THE PREPS : Hawthorne’s Smith Put on Notice

Heading into the outdoor high school track and field season, Demond Smith of Hawthorne High was considered Southern California’s top hurdler.

After finishing fourth and second, respectively, in the 110-meter high and 300-meter intermediate hurdles in last year’s State championship meet, Smith was easily the best returning hurdler.

Keith Moten of Loyola, however, might dispute that after racing Smith for the first time last Saturday night in the 50th annual Pasadena Games at Occidental College.

Moten, a 6-foot-4 senior from Compton, came from behind twice and upset Smith in both races, staking his claim as the top hurdler in the area.

“It’s a great feeling to know that I’ve finally made it into the spotlight with the rest of the big athletes around like (Smith),” Moten said. “My goal was to pick up where I left off last season, which I did.”

After running a personal best hand-timed 14.4 seconds at the end of last season, Moten looked smooth in winning the 110 hurdles in an electronically timed 14.44 to Smith’s 14.56.

In previous years, Moten ran only the high hurdles because he did not like the longer intermediates. He changed his mind this season, making his debut Saturday.

In the 300 hurdles, Moten overcame a slight early lead by Smith and won going away in 38.40, which would have put him fourth in last year’s State final.

Even though Smith dropped out of the race with 60 meters remaining because of a leg cramp, Moten was impressive in his first outing.

“My height, at 6-4, helps me a lot,” said Moten, coached by former Loyola hurdler Al Sanford. “I have a little more speed than your normal tall hurdler.

“The key for me is to keep it going now. I’m looking forward to running in the big meets now.”

The next major meet for Moten will be the Arcadia Invitational April 11.

After suffering a wrist injury during basketball season, two-time defending State 100- and 200-meter champion Marion Jones of Thousand Oaks showed no signs of being behind schedule with her training by winning two events at the Pasadena Games.

Jones, a junior who transferred from Oxnard Rio Mesa, won the 200 and 400 meters and also anchored two second-place finishing relay teams in her first big outdoor meet of the season.

“I definitely did not expect to be running this fast so early,” said Jones, who set meet records in the 200 at 23.47 and the 400 at 54.44. “I knew the 400 was going to be a tough race, but I felt really good.”

Jones was pleased with her victory over Janice Nichols of Bakersfield in the 400, which she decided to run instead of the 100. Nichols is the defending state 400 champion.

“I was entered in the 100, 200 and 400 meters,” Jones said. “It was up to me on which event I decided to drop. I was psyched up for the 400, so I didn’t run the 100.”

The 10th annual Southern Section-City all-star basketball doubleheader will be held Friday at Cal State Dominguez Hills, starting with the girls’ game at 6:30 p.m.

Coaching the City girls’ team will be Washington Coach Phil Chase, who retired this season after having led Washington to four consecutive City 4-A Division titles. Playing for him will be City player of the year Charisse Sampson of Washington, Alana Collins of University, Michele Campbell of Wilmington Banning, Ruth Flores of Jefferson and Keshana Ledet of Washington.

Maurice Roberson of Lynwood will coach the Southern Section stars, headed by Jody Anton of Brea-Olinda, Allison Arredondo of Cerritos Gahr, Janet Davis of Lynwood and Jeffra Gausepohl and Monique Morehouse of Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The boys’ game will begin at 8:30 p.m., with Carson Coach Richard Masson guiding the City team. Some of the top players for the City all-stars include James Gray of Westchester, Burt Harris of Fairfax, Brandon Martin of Washington, Rudy Washington of Carson, Marquis Burns of Reseda and Todd Whitehead of Fremont.

Lynwood Coach Bill Lee will direct the Southern Section team, headed by Tom Airey of Capistrano Valley, Quincy Brewer of Riverside North, Matt Fuerbringer of Costa Mesa Estancia, Reggie Geary of Santa Ana Mater Dei, Brandon Titus of Cerritos Gahr and Rob Ramaker of Santa Barbara San Marcos.

The all-star game will be the last coaching assignment for Carson’s Masson for some time. In a surprise announcement last week, he resigned from the post he has held the last 10 years.

“I’ve given notice that I want to take at least a year off,” he said. “I just need a little time to get away and see what direction I want to go in.”

Masson guided the Colts to seven league titles. They advanced to the Division 4-A semifinals this season.

In another coaching change at Carson, Jim D’Amore is no longer a co-coach of the football team. After one year in that capacity, D’Amore was reassigned as an assistant defensive coach.

Marty Blankenship assumes full control of the team. He has added Marv Marinovich, father of Raider quarterback Todd Marinovich, to his staff as the strength coach.

Carson is coming off a disappointing 6-5-1 season.