Turner Isn’t in a Foul Mood Despite Failure in Long Jump : Track: Although he miscalculated on each of his long jump attempts in 2-A preliminaries, he regrouped and helped two Morningside relay teams earn a berth in State meet.

At the start of the Southern Section 2-A Division track and field preliminaries in May, Edward Turner of Morningside High had every reason for optimism about his chances in the long jump.

After all, he was the top-ranked long jumper in the Southern Section with a best jump of 24 feet, which made him a strong contender for a State title.

But Turner, 17, never made it past the 2-A preliminaries. He fouled on each of his attempts at the prelims and did not qualify for the division final.

Fortunately for Turner, he wasn’t shut out entirely in postseason competition. The junior has managed to advance in the 400-meter run and the 1,600 relay.

He will compete in both events at the State meet, which starts today at Cerritos College in Norwalk. With Turner running the anchor leg, the Monarchs are among the favorites in the 1,600 relay.

While he is looking forward to competing in the State meet, Turner is still disappointed about the event that slipped away from him.

“Looking back, I think my steps were just off,” he said. “Every time I jumped, I was about four inches over (the board). My coaches kept moving me back and I still kept fouling. Sometimes things just aren’t meant to be.”

Said Morningside Coach Ron Tatum: “I think if you look at it on paper and in the Southern Section, there wasn’t anyone who could jump as far as he has. But I don’t think he has let that take away from his other events. He’s big enough to go on and put it behind him.”

In fact, Turner said the disappointing finish in the long jump may have been a blessing.

“Even though I can’t compete in the long jump in the State meet, it’s going to make me work hard on it in the summer,” he said. “My long jump coach is going to help me during the summer so by the time track season comes along (next season) I can come in at 25 feet.”

Tatum said Turner has outstanding potential in the event and the long jumper has already set lofty standards for next season.

“For next year, I want to be in the top three in the nation in the long jump,” he said. “That’s my goal.”

For the moment, though, Turner said he is excited to be competing in the State meet.

“I’m just happy to be here,” he said. “The long jump is in the past now. So I’m just trying to work on the 400 and the relay so the seniors can leave here with a championship.”

The Monarchs, who won the Southern Section 2-A title for the first time since they won three consecutive 2-A championships from 1986-88, will not challenge for the state title. But they should make their strongest showing in the 1,600 relay, an event they ran in 3 minutes 14.52 seconds at the Masters Meet last week.

He said it helps to have competed in the State meet last year.

“Going into the track meet, we have a real good feeling about it,” Turner said. “We know how it feels to be there so we won’t be scared or anything. We’ll be a little nervous like anyone, but we know what it’s like to have everyone shooting at us.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that Turner will be competing in the 400 at State.

It is surprising to Turner because he didn’t compete much in the event last season and considers the 100 and 200 to be his best sprinting distances.

“I ran the 400 a few times in dual meets last year but it wasn’t my main event,” he said. “I don’t like it that much but I’m running it for the team. I’d much rather (run) the 100 and 200.”

Tatum said Turner is competing in the 400 instead of the shorter sprints because that is where he was needed the most this season.

“We put him in the quarters because we knew we had other sprinters who we could count on in the shorter distances and we knew he could handle it,” he said.

Tatum said competing in the 400 will also help condition Turner for next season, when he will concentrate on running the 100 and 200.

Tatum thinks Turner has a bright future regardless of the distance or event.

“It’s hard to say how good he can be because his sprinting ability has yet to be tapped,” Tatum said. “Obviously, his long jump potential is great and we’ll just have to see what develops in that event next year.”

It helps that Turner is easy for Tatum to work with.

“Edward is just a very coachable person,” Tatum said. “He is a very good student with a good attitude, and a lot of it is because he’s had very strong parental support and guidance. It’s a pleasure to have a young person like him in our program.”

Turner also plays basketball for the Monarchs, who won the State Division III title. The 6-0 guard spent most of the season playing for the junior varsity, but he joined the varsity for the playoffs.

Turner expects to play basketball next season but realizes his future is in track.

“I’m sure he’ll go somewhere (for college),” Tatum said. “He’s already had a lot of colleges interested in him.”

Turner knows what he has to do to earn a college scholarship.

“I just have to listen to our coaches because they are championship coaches,” he said. “If I keep working at it and keep improving, I know I can reach the next level.”