McGill Goes 51-2 to Lead Nation

Lenny McGill took off like the wind and carried to a nation-leading triple jump of 51-feet-2 Friday night, but he first made sure the wind wouldn’t be a help.

McGill recorded the mark during the state high school track and field preliminaries before 5,420 at Cerritos Stadium.

“I was standing there waiting for the wind to die down,” said McGill, an Orange Glen senior. “I could see the clock, and it showed I only had 30 seconds left. Right then I felt the wind die down, and I just went for it.”

“It” turned out to be the national best by a half inch, ahead of Lemark Carter of Captain Shreve High in Shreveport, La. And the wind was indeed under the allowable.

Other top San Diego Section qualifiers for today’s finals included Fallbrook’s Brent Noon, who advanced in the shotput and discus; Rancho Buena Vista’s Kira Jorgensen, who will run the 1,600 and 3,200 meters; University City’s Jerome Price, who qualified in the long jump, and San Pasqual’s Francis O’Neill in the 800 and 1,600.

McGill’s national best came after West Bakersfield’s DeAndre Roberson nailed a 50-9 1/4.

“After he did that, I just ignored it,” McGill said. “I was trying to visualize that I had to do 53-0 to qualify; anything less is just not going to do it.”

As expected, Noon qualified first in the shot with a toss of 66-7. He was the third qualifier in the discus at 181-2.

Noon, who has thrown the shot 69-8 1/4, was asked if he accomplished his goal for the prelims.

“I really don’t think of just qualifying,” he said. “I always think ‘big throw.’ ”

Noon, also wants to put to rest his reputation as a shotputter first and a discus thrower second.

“I’m out here to win them both,” he said. “I’ll either take first or last (in the discus). I don’t want to take a strong third, or anything.”

Jorgensen cruised to an easy victory in the second heat of the 1,600 meters, clocking a 4:55.44, more than three seconds ahead of second-place Shelly Taylor of Edison.

Jorgensen was the second-fastest qualifier behind Fremont’s Beth Bartholomew (4:55.36). West Covina South Hills’ Karen Hecox ran 4:55.59.

One might think Hecox and Bartholomew would be Jorgensen’s motivating force, but she is driven by history. She is the two-time defending state champ in the 1,600.

“I want the 1,600,” she said in response to a question about how much she would save for the 3,200. “I don’t have anything to lose in the 3,200. The mile’s the one I set my sights on.”

If Jorgensen is to win her third consecutive title, she will have to jump to a big lead and hold on, as she did Friday. She can’t afford to stay in the pack.

“If it’s a tactical race, I’ll lose,” Jorgensen said. “Not because I can’t run a tactical race, but because I don’t have a kick like they do.

“But I don’t think you can run a state race tactically because there’s always someone who will (move away from the pack).”

Jorgensen said she will have to run a season best to win.

“I’m sure (the winning time) is going to be in the 4:40s,” she said. Her season best, which leads the state, is 4:53.66.

In the long jump, Price wowed the crowd with a leap that he estimated at 25-5. Estimated? It had to be. Price fouled on the takeoff.

After Price jumped 24-6, the third qualifying mark behind James Stallworth of Tulare (25-5 1/2) and Rich Laccay of Moreau (24-6 1/2), he chose to dwell on the unofficial leap.

“I think that was the section record right there,” Price said. “But tomorrow will be a lot better because I won’t have to wait so long after warmups.”

Price was in the last of six flights.

“Tomorrow I just got to come out and get ready,” he continued. “Tomorrow will be the first day I take seriously, I guess . . . I just come out here to have fun, but everybody else takes it so seriously.”