Southern Section Track and Field : Top High School Girl Sprinters to Square Off Again in Masters

Angela Burnham of Oxnard Rio Mesa and Inger Miller of Pasadena Muir, two of the top high school girl sprinters in the nation, will continue their two-year rivalry tonight in the Masters track and field meet at Cerritos College.

The meet begins at 6:30 p.m. with field events with the first running event at 7 p.m.

The Masters’ combines all four Southern Section divisions, with the top five finishers in each event qualifying for the state meet June 2-3 at Cerritos College.

During Saturday’s divisional finals, Burnham won in the 3-A Division with a wind-aided time of 11.31 in the 100 meters and 23.68 in 200. She also anchored the Spartans’ two winning sprint-relay teams. Miller won the 4-A Division 100 in a wind-aided 11.53 and the 200 meters in 24.10. She also anchored Muir’s 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams to second- and first-place finishes, respectively.

Burnham, who has the best times in the country in the 100 and 400 meters this year, has won three sprint state titles during her high school career, including a sweep of the 100 and 200 meters against Miller last year. However, Miller, who has the fastest 200 time in the country, defeated Burnham in their two 100-meter matchups this season, with Burnham winning their only 200-meter race--at the Arcadia Invitational April 8.

Muir Coach Jim Brownfield says Miller, a junior, is almost back to her early season form after suffering severe leg spasms.

“We had to back off in training after she started to tighten up in the Arcadia meet,” Brownfield said. “We had to bring her back slowly and be patient because we need her in four events.

“She has totally recovered from her spasm problem, but we have not been putting any extra burden on her to finish first or second. We just want her healthy.”

Curtis Conway of Hawthorne is the favorite in the boys’ 100 and 200 meters, having won the 4-A Division titles in a wind-aided 10.44 and 21.25, respectively. He will also anchor the Cougars’ two sprint-relay teams, which recorded the fastest times out of the four divisions.