DeGrammont Steals Show With Hurdles Victories

The Irvine Invitational was worth the wait for Tustin hurdler Dominique DeGrammont.

DeGrammont won the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles Saturday in times of 14.51 seconds and 38.72. The meet had been scheduled for March 9, but heavy rains in February delayed the resurfacing of Irvine High’s all-weather track.

DeGrammont, a state meet finalist in the high hurdles a year ago, overcame slow starts in both races.

“I’m happy with the [intermediate hurdle race], but the 110’s I could’ve done better,” said DeGrammont, who has run 14.09 already this spring.

DeGrammont, voted boys’ athlete of the meet, edged Esperanza senior Pat Swanson (14.67) in the shorter race and Irvine’s Phillip Oh (39.55) in the longer race.

Villa Park’s Lyndon Covington and Orange’s Terrence Williams dominated the sprints.

Covington anchored the 400-meter relay to victory in 43.67, then raced to victories in the 100 (11.18) and 200 (22.80) in come-from-behind fashion.

“I don’t have a good start, but I guess with me it’s more about power and speed late in the race,” Covington said.

Williams narrowly missed the 44-year-old school record in winning the 400 meters in a county-leading time of 48.74.

Williams’ coach, Lanny Carter, set the standard of 48.5 in 1952.

“He really surprised me today,” Carter said. “His works habits have really improved this year.”

Angie Winkler of Fountain Valley won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races, distancing herself from the field early in both victories.

Winkler, a senior headed for Utah State, ran 5:12.07 in the 1,600 and 11:11.59, earning athlete of the meet honors in the process.

Other double winners included: Marie Philman of Edison in the shotput (38 feet 11 1/2 inches) and discus (140-6) and Kelly O’Connor of Esperanza in the long jump (17-9) and triple jump (38-9 1/2).

Track notes

David Allen of Woodbridge jumped 14-6 to win the pole vault and Scott Moser of Huntington Beach threw 168-9 to win the discus. Stephanie Heup and Michelle McCaslin of Marina gave the Vikings a 1-2 finish in the pole vault, both clearing 10-0. Dan Noll of El Toro threw 53-6 1/2 for victory in the shotput.