Grayson to Keep Taft on Track

She is known as fluff or fluffy to her family, friends and teammates.

But don’t let Eboni Grayson’s cute and cuddly nickname deceive.

The Taft High senior is a fierce competitor who is expected to lead the Toreadors to their first girls’ title in the City Section track and field championships at Birmingham High today.

The meet will start with the field events at 4 p.m., followed by the running events at 6:05. KLCS, channel 58 in most areas, will televise the meet from 6 to 9:30.

“I feel good. I feel real good,” Grayson said when asked about Taft’s chances at winning. “I’m both excited and nervous because I know I can place high in all my events. I think I have a chance to place first in every one, so that’s exciting.”

The UCLA-bound Grayson is the defending City champion in the 100 and 200 meters and also is favored in the triple jump. In addition, she will anchor Taft’s favored 400 relay team.

She was the No. 2 qualifier in the sprints behind Gardena senior Krista Groves in the City preliminaries last Thursday, but don’t bet against Grayson in those events.

She was ranked third in the 100 and second in the 200 entering the City championships last year, but defeated Dorsey senior Janice Thomas for both titles.

“She definitely has the ability to rise to the occasion,” Taft assistant Neil Boggess said. “She seems to run her best times in the big meets at the end of the season.”

After running school records of 12.00 seconds in the 100 and 24.42 in the 200 in the City meet last year, Grayson placed eighth in the 100 in 12.01 and fourth in the 200 in 24.29 at the state championships.

She didn’t run particularly fast during the first half of this season, either, but clocked a wind-aided 11.91 in the 100 and a season best of 24.34 in the 200 last week.

Grayson took up the triple jump in earnest this season and bounded a school record of 38-8 to win the Northwest Valley Conference finals two weeks ago and set a meet record of 38-6 1/2 last week.

She is one of three Taft girls favored to win individual titles.

Frances Santin, who has signed a letter of intent with Cal State Northridge, is a heavy favorite in the 300 low hurdles and could win the 100 highs if Groves falters.

Sophomore Jayda Bailey is favored to win the 400, could contend for a top-four finish in the 200 and also will run legs on the Toreadors’ favored 400 and 1,600 relay teams.

Birmingham and three-time defending champion Dorsey appear to be the teams with the best chance of winning if Taft falters.

Dorsey is favored to win its third consecutive boys’ title, but Taft and Gardena will be contenders.

The 400 will be a key event for Taft. Blaine Bussey, a junior, and seniors Larry and Lawrence Jones had the Nos. 1, 2, and 4 qualifying times last week.

A similar finish today would give the Toreadors 22 points and a 1-2-3 sweep would be worth 24.