Dorsey’s Track Teams Again in the Running

The Dorsey High girls’ and boys’ track teams once again appear ready to make their annual runs at City Section championships.

The girls, under Coach Paul Knox, have won three consecutive city titles. Coach Ralph Tilley’s boys are two-time defending champions.

“We’ve been fortunate during our tenure to have some outstanding athletes come through,” said Knox, also the Dons’ football coach. “Coach Tilley schedules an intense invitational season, and that really gives our athletes a chance to be seasoned by the time the city championships come around.”

The Dorsey boys showed their strength with some standout individual performances at last weekend’s Northridge relays.

Junior Greg Lee won the 110 high hurdles in a wind-aided 14.12 seconds. Junior Terry Ellis finished third in 14.49.

Senior J.L. Lewis won the long jump with a wind-aided mark of 22 feet 1/2 inch and the triple jump with a wind-aided 46-10.

Senior Amon Head was second in the long jump at 21-11 1/2.

Other talented competitors include Aaron Dean, a quarter- and half-miler who has signed a letter of intent to play football next season at Nevada; senior Eric Irvin, a high jumper and triple jumper, and Edell Shepherd, a long jumper and triple jumper.

The Dons have a deep sprint and relay corps led by Major Cobb, Reggie St. Claire and Jamal Nelson. Dorsey finished fourth behind Pasadena Muir, Woodland Hills Taft and Long Beach Poly in the 4 X 100 relay at Northridge.

Knox said his girls’ team will not be as strong as it has been the last three years, but Dorsey has several standout performers, including Georgette Counte, a state qualifier in the high jump who also runs the 330 hurdles and Natalie Shorter, a state qualifier in the long jump.

Long jumper Niesha Williams and sprinter Ozzie Jacobs are also top performers.

Taft is regarded as the favorite to win both the boys’ and girls’ city titles this year, but Dorsey, Van Nuys Birmingham, Gardena and Crenshaw also figure to be there at the finish.

The city finals will be staged May 28 at a site to be determined.

The state meet is scheduled for June 5-6 at Cerritos College.