Watts Chases Bridgewater, History in 200 Sprint at State Track Meet

Quincy Watts of Taft High hopes to make history at the state track championships, which begin at Cerritos College in Norwalk at 5 this afternoon.

Watts, the defending state 100- and 200-meter champion, qualified for the state meet in the 200, 400 and 400 relay but will not run the 400 at the two-day meet.

“I was too tired last week after running the 400,” explained Watts, who lost the 200-meter dash to national high school leader Bryan Bridgewater of Washington in the City Section championships at Birmingham High. “I didn’t have any snap in my legs in the last 75 meters. I couldn’t lift them. I was out of sync.”

If he wins the 200, Watts would become the first sprinter since 1940--and only the third ever--to win three consecutive titles in that event.

Although Bridgewater turned back Watts at last week’s City finals, 20.89 to 21.14, the Toreador senior expects things to be different this week.

“That loss hurt inside, but it helped,” said Watts, the No. 1-ranked high school sprinter in the nation last year as a junior by Track and Field News. “I was kind of living off last year until the other day. I didn’t feel challenged. Now a fire has been lit inside of me. I’m very determined to end my high school career on a winning note.”

Other Valley-area competitors with legitimate chances to win a title include Jenny Whelchel of Agoura, the defending champion in the shotput; Angela Burnham of Rio Mesa, the winner of the 1986 100 title as a freshman who has the state’s fastest times in both the 100 and 200; and Tom Parker of Notre Dame, who placed second in the pole vault at last year’s meet and has the highest mark (16-9) of any vaulter at the state meet.

Morgan Bateman of Crescenta Valley (800), Bryan Addison of Chatsworth (300-meter intermediate hurdles), Cindy Byrne of Canyon (300 low hurdles), Crissy Mills of Campbell Hall (high jump) and Nicole Smith of Montclair Prep (long jump) are all capable of top-five finishes.