Jones Seeking 1st ‘Triple’ in Division Finals

Marion Jones of Rio Mesa High will attempt a feat unprecedented in Southern Section annals when the divisional track and field championships begin today at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

The Spartan sophomore is the No. 1 qualifier in the 3-A Division 100-, 200- and 400-meter races, and she will try to become the first sprinter to win all three events in the divisional championships.

Such a feat would virtually guarantee the Spartans a second consecutive girls’ 3-A team title. Rio Mesa also could challenge for a state championship in two weeks if Jones, who has the fastest girls’ time in the nation this year in all three sprints, competes in those events.

But co-Coach Brian FitzGerald intimated that such a prospect was unlikely.

After the divisional finals, Jones will drop the 400 and concentrate on the 100 and 200 in the Southern Section Masters meet next weekend and again in the state championships the following week. Jones has personal-bests of 11.38 seconds in the 100, 22.87 in the 200 and 53.89 in the 400.

“I don’t want to risk Marion for a team title,” FitzGerald said, referring to the state meet. “I’m not real selfish. We’ve had our fair share of success. I talked to her this week and we decided this would be her last 400. When you’re running so many races in a postseason meet, with a high level of competition, you’re going to risk injury. It’s not like other meets where it’s just a workout.”

Jones, the defending state champion in the 100 and 200, will anchor the Spartans’ top-seeded 400 relay team (48.74) of Stacy Rosemeyer, Alycia Burnham and Ashanti Austin in the first event today. After an almost two-hour break, Jones will line up for the start of the 400 and, about 30 minutes later, the 100 will start.

FitzGerald also will rely on Burnham and Karla Knudsen for points in the 3-A finals.

Burnham, the defending 3-A champion in the 100 low hurdles, is the No. 1 qualifier in that event (14.36 wind-aided) and the long jump (18-1 3/4). Knudsen, a first-year high jumper with a best of 5-foot-6, will contend in that event with Mia Palkie (5-6) of Buena.

In other events, Agoura’s Deena Drossin, the defending state champion in the 3,200, will contend with Marmonte League foes Jeannie Rothman of Westlake and Thousand Oaks sophomore Stacy Auer in the 3-A final.

Westlake’s Crystal Brownlee put the shot a state-leading 45 feet 2 1/2 inches in the 3-A prelims and is the No. 1 qualifier in that event by more than two feet.

Discus competition begins at noon and all other field events get under way at 2 p.m. Running events start at 4 p.m.