Reyes Twitches Quickest, Wins a Pair of Sprint Titles

Orange Glen’s Glen Reyes was talking about “quick-twitch muscles” after his performances in the 100 and 200 meters during Saturday’s San Diego Section track and field finals at Poway High.

But it was more than a twitch that helped him make up three strides on front-runner Kiyoshi Moody of Castle Park in the final 30 meters of the 100 to win in 10.79. Moody was clocked at 10.81.

And it was more than a twitch that gave Reyes the lead in the 200 coming out of the turn and allowed him to cruise to the finish in 21.47, a 1989 section best.

“I stopped training with weights a couple weeks ago because my muscles were getting heavy and strong, but not quick,” Reyes said. “Now I’m starting to do drills to work on my quick-twitch muscles.” The drills, Reyes explained, have been designed by Dr. Michael Yessis, a bio-mechanical expert who is fluent in Russian and has studied and translated Soviet training manuals.

“I’ve got calls from Knoxville, Tenn., from USA Today; reporters doing stories on Dr. Yessis asking me if he’s done anything for me,” Reyes said.

The answer is evident, especially considering that Moody was the favorite in the 100.

Reyes also finished third in the long jump at 22-feet-7 1/4 behind Jerome Price of University City (24-6 1/4, season best) and Tom Brown of Castle Park (23-5 3/4).

Three events, two firsts. Not bad, unless of course one compares that against the accomplishments of San Pasqual’s Francis O’Neill. O’Neill also entered three events--the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters--and won each.

Other big winners included Brent Noon, the top finisher in both the discus and shotput; sophomore Eric Bell, who came from behind to edge Mario O’Conner of Escondido and Poway’s Jeff Haines in the 110 high hurdles, and Granite Hills pole vaulter Brian Chase.

The boys’ team champion was Fallbrook with 51 points. Orange Glen was right behind with 50.

O’Neill, who ran 5,600 meters and claimed his three titles in the span of two hours, finished the 800 in 1:52.40, the 1,600 in 4:14.09 and the 3,200 in 9:19.72.

As expected, Noon set another personal best. Unexpectedly, however, it did not come in the shotput. Noon’s discus throw of 185-4 was 4-9 better than his previous county best. In the shot, Noon’s top effort traveled 66-7, well below his national best of 69-8 1/4.

Afterward, Noon was pestered as to whether he is placing too much pressure on himself to reach 70-0; he got his 69-8 1/4 on May 5, Fallbrook’s last dual meet.

“No,” he answered, “because I feel I’m on track for next week (at the state meet in Cerritos).”

Bell was a surprise in 110 high hurdles. Besides being a sophomore, he was the second-to-last qualifier at last week’s preliminaries with a time of 15.33. Saturday he ran a county season best 14.55 into a slight head wind.

“The coaches and I, we all knew I could do it,” Bell said. “It was just a matter of concentrating and just getting over the hurdles.”

Chase’s new county best in the vault is 15-5. “I had a good, tall takeoff and made it pretty easy,” said Chase, who also spoke of difficulties at lower heights. “I had three attempts before I made 14-4. I was getting a little nervous there.”