Williams Still Chasing Brown in 110 Hurdles

Al Williams of Irvine may be the best overall hurdler in the state this season, but he won’t rest easy until he beats James Brown of Dana Hills in the 110-meter high hurdles.

Williams and Brown raced together in the event at this year’s Los Angeles Invitational, Irvine Invitational, Orange County Championships, and in separate heats in Saturday’s Division II track and field preliminaries at Trabuco Hills. Each time, Brown has finished a step ahead.

“I haven’t got him yet,” Williams said. “I don’t know what it is. I’ve run a better time [in the 110 hurdles this season], but when we come face to face I haven’t beat him yet.”

Williams ran a season-best 14.23 seconds at the Sea View League finals last week; Brown posted his best mark of 14.51 in the South Coast League finals. But in the qualifying heats for Saturday’s divisional championships at Cerritos College, Brown had the third-best time (14.83) and Williams the fifth (14.96).

Williams did come back with his best effort of the season in the 300 hurdles, posting the top qualifying time of 37.60. He was third in the state last season.

Other top qualifiers were Mater Dei’s Mike McNair in the 100 (10.71) and 200 (21.41) and Mission Viejo’s Mark Gleason in the 800 (1:55.60) and 3,200 (9:25.20).

Gleason won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the Orange County Championships last month, but Mission Viejo Coach Gene Garule said Gleason might pass on the half-mile next weekend. The Diablos’ chances of winning a divisional title were hurt when sprinter Mike Chavis was disqualified for a false start in the 100 and Mike DiCiolla failed to qualify in the discus.

Mission Viejo’s Ashley Bethel posted the top marks in the 100 hurdles (14.30) and long jump (18 feet 4 1/2 inches), was third in 200 (24.99) and also qualified in the high jump (5-4). Freshman Dana Bethel had the best time in the 300 hurdles (44.79), the second best in the 100 hurdles (14.52) and was third best in the long jump (17-3 1/4).

Other top qualifiers were Meryl Stone of Woodbridge in the 100 (12.16) and 200 (24.89), Corona del Mar’s Liz Morse in the 800 (2:17.44) and Trabuco Hill’s Darnesha Griffith in the triple jump (37-1 1/2). Griffith also qualified in the long jump and high jump. Santa Margarita freshman Lori Mann was the only Orange County runner to qualify in the 1,600 and 3,200.