These Knights Have Hard Day

NORWALK — It was a tough day to be a Knight--from Notre Dame High or L.A. Baptist--at the Southern Section divisional track and field finals Saturday at Cerritos College.

Notre Dame’s hopes for a Division III championship were foiled shortly after the meet started. L.A. Baptist faded much later--during the meet’s final race--in Division IV.

Both teams finished second in their respective divisions--Notre Dame behind Serra and L.A. Baptist back of Verbum Dei.

Notre Dame’s title hopes were dashed only 10 seconds into the 400 relay, its first race, when a baton exchange between lead runner Justin Fargas and Chris Forde was fumbled.

Forde ran back to retrieve the baton, but quickly realized that continuing would be pointless with the rest of the field well out in front.

Serra won the relay in 42.56 seconds to jump out in front--where it stayed--in the team standings. Serra finished with 72 points--31 in front of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame ran 41.98 in the 400 during qualifying a week ago, and a victory in the race Saturday would have given the Knights 10 more points and, perhaps, a jump start for the rest of the meet.

“It’s tough,” Forde said. “I got out a little quicker than usual and I reached back up too high. It was my fault.”

Forde tried to make up for the drop by winning the 400 in a school-record time of 47.80 seconds. He also was fourth in the 200 with a personal-best of 21.53. His previous best in the 400 was 48.20. His 200 time was a best by .16 seconds.

“I was mad,” Forde said. “Between races I didn’t talk to anybody. We were in the running for the title, but that relay kind of diminished our hopes.”

L.A. Baptist, behind strong performances by Aaron Davis and Brad Hegemier, held a four-point lead entering the day’s final event--the 1,600 relay.

The Knights had a three-meter lead halfway through the race, but faded to finish seventh. Verbum Dei won the event in 3:22.25, gaining 10 points on the Knights, who did not score.

That gave Verbum Dei the team title, 58-52.

“Everyone was well aware of the situation,” L.A. Baptist Coach Wes Smith said. “The guys pressed a little hard, but it was pretty exciting to be two laps away. I didn’t think we would get as close as we did.”

Davis, who came into the meet seeded seventh in the 100 and fifth in the 200, finished third in both events. Hegemier won both the 800 and 1,600 and advanced to the Southern Section Master’s meet Friday at Veteran’s Stadium in Long Beach with a time of 4:18.57 in the 1,600.

Ron Atkins of L.A. Baptist won the Division IV long jump with a leap of 22 feet.

Notre Dame got a strong showing from Fargas, who placed second in the 100 (10.47) and third in the triple jump (45 feet 5 inches). He also anchored the second-place 1,600 relay team, which set a school record of 3:17.39.

Alemany’s Miguel Fletcher fell short in his bid to repeat as the Division III sprint champion, finishing third in the 100 in 10.48 seconds--behind Henry Jenkins of Paso Robles (10.46) and Fargas.

Fletcher successfully defended his Division III title in the 200 with an effort of 21.14 seconds, barely edging out Warren Rodgers of Serra, who set a national freshman record of 21.15.

Brian Thoma of Chaminade came from behind to win the Division III 300 hurdles in 39.04. Matt Appel of Ventura won the Division II 400 in 49.09.