CIF Tries to Rebound From a Bad Situation

The finals of the State track and field championships have turned into a public relations disaster for the California Interscholastic Federation, which sponsors the event.

After canceling the finals June 5 because of rain, CIF officials were criticized by coaches, athletes and fans across the state. Last week, Commissioner Thomas Byrnes was the target of many angry callers, some of whom felt he should step down.

The cancellation made headlines all over the country as well.

Although he initially stood by his decision, Byrnes softened his stance after pleas from many of the CIF’s 10 sections. A proposal by the Central Coast Section to reschedule the finals for this Saturday was accepted last Thursday after the commissioner discussed the matter with his executive committee.

The meet will be held at Cerritos College in Norwalk, with field events beginning at 3 p.m., running events at 4.

Trying to make a positive out of negative is not without sacrifice. In rescheduling the finals, the CIF had to agree to pay travel, lodging and meal expenses for athletes and coaches. That figures to wipe out any profit and could end up costing the CIF money.

“The bottom line is that we would like to put a positive spin on this whole thing,” Byrnes said. “We want to make this something very special for the kids, something they’ll always remember.”

Hal Harkness, City commissioner and meet director, said he expects 85%-90% of the qualifiers will participate.

“I don’t think the quality of the meet will be lost at all,” Harkness said. “Many of the participants attended meets over the weekend and have continued to train. The competition should be outstanding.”

Who shows up and how things go remain to be seen. But the CIF should be commended for trying to make the best of a bad situation, even though it will be impossible to please everyone at this point.

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Neal Robinson, a meet official for the Keebler International Prep Invitational in Chicago, has been busy shuffling entrants since the CIF rescheduled its track finals.

Many of California’s top seniors were invited to the June 19 invitational, which assembles athletes from all over the world. All-American sprinter Marion Jones of Thousand Oaks and distance runners Brian Wilkinson of Merced and Milena Glusac of Fallbrook are among those who had to scratch from the Keebler meet.

“Marion was our top draw, so it really hurts to lose her,” Robinson said. “Our meet is all-expenses paid, so we also lose out on those air fares. It’s also difficult to find replacements at this late date.

“This whole thing has been very upsetting,” he said. “The CIF should be criticized for the way they have handled this entire matter. They have not put the kids’ best interests first.”

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Chad Peare of Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills, a finalist in the shotput and discus, has not decided whether he will attend the State meet or the Keebler Invitational.

Peare set a goal before the season of getting invited to the Keebler Invitational, but his father said he is getting pressure from coaches at school to attend the State meet.

“My son has a very tough decision to make this week because he feels loyalty to both sides,” James Peare said. “He’s also battling the flu, which may factor into his decision. Everything is up in the air at this point.”

Prep Notes

Running back/second baseman Derek Swafford of Ventura has turned down a football scholarship to Northwestern and signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Swafford was selected in the third round of the amateur baseball draft earlier this month. He received a $114,000 signing bonus on top of an education package worth $56,000. . . . The first Catholic All-Star football game will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at La Mirada Stadium. The game features players from 35 area parochial schools. . . . Stan Thomas, Southern Section commissioner, said he will add media and public relations duties to his job requirements for the next calendar year. Scott Cathcart, media and public relations director for the past 10 years, is leaving this week to become assistant athletic director at Cal State Long Beach. Because of financial constraints, Cathcart is not being replaced. Thomas said he will share Cathcart’s duties with office employees Denice Thoman and Rhonda Frazier.

Times’ Top 20 Baseball Poll

The final Times’ top 20 high school baseball poll, with teams from the City and Southern Sections.

School Sect. Div. Rec. LW 1. El Camino Real City 4-A 24-2 2 2. Esperanza SS I 25-5 3 3. Simi Valley SS I 27-4 1 4. Crespi SS I 27-3 4 5. Bishop Amat SS III 27-1 5 6. Tustin SS III 22-9 6 7. Irvine SS III 23-8 7 8. SO Notre Dame SS I 22-6 8 9. Fountain Valley SS I 23-5 9 10. Diamond Bar SS I 22-5 10 11. Lompoc SS II 25-4 11 12. Dos Pueblos SS II 22-8 12 13. South Hills SS II 26-3 14 14. Yucaipa SS IV 24-7 18 15. Millikan SS I 18-7 15 16. La Quinta SS III 25-6 16 17. Sante Fe SS III 25-2 17 18. Norte Vista SS III 24-4 13 19. GH Kennedy City 4-A 24-4 19 20. South Gate City 3-A 26-5 20