STATE JUNIOR COLLEGE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS : Glendale’s Beck Gathering Momentum in Intermediates

A single hurdle remains for Marty Beck.

The Glendale College sophomore will attempt to cap an undefeated season in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles Saturday night in the state junior college championships at Santa Barbara City College.

Beck, bound for UCLA, posted the fastest mark in the state at 50.97 seconds en route to winning the Southern California championships last Saturday at Cerritos College, and he lopped nearly a second off his previous best of 51.84 set in the Western State Conference finals April 27.

“I can’t be in any better shape than I am now,” said Beck, who placed ninth in last year’s state meet in his first year competing in the hurdles. “I’m not going to place ninth this year. I’m looking to win, but I’m going to run my own race.”

Melanie Clarke of Valley is the favorite in the heptathlon.

However, the freshman from El Camino Real High has been slowed by a sprained right ankle.

Dave Swanson of Glendale is the leading qualifier in the high jump. Swanson cleared 7 feet 0 1/4 inches in the regional meet.

Rod Carrillo of Moorpark and Ryan Rapoza of Ventura will compete in the javelin and decathlon.

Other local qualifiers include Glendale’s Rick Provenzano in the 800 meters (1:53.60) and Marji Gilles in the triple jump (37-3 1/4) and heptathlon (4,008 points), and Ventura’s Jaime Galindo in the 5,000 (14:46.21) and Simone Cain in the 200 (23.97) and 400 (55.00).

Competition will begin at 10 this morning with the heptathlon. The women’s 5,000 and men’s 10,000 meters will be the only finals held today. The other events will be contested Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m.