Rested Hawthorne Sprinters Shatter State 400 Relay Record

Sometimes a little rest can be a big shot in the arm.

Just ask the Hawthorne High track team.

Several of the Cougars’ sprinters were suffering from minor injuries in preparation for the CIF Southern Section finals last week, so Coach Kye Courtney decided to give the team a little time off.

The Cougars, in turn, responded to their coach Saturday at Cerritos College by shattering the state 400 relay record with a time of 40.36. It was the sixth fastest time ever recorded nationally.

The record was previously held by Muir High of Pasadena, which ran 40.78 in 1987.

“It’s just amazing,” said Courtney, whose team will compete in the CIF Masters meet Friday before going on to the state finals. “We had so many guys that were wrapped up this week that we just practiced two days and took the rest of the week off.

“We’ll probably work hard on Monday and Tuesday, then take it easy the rest of the week before the Masters.”

Junior Chris Alexander, who ran the first leg of the race, said the rest was long overdue.

“We were refreshed,” he said. “A lot of people needed to rest, and everything just fell into place today.”

The Cougars also won the 1,600 relay with a time of 3:13.05. The Cougars were challenged throughout most of the race by San Bernardino (3:15.68) but Curtis Conway, running the anchor leg, pulled away at the finish.

The Cougars were successful in other events as well.

The girls 400 relay team qualified for the Masters with a time of 47.11, which was good enough for fifth place overall.

The girls 1,600 relay team also will move on to the Masters after finishing sixth overall with a time of 3:47.78, just under 10 seconds slower than the top time.

Alexander, Conway and Erik Allen all qualified in the 100, while Anthony Smith qualified in the long jump with a leap of 24-2 3/4. Dean Dunbar (14.39) and Keith Pouncey (14.26) both qualified in the 110 high hurdles.

The Cougars’ Kesha Mapuin, with a time of 56.01 in the 400, also qualified.

Other area qualifiers included:

Kerrie Pegues, St. Bernard (400); St. Bernard (400 relay); Lisa Leslie, Morningside, Jennifer Tully, Torrance, Bonnie Jones, St. Bernard (long jump); Marilyn Cragin, Miraleste (high jump); Laurie Lucas, Palos Verdes (3,200); Jerrald McCladdle, Centennial (400); Erin Morris and Felice Lipscomb, Santa Monica (100 low hurdles); Lipscomb (100).