TRACK AND FIELD : Clark Runs by Detours and Into City Finals

Ramon Clark wants to at least finish second again in the 800 meters in the City Section track and field finals. The Dorsey senior, who was a runner-up in the 1992 finals, won his heat in 1 minute 57.82 seconds in the City Semifinals Thursday at Birmingham High.

It was his fastest time this season and third-fastest qualifying time.

However, Clark’s trek back to the City final has been a rough one.

Clark recovered from pneumonia and chicken pox last month to run in the Southern Pacific Conference finals. He was disqualified for elbowing in a preliminary heat.

Clark, however, was selected as an alternate in the 800 for Thursday’s semifinals, but

“When they were reading off the names, I thought they were going to tell me there was not enough room,” Clark said. “I wasn’t really training the way I’m used to during the week. I never thought I’d get a second chance.”

The Dorsey boys’ team will be seeking its first City title in four seasons Thursday at Birmingham High in Van Nuys.

The Dons qualified athletes in 14 of the 15 events, including the 400- and 1,600-meter relays.

“I wasn’t quite sure before, but we’re definitely the favorite now,” Clark said.

Clark was also a member of the Dons’ 1,600-meter relay team, which had the fastest qualifying mark. Anthony Williams (50.5), Leo Settle (48.2), Clark (49.1) and Anthony Wheeler (49.6) combined to run 3:17.38, more than eight seconds faster than No. 2 qualifier Washington (3:25.62).

The Dorsey 400 relay team of E.Z. Anderson, Jabulani Smith-Freeman, Scott Miles and Settle ran the fastest time of 42.32. They also qualified in the 200 with a wind-aided 21.60.

The Dons placed two athletes in the 400, 800, and 110-meter high hurdle finals. Williams (49.49) and Marvin Hall (49.80) qualified in the 400 as well as Wheeler in the 800 (1:57.98).

Desean Hester and Anthony Mabry ran 15.1 and 15.2 to win their heats of the 110-meter high hurdles. Mabry also qualified in the 300 intermediate hurdles with a mark of 40.08.

The top eight in the sprints and middle distances, and the top 12 in the 1,600 and 3,200 advanced to the City championships.

Last season, the Dons entered the City finals as one of the favorites but tied for fifth after a series of mishaps.

Birmingham won the title, its first.

“We have more depth this time around,” Dorsey Coach Ralph Tilley said.

“We are still looking for first places, but this time we can still pick up points with fourths and fifths. If we score big in the relays, (Birmingham) is going to have to come and get us.”

Brenda Stewart of Locke was the top qualifier in the 400 (58.06) and 800 (2:19.69) and teammate Greg Jones has the best mark in the shotput with a toss of 56 feet 2 1/4 inches.

Kory Jones of Fremont had the fastest mark in the 200 with a wind-aided 21.26.

He also advanced in the 100 (10.75), 400 (49.47) and as a member of the Pathfinders’ 400 relay (42.39).

Fremont’s Cynthia Midkiff and Garfield’s Fred Bailon qualified in two events each.

Midkiff qualified in the 100 (12.70) and 200 (25.65); Bailon had the second-fastest marks in the 1,600 (4:23.93) and 3,200 (9:33.2).

The Belmont girls continued their dominance in the distances. Patty Trejo (5:15.41), Yolanda Gomez (5:25.65) and Auria Roberto (5:33.36) qualified in the 1,600.

Roberto (11:51.39), Gomez (11.53.46) and Trejo (12:16.50) and Flor Sanchez of Huntington Park (11:56.79) advanced to the 3,200 final.

Charles Gates, the defending City 100 champion who transferred from Locke to Gardena in April, ran the anchor leg on the Mohicans’ 400-meter relay team, which failed to qualify despite finishing second in their heat in 44.02.