PREP TRACK ROUNDUP : Church Goes 47-2 1/2 in Triple Jump

Vince Church of Kennedy High School surprised even himself by winning the triple jump with a leap of 47 feet 2 1/2 inches at the Katella Relays on Saturday.

“My steps were all screwed up,” Church said. “And the basketball (season) went long. And I don’t have a coach. . . .”

Church’s opponents should have such troubles. Hise closest competition in the meet at Rancho Santiago College was El Modena’s Brian Valdez, who jumped 44-5. Church, a senior, spanned his longest effort on his first attempt and added subsequent marks of 46-2 1/2 and 46-8 while leading Kennedy to the Division III triple jump relay victory.

“I have to practice my steps and get them down,” said Church, who said he doesn’t know much about the technical aspects of his event. “I stutter-stepped on the 47-2 1/2 jump, and I wanted to go farther.”

How far?

“I want to break Singbandith’s record.”

Church, who played guard on Kennedy’s basketball team--which reached the Southern Section Division II-A semifinals--and rushed for 1,143 yards in football, was referring to Magnolia’s Phouphet Singbandith, the State champion who holds the Orange County record of 51-7 3/4. Singbandith jumped only 40-11 3/4 Saturday.

According to Church, Singbandith gave him some advice last year when they competed at the Masters meet.

“He talked to me about my steps,” Church said. “I don’t have a certain style. My style changes every time I jump, so I want to practice real hard, and I should get it (the record).”

Kennedy’s sprint coach, Mitch Olson, who helps coach Church, says he is almost self-taught.

“He’s beyond the level we can help, because none of us are experts on the jumps,” Olson said. “When you reach the level he is at, you pretty much do things on your own.”

In other boys’ field events, Esperanza’s Mark Parlin continued his improvement while helping Esperanza win the Division I shotput relay. He threw a career-best of 62-10 and combined with teammates Mike Burns (49-6) and Rich Gutierrez (43-7) for a total of 155-11 to break Katella’s meet record. Katella’s Kevin Carlson (6-8) combined with brother Brian (6-6) and Bernie Perkins (6-2) for a total of 19-4 in the high jump relay, breaking Savanna’s meet record set in 1979.

Saddleback captured the Division I boys’ team title, totaling 67 points to Villa Park’s 47. Katella was third with 46.

Saddleback won the 400 and 1,600-meter relays with El Modena doing well in the distance events, winning the 3,200 (8:12.8) and distance medley (10:48.0).

In girls’ events, Mission Viejo’s Tammy Graham led her team to the Division I team championship, leaping 17-10 3/4 in the long jump and 38-3 in the triple jump. Graham also ran the opening legs on the winning 400 and 1,600-meter relays.