SOUTHERN SECTION TRACK AND FIELD : Orange County Distance Runners Lead Way in Preliminaries

Orange County distance runners dominated the Southern Section Division III preliminaries Friday night at Long Beach Veterans Stadium.

Garrett Jensen of Sunny Hills and Mike Balderas of Garden Grove took turns winning their races.

Jensen opened the day with a victory in his heat of the 1,600 meters, running 4 minutes, 21.20 seconds. Balderas then (1:56.05) held off Jensen (1:56.66) in the final heat of the 800. The two posted the day’s fastest times.

“My day goes 1,600, 800 then the mile relay, so it gets less important as the day goes on,” said Jensen, who will attend Dartmouth in the fall.

Balderas, who qualified in the 1,600 with a time of 4:28.69, had a different outlook.

“He can have the mile, and I’ll take the 800,” said Balderas of his friendly rivalry with Jensen.

Laguna Beach senior Tiffany Boykin, a state meet finalist in the 800 meters a year ago, posted the second fastest qualifying mark, 2:19.82.

Anaheim junior Reuben Droughns posted the top mark in the long jump, leaping 22 feet 6 1/2 inches. The jump was also the best by an Orange County athlete this season.

Ken Traylor of Aliso Niguel, the reigning county champion, qualified in the long jump with a mark of 21-4 1/2.

Kevin Griswold of Garden Grove advanced to the finals in the 100 meters (11.05) and 200 meters (21.84), winning his heat in the later race.

“My 100 was real sluggish,” Griswold said, “so I got pumped up for the 200.”