Katella’s Vinh Benefits From Off-Season Training

The high school portion of the L.A. Invitational Indoor track and field meet Saturday at the Sports Arena offered a sneak peek at some well-known Orange County athletes, as well as a few that intend to be.

Katella junior Kenny Vinh wasn’t even the best hurdler on his team last season, but could be one of the county’s best after a dedicated training regimen over the past eight months. He proved it by winning his heat in the 50-meter hurdles in 7.20 seconds, the seventh best time of the four-heat event.

Among the four competitors Vinh beat to the finish line, at least two had been timed in the mid-fourteens over 110 meters, which is the length ran in regular high school competition. Vinh’s best official time at that distance is 15.10, although he was hand timed at 14.8 during two league meets last season.

“This is surprising,” said Bob Hunt, who coaches the Katella girls’ team and the boys’ hurdles. “It’s early in the season and he had a sprained ankle he’s just recovering from. That’s why I’m surprised to see him win this race.”

Vinh hopes to go beyond what Jim Bittner accomplished at Katella last season. Bittner finished fourth in Division II in the 300-meter hurdles. The school record of 13.33, which was set by Terry Johnson in 1986, is still a ways off for Vinh, however.

“I’m trying to get there, but it’s going to be tough,” Vinh said. “It’s not going to stop me, I’m just going to go for it.”

Another speedster on the rise is Santa Ana Valley sophomore Crystal Davis, who ran the 10th-fastest time in the girls’ 50-meter dash (6.81). Davis, who finished third in the Division II 200-meter final last season, said a slow start cost her.

“I didn’t get off the blocks. That’s something that is probably my worst defect,” she said. “But I just came out of basketball on Thursday and my body is not in as much shape as it is going to be.”

Costa Mesa senior Jamie DeNoewer showed she hasn’t lost a step from the fall cross-country season, where she won a division title. DeNoewer finished first in the girls’ mile (5:33.64), holding off Lakewood St. Joseph’s Tricia Harris (5:34.51).

In the girls’ 880: Corona del Mar junior Liz Morse finished second (2:22.66) to eighth-grader Treani Swain of Oakwood Academy (2:16.14). In the girls’ triple jump: Tynisia Edwards of Foothill finished second (36-3 3/4) to Blessing Ufodiamia (38-8) of Long Beach Poly. Stephanie Sampson of Esperanza had the second best mark in the shot put (39-2 1/4).

Esperanza’s 3,520-yard relay team posted the top time (9:58).