Birmingham Athletes Might Have Field Day

Birmingham High track Coach Scott King said his athletes will have little advantage competing on their home track in today’s City Section championships, but when it comes to the field, that’s a different matter.

Birmingham must excel in the field events if the Braves expect to win their second boys’ title in the past three years.

Dorsey is favored to post its second consecutive victory in the meet, which starts with field events at 3 p.m. and running events at 4:30. However, King said his athletes’ familiarity with the jump runways and the high jump apron at Tom Bradley Stadium could prove decisive in the battle for first.

“Having the home-field advantage is definitely going to help us,” King said. “I think that working out on and practicing on our field all season is going to make our kids comfortable with the conditions, whereas kids from other schools might not feel that way.”

Dorsey, powered by sprinter Leo Settle, hurdler Anthony Mabry and two excellent relay teams, is expected to garner most of its points in track events, while Birmingham will be led by versatile James Lincoln.

Lincoln is favored in the high jump (personal best of 6 feet 10 inches), and could also win the long jump (22-2 3/4) and triple jump (46-0 1/2).

King doesn’t expect him to win the 110-meter high hurdles--the meet’s first running event--but if he and junior teammate Marvin Powell can place among the top five, they could give Birmingham a huge lift. Points are awarded to the top six finishers on a 10-8-6-4-2-1 basis.

Fairfax, Palisades and El Camino Real also could win if things break their way.

El Camino Real qualified only four athletes, but the Conquistadores could post 1-2 finishes in the pole vault and shotput.

Paul Kokorowski (15-6) and Craig Wobig (14-6) have the best marks in the vault, as do Brian Tade (57-7 1/2) and Jeff Macrea (51-7) in the shotput.

Andre DeSaussure of Taft is favored to win his second consecutive title in the 400, and Danny Haag of Granada Hills is a contender in the 110 highs, 300 intermediates and long jump.

Gardena, Westchester and Dorsey appear to be the top three girls’ teams, followed by Cleveland, Hamilton and Palisades.

Neisha Henderson of Cleveland has personal bests of 17-1 in the long jump and 36-7 1/2 in the triple jump, and is favored in those events.

North Hollywood’s Darvena Merritt is heavily favored in the shotput after setting a personal best of 42-2 in last week’s preliminaries. Tinika McThomas of El Camino Real is expected to contend in the 100 and 200, while Kristin Kabo of Kennedy is a threat in the 3,200.