The 100-Meter War

Miguel Fletcher of Alemany High and Justin Fargas of Notre Dame took their rivalry in the 100 meters to another level in the Division III race of the Southern Section track and field championships on Saturday at Cerritos College.

Fletcher, the runner-up to Fargas in the 1997 state championships, came from behind to nip his Mission League rival, 10.36 seconds to 10.37, in a race in which they moved to second and third on the all-time region list.

Only Quincy Watts has run faster than Fletcher and the former Taft standout’s 10.30 clocking came in a meet at Brigham Young University and its 4,500 feet of sprint-friendly altitude.

Fargas, who defeated Fletcher in the Mission League finals on May 8, got off to a great start, but Fletcher was able to pass him at the finish line.

“I just focused on myself and told myself to pump my arms,” Fletcher said. “I got out pretty well, but you can always do something better in a race.”

The Michigan-bound Fargas hasn’t been able to run much in practice since straining his right hamstring in a meet against Loyola on April 1, but he led Fletcher for 95 meters before being overtaken.

“Justin had a real good race for 99 meters,” Notre Dame Coach Joe McNab said. “He had a real good race for 99 1/2. We just haven’t been able to run much the last couple of weeks. I don’t want to take anything away from Miguel, though. He ran a great race.”

The victory by Fletcher, who ran in a new pair of purple and yellow spikes , gave him his second Division III 100-meter title in the last three years after finishing third last year.

His time broke the Division III record of 10.54 that he set in 1996. Fletcher set another division record when he won his third consecutive 200 title in 20.95. That time broke his record of 21.06 from 1996.

“I felt real good,” Fletcher said after missing his personal best by .01 seconds. “I felt really relaxed. I feel I can [run in the mid-20-second range] if someone is [near me].”

Fletcher, who has signed with USC, junior Lauren Fleshman of Canyon and freshman Porchea Carroll of Rio Mesa each won two individual titles.

Fleshman won Division I championships in the girls’ 1,600 with a personal best of 4:58.54 and in the 3,200 with a season best of 10:58.05.

Fleshman won the 3,200 by more than 16 seconds over Quartz Hill senior Danielle Day after pulling away from Ayala senior Jennifer Burris in the final 250 meters of the 1,600.

“I felt really unsure of myself for the first 300 because I’ve never run the 1,600 in [the Southern Section championships],” Fleshman said.

Carroll won Division II girls’ titles in the 100 with a wind-aided 11.84 and in the 200 with a wind-aided 24.39.

She also placed fourth in the long jump with a wind-aided 18-3 1/4 and ran the first leg on the Spartans’ first-place 400 relay team that timed a season best of 48.51.

Rio Mesa finished second to J.W. North, but moved up to first after the Huskies were disqualified for passing the baton out of their zone.

Carroll was one of six athletes from Ventura County to win individual titles.

In the Division I meet, senior Ryan Meuse of Simi Valley won the boys’ 800 in 1:55.76, senior Ray Carmel of Channel Islands placed first in the long jump with a wind-aided 23-3 1/2 and Camarillo sophomore Lisa Wygant was an upset winner in the girls’ high jump with a personal best of 5-6.

Nordhoff’s Dusty Herman won the Division III boys’ 3,200 with a personal best of 9:14.90 and teammate Elaine Canchola won the girls’ race in a season best of 10:59.17.

In addition to Fargas’ second place in the 100, Notre Dame senior Rod Arzu placed second in the 400 with a personal best of 48.14, junior Kevin Lelles placed third in the 1,600 in a personal best of 4:19.42 and Fargas ran a 47.8 anchor leg on the Knights’ 1,600 relay team that placed second in a season best of 3:19.23.

The Division I boys’ 400 was notable because Camarillo senior Matt Lea placed second in 48.73 three weeks after clocking a career best of 47.38 to win the Ventura County championships.

Brenda Loree is a correspondent for The Times.