Carson’s Gonzales Races to Victory in 3,200 at City Semifinals

After a slightly disappointing performance in the 1,600 meters, Steven Gonzales of Carson High turned it on in the 3,200 and won going away in 9 minutes 31.6 seconds at the L.A. City Section track and field semifinals Thursday at Birmingham High in Van Nuys.

Gonzales qualified for the final in each event, but will probably run only the 3,200 at Thursday’s final at Birmingham.

Gonzales placed fifth in the 1,600 in 4:27.63.

“We have no chance for the team championship so that’s why Steve will concentrate on the (3,200),” Carson Coach Bill Mocnik said. “Besides, that’s what he would run at the state meet.”

The top four finishers in all events in the final will qualify for the state meet in two weeks.

“I hope to run faster than (my personal best of) 9:15 and break the City record, but that’s 10 seconds faster so I’ll push the pace and see what happens,” Gonzales said.

Jose Amaya of Wilson set the 3,200 record of 9:05.4 in 1971.

In the girls’ 800, sophomore Nicole Kleiner of San Pedro High emerged from obscurity to win the second heat and run the leading qualifying time of the meet--2:22.35.

Kleiner entered last week’s preliminaries with a season-best of 2:30 and improved almost four seconds with a 2:26.07.

On Thursday, Kleiner was in fifth place after a lap, but slowly made her way to the front. She finally overtook Patty Trejo of Belmont in the last 100 meters.

“I expected her to qualify but that was a pleasant surprise,” San Pedro distance coach Thom Lacie said. “You know two weeks ago she was running 2:30, but she’s worked hard and deserves everything she gets. Hopefully she’s not done.”

Kleiner was shocked to learn that her time was only one second off the school record of 2:21.3 set in 1987 by Cara Olson.

Steven Stanley of Gardena was another qualifier in the long jump, but was disappointed with his performance.

Stanley jumped 23 feet 2 1/4 inches, the second-best jump of the meet behind Taft’s Cornell Hill, but well short of last week’s jump of 23-6 1/4.

Sonya Bryant of Banning finished a disappointing fifth in the 100 and scratched out of the 200, but won the long jump with 17-6 jump.

Tiffany McLeod, Bryant’s teammate, was the top qualifier in the girls’ triple jump with a 36-0 3/4.

Narbonne junior Yolanda Wright, a state meet competitor last year, led all girls shotputters with a toss of 37-2 1/4.