cougars dominated the competition, missing first-place honors in only three events: the boys shot put and mile relay and the girls long jump.

“We were experimenting with a few things,” Courtney said. “I think we’re just a little too strong for these two schools. But we’re just not out here waiting for Arcadia. We’re here to win.”

Hawthorne’s Curtis Conway and Culver City’s Jaimie Zelada hooked up in the 100 meters, which turned out to be one of the most exciting events.

Conway won with a time of 10.7 seconds, but Zelada was right behind him in 10.8.

“I felt good in the blocks, but when the gun went off I stood up,” Zelada said. “It was bad mechanics. The start took away all the emotion I had saved for the race.”

Conway, who is entered in the 200 and both relays in the Arcadia meet, got off to a rousing start out of the blocks but was forced to hold on as Zelada continued to gain ground.

“I just wanted to go out and run and win,” said Conway, who also won the 200 (21.9) and 400 meters (43.5), again just beating Zelada in both races. “I’m just tired now.”

Deaundra Wheeler gave the Cougars a sweep in the 100 by winning in 12.2. Teammate Deanna Amy was right behind in 12.5.

Illana Mazingo of Hawthorne won the high jump at 5-4.

Travis Hannah of Hawthorne was one of the biggest surprises of the day. He won the triple jump (42-6) and was nosed out in the 800 meters, an event he had never run. Hannah is the favorite in the Arcadia 400.

“To be truthful, I was scared and tired,” Hannah said. “I had never run the 800, but I wanted to so I could stay strong for Saturday.”

Said Courtney: “(Hannah) is the No. 1 quarter miler in the United States. The best he’s done was 46.6, and he set a meet record at Pasadena with a 47-flat.”

Inglewood was the only team that did not pick up a first-place medal.

Culver City’s Derrick Deese (51-6) and Kenny Shelton (48-5) were first and second in the shot put, while the Centaur mile relay team checked in with a 3:33.2, just ahead of Inglewood.

Pam Schults of Culver City outdistanced the competition in the long jump with a leap of 15-3.