Fletcher Has Another Go at Poly Duo

Miguel Fletcher of Alemany High will renew his rivalry with Darrell Rideaux and Kareem Kelly of Long Beach Poly in the Golden West Invitational track and field meet at American River College in Sacramento today, but said he’s feeling no pressure to defeat them.

The USC-bound Fletcher finished second to Rideaux in 100 meters and second to Kelly in the 200 in the state championships at Cerritos College last Saturday. But avenging those losses won’t be his No. 1 priority in today’s meet, which starts with the field events at 3:15 p.m. and the running events at 5:55.

“I’m just running to have fun,” Fletcher said. “This meet is a lot more relaxing than the state meet. I’m not worried about anything or anybody. I’m just going up there to run and have fun.”

With bests of 10.36 seconds in the 100 and 20.94 in the 200 this season, Fletcher could have a chance to be ranked among the top five in each event by Track & Field News magazine, but only if he runs well today and in the National Scholastic Outdoor championships at North Carolina State on June 19-20.

After the National Scholastic meet, Fletcher will begin preparing for the start of USC football practice on Aug. 4.

Freshman Schquay Brignac of Cleveland and sophomore Jessica Cosby of Granada Hills will also compete today.

Brignac, fourth in the girls’ high jump in the state championships, is hoping to equal her best of 5 feet 10 inches set last year.

The City Section champion said she felt capable of clearing that height in the state meet, but finished fourth after a third-attempt clearance at 5-8.

“I felt like I was so ready for [5-10],” Brignac said. “If I had been able to get a little better vertical height, I would have had it.”

Cosby, two-time City champion in the shotput, will attempt to top her career best of 45-3 in that event after placing fifth in the state championships at 43-1 1/4.