Athletes From Area Schools to Compete in Sunkist Meet

Several South Bay athletes will be in the spotlight when the high school portion of the 33rd Sunkist Invitational indoor track meet begins at 12:10 p.m. Saturday at the Sports Arena.

Nine schools from the South Bay will be represented, including 16 individuals and 21 relay teams.

Leading the way will be perennial powers Morningside and Hawthorne.

The Morningside girls, who won the state title last season, have entered Sonoma Nickson in the 50-meter hurdles and Shirena Harris in the triple jump. The Monarchs also have their 4 x 160-yard relay and mile relay teams.

Nickson won the Southern Section 2-A Division title in the 100-meter hurdles in 14.42 seconds last season.

The Morningside boys will compete in the mile relay and seeded 8 x 160 relay.

Hawthorne’s only individual entrant in the boys’ division is Demond Smith, who will compete in the 50-meter hurdles. Smith won the 4-A title in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 37.97 last season. The Hawthorne boys are also entered in the two mile and mile relay and seeded 8 x 160 relay.

The Hawthorne girls will be led by Meshawna Mays in the 50 hurdles. The Cougars also have teams competing in the 4 x 160, two mile and mile relays.

Peninsula and Torrance are also entered in five events.

The Panthers’ Goss Lindsey and Brian Lindsey will compete in separate heats of the mile and Dan Minami will run in the two mile. Peninsula also will compete in the boys and girls two mile relays.

The Torrance girls, who finished third in the 2-A championships last season, have entered Wendy McCamish in the 500-yard run, Darlisa Good in the 55-meter dash and Kim Blankenship in the high jump. The Tartars are also competing in the 4 x 160 and mile relays.

Bishop Montgomery will compete in four events, including Nicole Haynes in the long jump and Leanna De Gazon in the rated mile. Haynes won the Southern Section 2-A title in the 300-meter low hurdles last season.

Other athletes competing in individual events include Kamara Mayberry of St. Bernard in the 880-yard run, Geoff Delahauty of West Torrance in the rated mile and Theron Hill of Carson in the football 50-meter dash.

Hill, who was a standout wingback at Carson, has signed a national letter of intent to play football at Washington next season.