TRACK SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS : Rio Mesa’s Jones Renews Her U.S. Credentials

Sophomore Marion Jones reinforced her claim as the best high school female sprinter in the nation Friday with three record efforts in winning four events as Oxnard Rio Mesa won its second consecutive Southern Section 3-A Division track and field title at Cerritos College.

Jones, defending State 100- and 200-meter champion, won both sprints along with the 400 meters and anchored the Spartans’ winning 400-meter relay team.

Jones set records of 11.30 seconds in the 100 meters (fifth fastest prep time of all-time); 52.91 in the 400 (a Southern Section record), and 23.06 in the 200, which is short of her national record personal-best of 22.87 but still broke the Southern Section divisional meet record.

Joining Jones in the record books was Juliana Yendork of Walnut, two-time defending State long and triple jump champion. Yendork set a national prep mark by winning the 2-A Division triple jump in 43 feet 6 inches, while also winning the long jump in 20-1 3/4 and finishing third in the 100.

Pasadena Muir won its fourth consecutive girls’ 4-A Division championship behind Akua Sutherland, who won the 100- and 300-meter low hurdles, and Deanna Knowles, who finished second in the 100 and 200 meters.

Ricky Carrington of Compton was the top performer in the boys’ competition in leading the Tarbabes to the 4-A Division title. Carrington won the 100 (10.48), 200 (21.30) and anchored Compton’s second-place finishing 400-meter relay team.

Thousand Oaks ended Anaheim Esperanza’s bid for its third consecutive 3-A Division championship behind Jack Bellamy’s victory in the 200 meters in 21:70.

Compton Centennial won the 2-A Division title with a 1-2 finish in the 400 meters by Gerald McCladdie (47.67) and Rod Steel (48.02).