Hawthorne Boys, Girls Run Away as Track Champs

A year ago, the Hawthorne High School mile relay team dropped the baton, forcing the Cougars to settle for second place in the 4-A division of the CIF track and field finals.

On Saturday, the Cougars vindicated themselves with a win in the mile relay that lifted them to the 4-A championship. Hawthorne’s girls team also ran away with the title.

The Morningside High School boys team captured its third straight 2-A title with 54 points, beating Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, which scored 37 points.

The Cougars’ boys team held a 34-33 lead over Long Beach Poly heading into the mile relay. The team ran away from the pack, finishing in 3:13.67, far ahead of second-place Muir, which covered the distance in 3:16.70.

“Yeah, I had about 3 minutes, 13 seconds worth of nervousness,” said Hawthorne Coach Kye Courtney, who admitted that last year’s race was still on his mind.

“I think last year was in the back of everybody’s mind,” Courtney said. “I can still remember standing there watching that baton bounce around on the track.”

Hawthorne finished with 44 points, while Long Beach Poly was second with 39. The Cougars’ girls team had 77, and Rio Mesa was second with 40.

In the boys 3-A division, Arroyo was first with 46, while Rolling Hills and Mater Dei tied for ninth with 20.

In the 3-A division, West Torrance had 17, good for 10th, behind Corona Del Mar’s 56.

Woodbridge was first in the girls 2-A division with 49 points, while Morningside was seventh (26) and St. Bernard was ninth with 16.

Hawthorne’s Curtis Conway was first in the 100 (10.61) and 200 (21.24), while Travis Hannah won the 400 with a time of 47.64.

The Hawthorne girls mile relay team finished first in 3:50.64, while Rhonda Kennerson brought home a first in the 800 with a time of 2:16.60. Sharon Edmunds was second in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, and DeeDee Wheeler garnered a third in the 100 and a fifth in the 200.

Morningside’s mile relay team finished first in 3:17.90, while Ferric Webster is the 2-A 400-meter champ, covering the distance in 48.11. Eric Frazier was third in the 200 with a time of 21.99.

In addition to crowning division champions, Saturday’s competition served as a spring board to the Masters Meet, which picks the top athletes in inter-divisional competition.

The top nine marks from Saturday’s meet advanced to the Masters, which will be held at Cerritos College next Friday.

The Morningside boys 400-meter relay team earned a spot in next week’s event as did the Monarchs’ Ray Wakefield, who covered the 110 high hurdles in 14.78. Morningside’s mile relay team advanced to the Masters as did Ronald Gibson, who will represent his school in the triple jump.

Jim Masuga of Redondo High School high-jumped 6-6, thereby earning a spot in the Masters, while John Sabio of Rolling Hills advanced in the 400 meters. Dave Scudamore of Palos Verdes advanced in the 3,200 meters by covering the course in 9:08.52, the best mark of the day in the event.

“Basically, I’m just trying to extend my season,” said Scudamore. “I want to go to state. I’m pretty sure I’ll make it unless I do real lousy next week.”

In girls competition, Althea Moses of Morningside advances by virtue of her 40-1 1/2 in the triple jump.

Jennifer Tully of Torrance High School advanced in the long jump with a leap of 17-9 1/2, while Carolyn Hueth of West Torrance moved up in the shot put with a throw of 41 feet.

“I’m always nervous no matter what the competition is,” said Hueth. “Every day is a new day. I can’t think about what I threw the last time. I’ve got to go and do it all over again.”