Parlin Isn’t Strongest, but He’s Best

In an event often seen as a test of brute strength, shotputter Mark Parlin isn’t the strongest. In fact, Parlin has two teammates on Esperanza High School’s track and field team who are more powerful.

But Parlin is the best shotputter in the Southern Section, and he proved it again Friday, winning the event at the Southern Section Masters meet with a throw of 60 feet 3 1/2 inches.

Parlin, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, also finished fourth in the discus (175-4) and qualified in both events for the state championships Friday and Saturday at Cerritos College.

Such success for Parlin, a junior, is somewhat of a surprise, says Esperanza assistant coach Bill Pendleton. Parlin won the Empire League’s frosh-soph championship in the shotput last season, breaking the school and league records by two feet with his final throw. Parlin, 6 feet 1 and 220 pounds, has gained about 30 pounds and significant strength since football season.

Pendleton said Parlin’s athletic ability--which helped him earn second-team all-league honors as a running back--his work in the weight room and a new spinning technique have combined to improve his throws by more than 10 feet this season.

“I knew he would be a good thrower, but I’d be lying if I said I thought he’d go 60 feet,” said Pendleton, who is also the strength coach for the Aztec football team.

“To tell you the truth, he’s throwing just about where I thought he would as a senior.”

In the state meet, Parlin will get another chance to compete against Brent Noon of Fallbrook High, who has thrown 76-2 this season, the second-best all-time mark on the high school level.

When Parlin and Noon met in an invitational meet earlier this season, Noon won by 20 feet. Parlin has thrown 61-4, the second-best mark in the state this year, and though he has thrown a few feet farther in warm-ups, Parlin isn’t expecting any surprises.

“It’s cool to see a guy throw that far when he’s that young, but I’m not trying to beat him,” Parlin said. “I’m just trying to get second in state, basically.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Kevin Carlson (6-9 3/4), Katella high jumper, Magnolia triple jumper Phouphet Singbandith (49-8 1/2) and Dana Hills discus thrower Andy Marrone (184-1) each won his event at the Masters meet and qualified for the state meet Friday and Saturday.

Walter Dawkins pitched a no-hitter and hit a home run--his second of the playoffs--to lead La Quinta to a 1-0 victory over El Monte in a Southern Section 3-A second-round playoff game Tuesday.

Brett Hansen-Dent of Newport Harbor defeated Ari Nathan of Brentwood, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, to win the Southern Section singles tennis title Saturday. Mater Dei’s Jason Harnett and Adam Jarrett won the Southern Section doubles tournament Saturday, defeating Sean McKenna and Derek Shinden of Thousand Oaks, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4).

Marc Newfield of Marina hit solo home runs in each of the Vikings’ 5-A playoff victories last week. He homered in the third inning of a 3-1 victory over Esperanza Tuesday and in the third inning of a 4-0 victory over Mater Dei Friday.

Mark Parlin

Esperanza High School

* Position: Shotput/discus

* Height, Weight, Class: 6-1, 220, Junior.

* Last Week: Parlin won the shotput at the Southern Section Masters meet Friday with a mark of 60-3 1/2 and finished fourth in the discus. He will compete Friday in the state meet in the shot and discus.

* Season: Parlin won the shot and discus events at the Orange County Championships in March and was also the Empire League champion in both events.