Gates Opened at Gardena for City Section 100-Meter Champion

Charles Gates, the 1992 City Section 100-meter champion at Locke High, has transferred to Gardena.

Gates, a senior, was suspended from Locke after becoming involved in an argument with campus security last week.

He was granted an opportunity transfer by Locke Principal Edward Robbs.

“I got mad and said a few words I shouldn’t have,” Gates said. “I figured I’d be better off somewhere else.”

Gates, who won the 100 at the Alemany Relays in March, won the 100 in 10.87 and placed fourth in the 200 in 22.12 in last year’s City championship meet.

Gates considered transferring to Dorsey or Fremont. At Fremont, he would have been reunited with former Locke teammate Brian Clark, who transferred earlier in the season. But Gates, who lives in the Fremont attendance district, changed his mind because of fear of gang violence at the schools.

He was denied admission at Washington before enrolling at Gardena. Gates worked out with the track team Tuesday and attended his first day of classes Wednesday.

He will compete in the 100, 200 and on the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams in the Mohicans’ Southern Pacific Conference meet Washington at home Friday.

“I can’t condone what he did, but he deserved an opportunity to defend his City title whether it’s at Locke or somewhere else,” Locke Coach Timm MacDonald said.

The addition of Gates, along with the return of defending 3,200-meter champion Morris Giddens, should bolster Gardena’s chances for its first City championship since 1975. Gardena finished third behind champion Birmingham and Locke at the 1992 City meet.

“A sprinter was what we needed most,” Gardena assistant Kevin Hughley said. “We were hoping for a top-five finish, but if he’s in any kind of shape we should have an outside chance (for the title).”