Candaele Kicks Past Dameworth in 1,500 : High schools: Carpinteria star finishes with a 57.8-second last lap for a 3:52.01 run at Mt. SAC, fastest in the nation this year.

The high school showdown at 1,500 meters between Coley Candaele of Carpinteria and Brian Dameworth of Agoura in the Mt. San Antonio College Relays Saturday had a familiar ending for the two rivals.

Since their first meeting in an age-group track meet several years ago, the premier prep runners have developed a trend: Dameworth takes an early lead and then tries to hold off a Candaele kick.

At times, Dameworth, the nation’s top prep cross-country runner last winter, is able to hold on, but usually, such as Saturday, Candaele’s finish is too strong for his Agoura rival.

For three laps Dameworth loped in front, but with 400 meters remaining, Candaele unleashed a 57.8 final lap to win in a time of 3:52.01, the fastest time in the nation this season.

“This was a typical race between us, even though this was the first time we (has) met this season,” said Candaele, who also has the fastest 800 meters time (1:51.19) in the nation this season. “When we run against each other it comes down to who is on and who is off. And he could have just been a little off today.”

Dameworth, regarded as a better long distance runner and leading the nation this season in the 3,000 meters, was also caught by Danny Jordan of Venice, who ran a 57.5 final 400 meters to finish second in a time of 3:52.73. Dameworth finished third at 3:53.53.

“The race was simple: I lead and he kicks,” Dameworth said. “If we had to run a 2,000, I would have a better chance.”

Candaele, named the meet’s top boys’ track performer, also used his strong finishing talents in the distance medley less than 90 minutes after his 1,500-meter victory. Behind his come-from-behind anchor leg, Carpinteria won in an impressive time of 10:22.37.

Jerome Price of San Diego University City was named the meet’s top male field performer with his winning wind-aided long jump leap of 25-4 3/4.

With traditional track power Hawthorne resting its top sprinters, Chris Alexander and Erik Allen, because of injuries, Donovan Burks of Washington remained undefeated in the 100 meters this season with a 10.60 wind-aided victory over Andre Green of Long Beach Poly and Erik Mitchell of Los Alamitos.

Burks, who finished third in the 200 meters, also anchored the Generals’ winning 400-meter relay team, which won in a time of 41.1.

Marion Jones of Oxnard Rio Mesa ran away with the girls’ top track performer award.

Jones, a 14-year-old freshman, won the 400 meters in the fastest time in the nation this season and ran a leg on the Spartans’ winning 800-meter relay team.

Jones, who earlier this season set age-group records in the 100 and 200 meters, moved up to the longer race in attempt to break the 53.82-second record for 14-year-olds, set by Kennedy’s Denean Howard. But Jones fell short with a time of 54.21.

“This was my only real shot at the record because I will concentrate on the 100 and 200 for the rest of the season,” said Jones, whose efforts took a blow when Janice Nicholls of Bakersfield, the nation’s top 400-meter runner, was disqualified for a false start.

“When she was disqualified, it took a little bit of the pressure off, but I was hoping to run against her because I know she is a good quarter runner,” Jones said. “She would have really pushed my time.”

The girls’ top field performer was junior Juliana Yendork of Walnut, who won the long jump with a leap of 18-10 3/4 after winning the triple jump Friday with a wind-aided mark of 41-10 1/2, breaking her own meet record.

“I have been bothered by a strained right hamstring, but it did not bother me today,” Yendork said. “What bothered me more was the fact that I have not been competing. I just need to get more work in.”

Yendork was not the only girl performer to shine in the field. Two throwers from Bakersfield exchanged top marks in the discus and shot-put.

Melisa Weis won the discus with a throw of 164-4, with teammate Dawn Dumble second at 145-8. In the shot put, Dumble turned the tables by winning with a toss of 48-9 1/2, with Weis second at 48-2.