Long Beach Schools Favored in Track Finals

Southern Section track and field championships are up for grabs Saturday at Cerritos College, but it’s likely that the prestigious Division I team titles will be taken home to Long Beach.

Long Beach Poly’s long quest for its sixth major division boys’ title--its first since 1965--is expected to come to an end on the strength of a team that features top sprinters and distance competitors.

The defending state champion Jackrabbits have two of the fastest sprinters in the state in juniors Darrell Rideaux and Kareem Kelly. Senior Chad Durham, the state Division I cross-country champion, is favored to win the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races.

Long Beach Wilson is considered the front-runner for the girls’ title. The Bruins won their first championship in 1996.

Wilson is led by outstanding sprint, middle distance and relay corps that features, among others, juniors Latrice Borders and Jonie Smith and freshman Lashinda Demus.

Chino senior Angela Williams, Track and Field News magazine’s 1997 national female athlete of the year, will try to defend her titles in the 100 meters and the long jump. She is also favored to win the 200, an event she did not compete in at the Southern Section meet last year.

One of the featured races will be the Division III boys’ 100, which includes Sherman Oaks Notre Dame’s Justin Fargas and Mission Hills Alemany’s Miguel Fletcher. Fargas finished first, Fletcher second at last year’s state championships.

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The Division I boys’ volleyball playoffs have thus far played out to form.

Top-seeded Newport Harbor will play Huntington Beach Marina, second-seeded Laguna Beach meets Santa Maria, third-seeded Santa Margarita will play Crescenta Valley and No. 4 Manhattan Beach Mira Costa meets Simi Valley Royal in quarterfinal matches on Friday.

Semifinals in three divisions will be played next Wednesday.

Championship matches are May 30 at Cypress College.