High School Spring Sports : White, Crespi Leap Over Loyola

Ever since Russell White of Crespi placed second in the triple jump in last year’s state championships, track followers have wondered about his ability in the long jump.

White disappointed no one when he entered the long jump event in a Del Rey League track meet at Loyola on Friday, winning with a personal best of 23 feet 4 inches, the longest mark in the Valley area this year.

He also won the 200 meters in 22.0 seconds and and anchored the 1,600-meter relay team to victory in a season-best of 3:25.6 as Crespi came from behind to defeat Loyola, 69-58.

The victory gave Crespi (6-0, 4-0 in league meets) an excellent chance to defend its Del Rey League title. The Celts are heavily favored to win their two remaining league meets against St. Francis and Alemany.

“Theoretically, this win should give us the league title,” Crespi Coach Jim Benkert said. “But I’m not counting on anything until we win those last two meets.”

White only made one attempt in the long jump because of a severely bruised left heel.

“It was really hurting him,” Benkert said. “I was planning to give him the rest of the day off, but we needed him to win the meet.”

With the score tied, 43-43, White sent Crespi on the way to victory by equaling his personal best in the 200 and running a 50.4 anchor leg in the 1,600 relay.

Though White was instrumental in Crespi’s victory, he had plenty of help from teammates Ron Redell, Eric Kieling and Dave Lefner.

Redell won the 400 in 50.7, Kieling won the 110-meter high hurdles in 15.1, and Lefner won the 300 intermediates in 39.7.

Lefner’s mark represented was a personal best. The loss dropped Loyola to 4-2 overall, 3-2.

In other boys’ meets:

Poly 98, North Hollywood 25--Shannon Haas won three events as Poly wrapped up its fourth consecutive East Valley League dual-meet championship at North Hollywood.

Haas, the Alemany/Northridge Relays champion in the 400, won the 100 meters in 11.2, the 220 yards in 23.7 and the 440 in 52.6. He also anchored the victorious 440 relay team (46.1).

Teammates Francisco Alvarez (880, two-mile), Armando Urquidez (120 high hurdles, shotput), Kelly Hernandez (300 intermediates, pole vault) and Duke Jacobs (long jump, triple jump) each won two events for Poly (5-2, 4-0).

Mike Wilson won the high jump (6-2) and Roberto Lopez won the mile (4:40.0) for North Hollywood (2-2).

GIRLS’ TRACK

Kennedy 80, Birmingham 23--Keisha Edmond and Patrice Jackson each won two events as the Golden Cougars wrapped up their 10th consecutive Mid-Valley League dual-meet title at Kennedy.

Edmond won the 100 meters in 13.0 and the 220 yards in 27.0 as Kennedy (6-1, 5-0) won 12 of 13 events. Jackson won the 440 in 66.2 and long jump at 13-9.

Teammates Marina Gomez, Kim Crongeyer and Donna Greer added victories in the 880, mile and 100-meter low hurdles.

Poly 61, North Hollywood 48--Sonia Magee won two events and anchored the victorious 440- and mile-relay teams as the Parrots (4-0 in league meets) won their first East Valley League title at North Hollywood.

Magee won the 100 meters in 13.0 and the 220 in 28.0. Teammate Khadija Zirak added victories in the mile (6:12) and two mile (13:20).

Sandy Brown won the 110-yard low hurdles in 18.2 and the high jump at 4-6 for North Hollywood (3-1).

SOFTBALL

Bell-Jeff 7, Chaminade 1--Stacey Smock pitched a five-hitter and had six strikeouts in a Santa Fe League game at Chaminade.

Smock also was 2 for 3 and had two RBIs. Paola Jarrin was 1 for 2 and drove in two runs.

Agoura 3, Santa Clara 2--Melissa Moravec walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning of the Frontier League game at Agoura.

Melissa Thatcher walked to lead off the eighth. Another walk and an infield single loaded the bases for Moravec.

Thatcher (11-5) also threw a one-hitter and went 2 for 3. The only hit she allowed was a single in the fourth inning.

GOLF

Thousand Oaks 410, Simi Valley 411, Channel Islands 455, Camarillo 460--Simi Valley’s Tony Castellano was the medalist with a 2-over-par 74 in the four-team match at River Ridge Golf Course in Oxnard.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

Royal d. Upland, 15-3, 15-9, 15-5--Ethan Weiss had 18 service points, including 13 in the third game of the nonleague match at Royal.

Weiss also had a passing percentage of .900 and teammate Cory Herbert had nine kills and four stuff blocks. Also for Royal (10-2), Craig Parker had eight kills.

Crespi d. Windward, 14-16, 15-11, 15-10, 15-3--Ken Lynch and Steve Lepire each had 16 kills for Crespi (13-1) in a nonleague match at Culver City High.