Stein Puts a Couple of Victories on Hip

Natalie Stein of North Hollywood High is in the midst of the best track season of her three-year career.

But the junior put little stock in her victories over Valerie Flores of San Pedro in the girls’ 1,600 and 3,200 meters in the San Fernando Valley Invitational at Birmingham High on Saturday.

Stein ran 11:10.9 to Flores’ 11:14.2 in the 3,200 in the morning and 5:13.0 to Flores’ 5:22.6 in the 1,600 late in the afternoon.

But she quickly pointed out Flores is coming back from a strained right hip muscle that caused her to miss the first month and a half of the season.

“She’s been injured,” the soft-spoken Stein said. “I’m sure she wasn’t running her best [Saturday]. . . .

“I hope she’ll be back in the City finals.”

Flores, who beat Stein for the 1998 and 1999 City Section cross-country titles, set the pace in the 1,600 and 3,200, but Stein pulled away from her in the final lap of both races.

The UCLA-bound Flores and Stein clocked 3:58.8 at the 1,200-meter mark of the 1,600, but Stein surged away 20 meters later and Flores held off a fast-closing Sarah Scarfe of Campbell Hall for second.

“I was hoping that I was in a lot better shape than this,” Flores said.

“It’s disappointing, but it’s an eye-opener too. It shows me I’ve got a lot of hard work to do. . . . Hopefully I can be back in shape by the time of City finals.”

Stein, who ran 2:23.8 to win her heat of the 800 on Saturday, expressed similar sentiments.

Not because Flores could push her to faster times, but because “It’s not fair that she’s been injured.”

Freshman Allyson Felix of L.A. Baptist and junior Melissa Astete of Birmingham turned in the other top performances in the girls’ meet.

Felix, known for her prowess in the 100 and 200, won the 400 in a career-best 57.6.

Astete, two-time defending City champion in the pole vault, cleared 10-9 in that event before missing three times at 11-3.

Seniors Tony Herr of L.A. Baptist and Brian Anderson of Burroughs and junior Tom Kubler of Viewpoint turned in the best marks on the track in the boys’ meet.

Herr ran a career-best 1:56.0 in the 800 to turn back a career-best 1:56.7 by Daniel Clements of Taft.

Anderson won the 1,600 in 4:18.5 and appeared headed to victory in the 3,200 before Kubler stormed past him coming off the final turn to win in 9:37.4.

Anderson’s 9:39.6 was a career best by more than 10 seconds, but he plans to run the 800 and 1,600 in the Foothill League championships next month.

“I was hoping this would be a breakthrough race,” Anderson said after the 1,600. “Hopefully, I’ll get a lot faster in one of the [upcoming races].”

Senior Fernando Lopez of Taft, defending City champion in the high jump, won that event in 6-7 and the long jump in 20-9.

Senior Drake Morgan of Canyon placed first in the pole vault in 13-9.