Dorsey, Taft Back for More

Dorsey’s boys will be trying to win a fourth consecutive championship and the Woodland Hills Taft girls will attempt to defend their title at the 65th annual City Section track and field championships tonight at Van Nuys Birmingham High.

Varsity field events begin at 4:30, running events at 6.

The top three finishers in each event qualify for the state meet June 4-5 at Sacramento.

Tonight’s meet features a scoring system that awards 10 points for first place, eight for second, six for third, four for fourth, two for fifth and one for sixth.

That bodes well for Dorsey, trying to become the first boys’ team to win four consecutive City titles since Jefferson won five in a row in 1949-53.

Senior hurdlers Greg Lee and Terry Ellis could provide the Dons with close to half their points if they repeat last year’s performance--they finished first and second, respectively, in the 110-meter high and 300-intermediate events.

Dorsey’s Haddow Weatherborne was the leading qualifier in the 200 and the sixth-fastest qualifier in the 100 at last week’s prelims.

Dorsey will be challenged by Taft, led by senior Blaine Bussey.

Bussey is the defending champion in the 400 and he has run a state-leading time of 46.3 seconds this year. He also is expected to contend in the 200 and will run legs on the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams.

Taft junior Fernando Lopez is favored to win the high jump and can also score in the long jump. Senior Marquis Brignac was the leading qualifier in the 100.

Among the other top boys to watch is Marshall’s Andre Young, who last year became only the second athlete in City history to win the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. Roman Gomez of Belmont achieved the feat in 1985.

Carson’s Machtier Clay qualified second in the 100, but he has run the fastest time this year by a City athlete--10.77 seconds.

Birmingham, with qualifiers in 13 of 15 events, and possibly Westchester will challenge Taft for the girls’ title.

Birmingham, seeking its first City girls’ title, is led by senior Tiffany Burgess, the three-time defending champion in the 1,600 trying to become the first athlete in section history to win the same event four years in a row.

Birmingham is also expected to score well in the pole vault. Sophomore Melissa Astete, the defending champion, junior Nicki Kohlieber and freshman Michelle Rivera could lead a 24-point Birmingham sweep.

Westchester features sophomore Laloni Anderson, who qualified first in the 400, second in the 200 and runs legs for the 400- and 1,600-relay teams.

Taft junior Deneeka Torrey is favored to win the 100-high and 300-low hurdles and is also a contender in the 100. Taft junior Erin Reed qualified first in the 200 and second in the 100.