SCC’s Carlson Wins High Jump Title

Kevin Carlson became the first Southern California College track athlete to capture a national championship in the past 22 years, when he jumped 7 feet 1/2 inch to win the high jump at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday in Marietta, Ga.

Larry Holland of Southern California College placed third in the marathon with a time of 2:36.00.69, far behind first-place finisher John Viitenan of West Florida. Carlson’s brother, Brian, placed 12th in the high jump (6-8).

The Vanguard men’s team finished 19th overall with 16 points, 43 points behind first-place finisher Lubbock (Texas) Christian.

Also in the men’s events, Jaime Martinez, an Orange High graduate who now runs for Azusa Pacific, placed fifth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:49.17 and seventh in the 5,000 with a time of 14:47.54.

In the women’s event, Southern California College took 43rd place with two points. The two points were earned by Nikee Pool, who placed seventh in the 800 with a time of 2:13.21. Christine Smith of Southern University came in first in 2:09.80. The only other top finish for the Vanguards came from Heather Salisbury, who was 12th in the marathon in 3:50:14.09. Heather Thompson of Doane College was first in the marathon in 3:07:44.41.

The women’s team title was won by Central State (108 points).