Jackson Tries to Get Jump in Four Events

Oliver Jackson of Royal High has laid relatively low for the last three weeks, but the UCLA-bound senior is expected to be one of the standout performers in the Ventura County track and field championships at Moorpark High today.

Jackson, runner-up in the boys’ long jump in the state championships last year, is entered in that event, the triple jump, the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and the 1,600 relay in the meet that starts with the open competition at 3 p.m.

Jackson won the long jump and 300 intermediates in the county championships last year and was victorious in the long jump and triple jump in 1998.

But he hasn’t competed in a major invitational since leaping 23-11 1/2 to place second in the long jump in the Flo Jo Memorial Invitational at Citrus College on April 8.

“We’re still working very hard,” Coach Don Reyes of Royal said. “He’s still working hard in the weight room so he’s a little beat up and sore right now. We didn’t want him competing too much because of that.”

Jackson is one of 12 returning individual champions in the meet.

Clark Goodwin of Ventura is heavily favored to win his second consecutive boys’ 400 title and will run on teams in the 400 and 1,600 relays.

Josh Spiker of Ventura, who has signed with Wisconsin, won the boys’ 3,200 in the meet last year, but will run in the 800 and 1,600 today.

Will Svitek of Newbury Park is defending champion in the boys’ shotput and will also compete in the discus and long jump.

Porchea Carroll of Rio Mesa won the girls’ 100, 200 and long jump and was a member of the victorious 400 relay team last year, but will compete in the 100, long jump and 400 and 1,600 relays today.

Lisa Wygant of Camarillo will try to win her second consecutive titles in the girls’ 100 high hurdles and triple jump. She’s also entered in the high jump, which she’s favored to win, and the 300 low hurdles, which she won in this meet in 1998.

Laura Jakosky of Agoura will attempt to defend her title in the 3,200 meters and win her first in the 1,600.