SPORTSCOPE : Monarch Teams Set for a Run at 2-A Titles

Morningside High, which won the Southern Section Division VIII football title in December and the State Division III boys’ basketball title in March, will bid for Southern Section 2-A titles in boys’ and girls’ track Saturday at Cerritos College.

Field events start at 11 a.m. and running events begin at 1 p.m.

The Monarchs best chance for a title may be in the girls’ competition, however, where they are defending 2-A and state champions.

Morningside is led by sprinters Santisha Arnold, Tai-Ne Gibson, Jaronda White and Sonoma Nickson and triple jumper Shirena Harris.

The Monarchs had top qualifying times at the 2-A preliminaries last week from Nickson in the 100 meters and 100-meter hurdles, Arnold in the 200 meters, White in the 400 and Harris in the triple jump. They also had the top qualifying time in the 400 and 1,600 relays.

One of Morningside’s closest competitors for the girls’ title is expected to be Torrance, which finished third last season. The Tartars are led by Kim Blankenship in the high jump, Wendy McCamish in the 400 and Fiona Mason in the 300 hurdles.

Nicole Haynes of Bishop Montgomery is a title threat in the long jump and 300 hurdles.

Morningside’s boys, who have not won a Southern Section title since winning three consecutive 2-A championships from 1986-88, will be led by Travion Harris in the 200, Edward Turner in the 400 and long jump, and Levester Williams in the 300 intermediate hurdles.

In 4-A, Hawthorne and Peninsula have several athletes capable of winning titles.

The Hawthorne boys are led by hurdler Demond Smith, who was one of the leading qualifiers in the 110 hurdles and the 300 intermediates. The Hawthorne girls will be led by Porchia King in the 400 meters, Kendra Ossey in the 800 and Meshana Mays in the 100 hurdles.

Peninsula is particularly strong in the distance events. The Panthers are expected to be led by Goss Lindsey and Brian Steip in the 800 and 1,600, and Dan Minami in the 3,200. The girls’ team should be led by Maya Muneno in the 3,200.

Registration is under way for the 10th annual Vince Ferragamo Special Olympics Celebrity Golf Classic at 10:30 a.m. June 2 at Los Coyotes Country Club in Buena Park.

Among the celebrities scheduled to participate are quarterback Jim Everett and offensive lineman Jackie Slater of the Rams and former Rams Jack Youngblood and Lawrence McCutcheon.

The cost is $300 and includes lunch, refreshments and an awards dinner.

Information: Ed Chevalier at (714) 962-2724.

Cal State Dominguez Hills will hold its eighth annual golf tournament at 1 p.m. June 26 at California Country Club in Whittier.

The cost is $125 and includes green fees, cart rental and an awards dinner.

The deadline is June 16. Information: (310) 516-3893.

The Torrance Parks and Recreation Department will hold registration for its 1992 boys’ baseball and girls’ softball programs.

Children in kindergarten through fourth grade are eligible. Sign-up is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and June 6 at the department office, 3031 Torrance Blvd., Torrance.

The cost is $27.50. Information: (310) 618-2930.