Fleshman Hopes to Capitalize

National leader Lauren Fleshman of Canyon High and state leaders Blaine Bussey of Taft, Oliver Jackson of Royal, Annmarie Turpin of Simi Valley and Porchea Carroll of Rio Mesa are expected to contend for individual titles in the state track and field championships at Hughes Stadium on Saturday.

The two-day meet starts today with qualifying rounds in every event except the boys’ and girls’ 3,200 meters.

Finals will be held Saturday, beginning with field events at 4 p.m. and running events at 6.

Fleshman, who has committed to Stanford, ran the fastest time in the nation this year--10:21.36--in the girls’ 3,200 at the Arcadia Invitational in April and is expected to battle defending champion Sara Bei of Santa Rosa Montgomery for the title.

Bussey, a senior, is favored to win the boys’ 400 after winning his second consecutive City Section title and running a region record of 46.3 in the Northwest Valley Conference final May 14. He is entered in the 200 and will run legs on Taft’s 400 and 1,600 relay teams.

Jackson, a junior, spanned a state-leading 24-4 3/4 in the boys’ long jump at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in April, but is coming off his first loss of the season, a fourth-place finish in the Southern Section Masters Meet at Cerritos College last Friday.

Turpin, who has signed with UC Irvine, cleared a state leading and Ventura County record of 5-10 1/2 to win the girls’ high jump in the Masters Meet.

Carroll, a sophomore, is co-state leader in the girls’ long jump at 19-2 and will compete in the 100 and 200.

Juniors Josh Spiker of Ventura and Fernando Lopez of Taft are the other athletes from the region expected to contend for titles.

Spiker’s 8:56.66 is the second fastest time in the state--and nation--in the boys’ 3,200.

Lopez won the City Section title in the boys’ high jump last week and is one of four competitors in the field with a best of 6-10.

Senior Gabriel Zarate of Parlier is the state leader at 6-11 1/4.