State Track and Field : Washington’s Hopes Ride With 1 Man: Bridgewater

For his encore, Brian Bridgewater, coming off an impressive win in the City 200-meter sprint final over Quincy Watts, will try for an even bigger victory. One over an entire team.

But if Bridgewater, from Washington High School in Los Angeles, were to finish the season at such a crescendo, he would merely be following suit. When the two-day California Interscholastic Federation/Reebok track finals open today at Cerritos College, he will be trying to become the third individual in as many years to win a state title, with just a little help from his friends.

In 1986, Watts had a hand in all 26 points, running a relay leg as well as his individual events, in leading Woodland Hills Taft to the boys’ title.

In 1987, Janeene Vickers won the 100, the 100 low hurdles and the 300 low hurdles to give the Pomona girls the championship.

So what of 1988?

Bridgewater, an outstanding sprinter who will be in the 100, the 200 and both relays, has a chance to take the Generals to the top, although he--they?--will come in as an underdog. San Jose Independence, led by sprinter Benari Burroughs and hurdler John Montgomery, seems to have more than anyone else.

In the girls’ competition, the favorite is Locke of Los Angeles, with the nation’s No. 3 400-meter relay team and No. 1 300 low hurdler, Regina Weathorford. The prime challengers are Mountain View St. Francis, Pasadena Muir and Los Angeles Dorsey.

As for individual races, each division should have a couple of good matchups.

Barring any dramatic developments during qualifying tonight, the boys’ 200 should be the highlight, just as it was in the City finals. Bridgewater, No. 1 in the nation, will be facing Watts, No. 2, and Burroughs, whose time of 21.10 is 57/100ths of a second off Bridgewater’s mark and 43/100ths slower than Watts’ 1988 best.

The 3,200 will be loaded, with six runners between 8:59 and 9:03, led by Reggie Williams of River City in West Sacramento.

The girls’ 200 will feature the second- and third-best in the nation, Angela Burnham of Oxnard Rio Mesa and Inger Miller of Muir.

Competition today will begin at 3 p.m., with the boys’ discus trials. The first running event is set for 5. Saturday, field event finals will start at 5 and running events at 6.

Prep Notes

An exhibition matching Palisades High, the best boys’ volleyball team in the City, and Loyola of Los Angeles, the top Southern Section team, will be held at the Forum June 25, after Japan faces the Soviet Union and France takes on the United States in the Stubbies USA Cup. . . . Add Loyola: The all-boys school finished 1987-88 with Del Rey League titles in 9 of 11 sports. The Cubs were beaten out only in baseball and track.