Crow’s Feat Topped by 47.9 in 400 at Conference Finals

His left leg was taped because of shin splints and a tender hamstring hampered him last week, yet Roderick Crow of El Camino Real High was in peak form Friday in the Northwest Valley Conference track and field finals at Birmingham.

The Conquistadore senior had two career bests and tied another while winning three events, topped by a school record of 47.9 seconds in the 400 meters.

The time cut 1 1/2 seconds from Crow’s previous best, was the fastest time in the City Section this season and broke the school record set by Kerry Gold in 1971.

Gold ran 48.9 for 440 yards, which is equivalent to 48.6 for 400 meters.

Crow left a quality field in his wake. Birmingham senior Maurice Threewitts finished second in 49.2 and Taft sophomore Sedric Hurns was third in 49.5.

“I was surprised with the time,” Crow said. “I didn’t think that I was running that fast. I was trying to run a good pace, but I didn’t think I had run a 47.9. I was thinking a low 49 or a high 48.”

Crow made up the stagger on Threewitts after the first 200, extended his lead around the second turn and maintained most of it down the homestretch.

“When I came off the turn, I said, ‘Now I have to really work the last 110,’ ” Crow said.

Crow held off a late charge by Threewitts to win the 200, 21.9 to 22.0, and won the triple jump with a mark of 45 feet 3 inches, four inches better than his previous best.

Crow finished fourth in the long jump at 20-9 1/2, but that couldn’t take the shine off sparkling performances in the other events.

Birmingham’s Demetrus Patterson won the 100, coming from behind to defeat fellow sophomore Quincy Wright of El Camino Real, 10.9-11.0.

Patterson also anchored Birmingham to victory in the 400 relay as the Braves clocked a season-best of 42.1.

Wright was expected to battle Crow and Threewitts for the 200 title, but he apparently lost track of time and failed to make the start of the race, as did Travis Bell of Kennedy.

Wright could get an at-large berth in the 200 when the City Section preliminaries are held at Birmingham on Thursday.

Taft was not at full strength in the girls’ meet due to injuries, but the Toreadors still appeared capable of challenging for the City title in two weeks if they are healthy.

Eboni Grayson won the 100 and 200 with career-bests of 12.1 and 25.1 and ran the second leg on the Toreadors’ 400 relay team that won in 49.3.

Fellow sophomore Frances Santin anchored the 400 relay team, won the 100 high hurdles in a career-best 15.1 and the 300 lows in 45.5.

Freshman Tiffany Smith won the 400 in 59.7, but pulled out of the 200 due to tightness in her hamstring.