High School Roundup : Kennedy Outruns Taft by Winning 11 Events

Although the Kennedy High boys’ track team was devastated by 25 academic ineligibilities several weeks ago, the Golden Cougars still have a talented--albeit small--squad. They lack quantity, but not quality.

Kennedy demonstrated quality in a 73-54 victory over visiting Taft on Friday in a Northwest Valley Conference meet.

Kennedy’s victory overshadowed a brilliant performance by Taft’s Greg Sheets, who won the pole vault with a personal best of 15 feet, 1 inch. Sheets, the runner-up to Jay Bettinger of Chatsworth in last year’s City Section championships, had a previous best of 15-0.

Antiwaun Carter, Jorge Duran, Patrick Blake and Cord Bailey were all instrumental in Kennedy’s win as the Golden Cougars (2-0) won 11 of 15 events and nine of 10 track events.

Carter won the 100 meters in 11.4 and the 220 yards in 23.5, and anchored the victorious 440 relay (46.3). Duran won the mile (4:39.8) and two mile (10:14.7); Blake won the 120-yard high hurdles in 16.9 and the 330 intermediate hurdles in 44.6. Bailey won the triple jump at 40-6 and placed second in the high jump (5-10) and second in the long jump (20-0).

In other boys’ meets:

Reseda 70, North Hollywood 53--Aaron Brumfield won the triple jump and high jump for Reseda (4-0, 2-0) in the Valley Pac-8 Conference meet at North Hollywood.

San Fernando 74, Canoga Park 43--The host Tigers were led in the Northwest Valley Conference meet by Ibed Aguirre, who won the mile (4:51.9) and two mile (10:22.8), and Howard McCrary, who won the 120-yard high hurdles (15.7) and triple jump (42-3 1/2).

Birmingham 113, Sylmar 10--Brian Gastelum won three events for host Birmingham (2-0) in the Valley Pac-8 Conference meet. Gastelum, a junior, won the 800 in a personal best of 2:00.6, the 1,600 in 4:50.0 and the 3,200 in 10:29.3.

GIRLS’ TRACK

Kennedy 61, Taft 48--Taft won seven of 13 events, but the Golden Cougars’ superior depth prevailed in the Northwest Valley Conference meet at Kennedy.

Natasha Como and Lela Lemell helped Kennedy dominate the sprints.

Como won the 100 meters in 13.0, the 220 yards in 27.9 and anchored the victorious 440 relay (53.0). Lemell, a sophomore, won the 440 in 1:04.3.

Granada Hills 63, El Camino Real 45--Shaunte Parker won two individual events and anchored two victorious relays for host Granada Hills in the Northwest Valley Conference meet.

Poly 66, Van Nuys 38--Tina Means led Van Nuys (2-0) in the Valley Pac-8 Conference meet at Poly by winning the 110-meter low hurdles, the 330-yard lows and the high jump.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

Chatsworth d. Westchester, 15-4, 15-13, 15-11--Greg Weaver had 16 kills and Chris Gleason added 11 to lead the Chancellors (2-0) in a nonleague match.

Harvard d. Crespi 15-10, 15-13, 15-6--Mark Shoptaw had 17 kills and Rick Osterloh had six kills and six stuff blocks for host Harvard (3-0) in a nonleague match.

Royal d. San Gabriel, 15-9, 12-15, 15-1, 8-15, 15-5--Craig Parker had 21 kills and Matt Brown had 10 kills and eight stuff blocks to lead host Royal to a nonleague win.

BOYS’ TENNIS

Brentwood 14, Chaminade 4--Brian Lim recorded a singles victory, and Chris Bosco and Eric Avakemian recorded a doubles win for host Chaminade (1-2) in a nonleague match.