Jones Dominates at USA Track & Field Championships

After missing the 1996 season with a series of foot injuries, sprinter Marion Jones returned to center stage Thursday at the USA Track & Field Championships at Indiana University Stadium.

Jones, who won a record nine state titles while at Rio Mesa (1990-91) and Thousand Oaks (92-93) highs, ran yearly world-leading times of 10.98 and 10.92 seconds in the first and semifinal rounds of the women’s 100 meters. The meet will determine the U.S. team that competes in the World Championships in Athens in August.

The times crushed Jones’ personal best of 11.14 from 1992 and moved her into a tie for eighth on the all-time U.S. list.

Jones helped North Carolina win the 1994 NCAA title in women’s basketball as a freshman but she has concentrated on track this year competing unattached.

Parker signs: Westlake High catcher Chris Parker, a sixth-round draft choice of the Detroit Tigers last week, has signed and will report to the Tigers’ rookie league team in Lakeland, Fla., on Sunday.

Tigers scout Dennis Lieberthal said Parker, who made a commitment to attend Oklahoma, received a signing bonus that includes four years of college tuition. He was the only catcher drafted by the Tigers before the 19th round.

“He was the best high school catcher in Southern California and he’s going to surprise an awful lot of people with his bat,” Lieberthal said.

Dominique’s deal: Andy Dominique of Nevada and Alemany High has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and will play for Batavia, N.Y., of the Class-A New York-Penn League.

Dominique was a 26th-round pick in last week’s draft.

Dominique, Big West Conference player of the year, played third base and catcher at Nevada but the Phillies will play him at first base.

LMU bound: Mike Schultz, a 6-foot-7 pitcher from Cleveland High, has committed to Loyola Marymount.

Schultz is the fourth pitcher from the region recruited by the Lions, joining Crespi’s Brian Felten, Quartz Hill’s Mark Madsen and Chaminade’s Chris Gray.

Schultz, drafted in the ninth round by the Philadelphia Phillies last week, was close to committing to Cal State Northridge before that program was eliminated.

Transfer: La Canada High lineman Chad Dyslin and quarterback Casey Clausen will transfer to Alemany.

Dyslin, a 6-foot-1 1/2, 255-pound tackle and linebacker, was an All-Rio Hondo League selection on offense last year.

The 6-4, 180-pound Clausen was the No. 2 quarterback under his father, Jim, who resigned as coach earlier this year to pursue other coaching opportunities.

Benedetto in: Mike Benedetto, an outfielder from Crescenta Valley High, has replaced Glendale’s Fernando Rios on the East roster for the Bernie Milligan all-star baseball game Saturday. Rios signed with the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Hired: Tim Knight, a former boys’ basketball coach at Highland High, has been named girls’ basketball coach at the school. He replaces Cammy Henderson.

Knight, an English teacher and golf coach at Highland, posted a 38-17 record in two seasons as the school’s boys’ basketball coach from 1994-96.