IRVINE TRACK AND FIELD INVITATIONAL : Cannon’s Knee Passes Test in Triple Jump

Robert Cannon didn’t know what to expect in the men’s triple jump at the Irvine Track and Field Invitational Sunday at UC Irvine.

After all, he was jumping in his first meet since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in late September.

Cannon, who competed in the 1988 Olympics for the United States, didn’t really have any competition to worry about after his second attempt, however. After leaping a sub-par 46 feet 8 3/4 inches on his first try, Cannon broke the meet record on the second, winning with a jump of 53-3. Greg Harper, competing unattached, was second with a jump of 51-3 and Torrey Barr of the South Bay Track Club was third (50-6). The record of 51-6 1/2 was set in 1989 by Will Foster.

“I had knee surgery in the fall and there were a bunch of things wrong with my knee,” said Cannon, who first noticed the problems when his knee locked up while he was shopping. “The doctor that operated on me said I had (an inflamed knee) and a crater in my (kneecap).

“I rehabilitated it through December, then I brought things back slowly, not doing any bounding until February.”

Cannon was a little tentative Sunday, shortening his normal approach on the runway by about 50 feet. Even so, Cannon, who was ranked sixth nationally last year, had three jumps exceeding 50 feet.

“It felt pretty good, but with this being my first time out, I don’t really know what will happen,” said Cannon, who lives in Long Beach. “I just came down here to work on things and I was more worried about myself than the competition.”

Former Los Alamitos High School runner Mark Junkerman also wasn’t worried about the competition he faced in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Junkerman, who finished eighth in the steeplechase at the 1988 Olympic Trials, ran virtually by himself, winning in 8 minutes 46.30 seconds. Chris Lugo of UC Riverside was second in 9:35.26.

It was Junkerman’s first steeplechase race in two years. Junkerman, who competed for UCLA until 1987, reduced his training mileage after the 1988 trials in order to give his body a rest. Instead of leaping over barriers in the steeplechase, he began to work on his speed by running 1,500- and 3,000-meter races.

“I got tired of running with everybody until 500 meters to go and then (watching) the top guys beat me,” Junkerman said. “I ran the mile (1,500) always with the idea that I was going to go back to the steeplechase this year.”

Junkerman said he hopes to compete in the steeplechase at the Jack in the Box Invitational May 20 at UCLA.

In the javelin, Seppo Raty of Finland, bronze medalist at the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1987 world champion, won with a throw of 256-10, just missing his meet record of 257-6 set in 1988. Even though he won the event, Raty was not pleased with his mark.

“In Finland, we always have competition at six o’clock in the evening and maybe this is too early for me,” said Raty, who has thrown 280 feet. “(Also) there wasn’t any feeling (when I threw 78.28 meters (257-6).”

Mike Morales of UC Irvine broke the meet record in the hammer throw with a toss of 206-6. Morales already has qualified for the NCAAs with a throw of 212-0. He also placed second in the shotput (56-1 3/4) and seventh in the discus (161-7).