Freshmen Lead Way in Sprints

Two exciting freshman girl sprinters, Zahalea Showe of Long Beach Poly and Angela Williams of Chino, shared the spotlight Friday during the high school portion of the 37th annual Mt. SAC Relays.

Showe, who ran the opening legs on the 400- and 800-meter relay teams, helped the Jackrabbits record the fastest prep girls’ time in the nation this year.

Williams, who ran the fastest prep girls’ 400 in the nation last week at the Arcadia Invitational, 54.59 seconds, won the 400 this time in 54.79, and also had legs of 22.9 in the 200-meter portion of the sprint medley relay and 10.7 while anchoring the 400 relay.

In the boys’ 400, Michael Granville of Bell Gardens posted the fastest prep time in the nation this year, 46.49.

“Zahalea has tremendous potential,” Long Beach Poly Coach Don Norford said after his relay teams ran 45.60, ninth-fastest prep time ever in the 400, and 1:37.32, eighth-fastest time ever in the 800. “She has all of the abilities of the three seniors she runs with.”

Filling out the teams are Aminah Haddad, Pam Simpson and Andrea Anderson, who ran the fastest prep girls’ 100 meters in the nation this year at Arcadia, 11.59, and has played a key role in Showe’s development.

“Andrea is my mentor,” Showe said. “I watch everything she does. I hope I can be as good, or even better than her when I’m a senior.”

Anderson said the 800 relay was the team’s major focus at Mt. SAC because it was the Jackrabbits’ last chance to set a record in the event.

“We were striving really hard to break a record today in something,” said Anderson, who ran the anchor leg in 22.7. “We won’t be running the (4 x 200) anymore this year, and although we didn’t get the record, we still gave a very good showing.”