Long Beach Wilson Girls Dethrone Poly; Muir Boys Win

One perennial team champion was dethroned, another continued its dominance, and a national high school federation record was nearly broken Saturday at the Southern Section divisional track and field championships before 7,812 at Long Beach City College.

Long Beach Wilson High was victorious in the girls’ Division I team competition, ending a four-year reign by its longtime Moore League rival Long Beach Poly.

Led by junior sensation Kinshasa Davis--who set a division record of 53:08 in winning the 400 meters, anchored a win in the 1,600 relay and finished second in the 200--the Bruins scored 76 3/4 points. Poly finished second with 62.

Wilson received help from three freshman sprinters. Veronica Callaway, Latrice Borders and Joni Smith combined with Davis to record the fastest prep 1,600 in the nation (3:40.07). They also teamed with senior Nadine Mydett to win the 400 relay and Borders and Smith finished third and fourth respectively in the 200.

“Our three freshmen are three of the main reasons we won today,” said Davis, whose 400 time was also the fastest in the nation this year. “I’m already excited about our chances next year.”

Pasadena Muir, with 75 points, won its fourth consecutive Division I boys’ team title. Long Beach Poly was second with 49.

Junior Obea Moore, who has qualified in the 400 for the Olympic trials, ran the fastest prep 400 in the nation this year (46.03), won the 200 and led the Mustangs to victories in the 400 and 1,600 relays.

Kim Mortensen of Thousand Oaks won the 3,200 in 10:03.11. The federation record is 10:03.07, set in 1987 by Erin Keogh of McLean High in Virginia. Mortensen also set a Division I record in the 1,600 (4:46.28).

Sophomore Angela Williams of Chino remained undefeated this year in the 100 and 200 with times of 11.74 and 23.62.