Harrison Puts Dana Hills in the Fast Lane

In an area primarily known for its distance runners, a sprinter--Dana Hills sophomore Bryan Harrison--is making a name for himself this spring.

Harrison tied the Orange County record in the 100 meters two weeks ago, finishing in 10.56 seconds to tie the mark by San Clemente’s Tim Martin in 1991.

Harrison also has run the sixth-fastest 200-meter sprint in county history under any conditions (21.30 wind-aided) this season.

Harrison, 5 feet 11, moved to Laguna Niguel from Florida the summer before his freshman year.

Carey Hubert, Dana Hills boys’ track coach, fondly remembered his first meeting with Harrison.

“He was wearing these big, black tennis shoes and catching people on the track,” Hubert said. “I wondered what he’d do with a pair of track spikes.”

Hubert found out quickly as Harrison swept through the South Coast League that season, finishing undefeated in dual meet competition. He won the 100 meters and finished second in the 200 at the league finals.

“I think it’s the shoes,” Hubert said, laughing. “He’s got two pair now.”

Harrison hasn’t slowed down since he laced up his first pair of spikes.

His sophomore season has been nothing short of spectacular.

Harrison opened the season with a 100-200 sweep at the Irvine Invitational, then lowered his personal bests to 10.70 and 21.64, respectively, finishing third in the prestigious Arcadia Invitational.

“I didn’t know how good he was until that Arcadia meet,” Hubert said. “He stayed with the best in the nation.”

The next weekend at the Mt. SAC Invitational, Harrison finished second in both races, again running best times of 10.64 and 21.30.

Although his Mt. SAC times were wind-aided, they were fast enough that Harrison began to re-evaluate his season’s goals.

“I figured that after last year I would probably make the Master’s Meet (the final qualifying meet before the State championships),” Harrison said. “I didn’t think I would be running this fast this year.”

Harrison next swept the Orange County Championships competition, running a wind-aided 10.59 and 21.45. He tied the county 100 record at the league preliminaries two weeks later at Trabuco Hills High. Later that day, he came back to post a legal-wind, hand-timed personal best of 21.2 in the 200.

“We really wanted to go after some fast times at the prelims,” said Hubert, adding that Harrison would have an extra edge since he also wouldn’t have to compete in the relays, which weren’t contested at the prelims.

“Lately, he’s been starting to run his own race,” Hubert said. “He’ll come in at 10.60 or 10.70 no problem now, where before he ran just fast enough to win.”

Next up for Harrison are the Southern Section finals Saturday at Cerritos College. But he’s already thinking about advancing farther.

“I’m looking to get to State (June 3 at Cerritos College) and do well,” Harrison said. “But if I drop my times and still get knocked out along the way, I’ll feel good about the season.”

Harrison played defensive back for the Dana Hills football team in the fall, but he might give up the sport to concentrate on track.

“I hear what people are saying (about quitting football),” Harrison said. “At first it was almost a given that I was going to play football, but if I can run a 10.3 or something in the next few weeks, it may change my mind.”

Hubert says he won’t try to influence the young sprinter either way.

“The decision about football is definitely out there,” he said, “and I tell him, ‘It’s totally up to you, young man.’

“It’s just been fun . . . to get a chance to be up close to a kid this talented.”