State Prep Track and Field Meet : Conway Makes the Hawthorne Boys Solid Favorites

The top high school track and field athletes in California will gather today for the opening of the State meet at Cerritos College at 3 p.m.

The meet ends Saturday.

Hawthorne, the Southern Section 4-A Division champion, is a strong favorite to win the boys’ team title, thanks largely to senior sprinter Curtis Conway.

Conway, who has yet to win an individual state title, is the leading qualifier in the 100 and 200 meters, with winning times in last week’s Masters meet of 10.66 seconds and 21.04, respectively.

Conway will also anchor the Cougars’ 400-meter relay team, which has set state records in each of its last two outings. In winning the Masters meet last week, the Cougars ran 40.25 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in the nation.

Beno Bryant of L.A. Dorsey is favored to win the 400 meters, after winning the City Section title last week in a city record of 46.36.

Bryant will also anchor the Dons’ relay teams, which will challenge Hawthorne in both the 400- and 1,600-meter events.

In the middle distances, Coley Candaele of Carpinteria looms as the runner to beat, after being a double winner in the Masters meet. He won the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes 10.54 seconds and the 800 meters in 1:51.58.

There is no strong favorite in the girls’ competition.

Pasadena Muir, the 4-A Division champion, is expected to be in the hunt for the team title, based on its strong group of sprinters, headed by junior Inger Miller.

However, Muir Coach Jim Brownfield says that it is too close to call.

“This is going to be one exciting meet,” he said. “There is just no way to figure out this meet.”

Angela Burnham of Oxnard Rio Mesa, the defending state champion in the 100 and 200, is expected to double once again, despite a strong challenge from Miller.

Burnham won the 100 and 200 at the Masters, with the fastest times in the nation this season of 11.52 and 23.49, respectively.