Holcomb’s Surge in Mile Relay Gives Westlake a Victory

Terry Manning, the Westlake High boys’ track coach, tried to remain optimistic entering a Marmonte League dual meet against Royal on Thursday. But no matter how many times he projected a final score, he continued to forecast a Westlake loss.

“I had it close, but I figured there was no way we could win,” said Manning. “I figured that they would sweep us in the shotput and discus and that we would never be able to recover from that.”

True to form, Royal swept Westlake in the weight events, but the Warriors were able to rebound on the fleet feet of David Brownlee and Erik Holcomb.

Brownlee and Holcomb combined to win three events and Holcomb made up a 15-yard deficit on the anchor leg of the mile relay--the final event--as Westlake won the relay and upset host Royal, 69-67.

“This was just a great track meet,” Manning said. “And I’m not just saying that because we won. There were a lot of very good performances on an incredibly hot day. And it came down to the mile relay. That’s my favorite event, and I really enjoy it when it decides a meet.”

Brownlee put Westlake in a position to win with fine efforts in the sprints. The talented but often-injured senior won the 100 meters in 11.0 seconds and the 220 yards in 22.9. He also ran the third leg on Westlake’s victorious 440-yard relay (44.9).

Holcomb, a freshman, won the 440 in 53.2, ran the second leg on the 440 relay and brought the Warriors from 15 yards behind on the anchor leg of the mile relay with a 50.9 split.

Westlake (3-1 in league meets) would not have been in position to win were it not for Brownlee, who hadn’t raced in three weeks because of an injured left hip.

“It’s basically been day to day with him all season,” Manning said of Brownlee. “But he had some good consistent workouts this week so we thought he was ready to run well.”

Demetrius Wynn and Keith Burke also won events for Westlake, Wynn taking the 120-yard high hurdles in a personal best of 14.9 and the 330 intermediate hurdles in 41.3.

Burke, who anchored the 440 relay, won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 3 1/2 inches.

Burke’s win was Westlake’s lone victory in the field events.

Dean Hansen won the shotput at 49-0 and Allan Kent took the discus with a throw of 142-10 for Royal.

Robert Blomquist was the only Highlander to win a running event, taking the mile in 4:47.0 and getting credit for the win in the two mile, although he was forced to run an extra 440 because of an official’s error.