Four-Star Performance by Morgan Carries Taft

After a solid week of practice, Chris Morgan of Taft High expected something like this to happen.

But the junior said his performance Friday against Cleveland surprised even him.

Morgan came through with his best effort on dirt this season in all four of his events, including three first-place finishes for the Toreadors in a 70-57 victory over Cleveland in a West Valley League dual meet at Cleveland.

Sprinter Fred Williams and distance runner Daniel Clements won two events each and the Taft boys clinched their second consecutive league dual meet title. The Toreadors tied for the title three years ago.

Coach Bill Paden of Cleveland thought his team had an outside chance against the Toreadors (6-0, 5-0 in league).

“We knew everything had to fall into place for us to have a chance to win and it didn’t,” Paden said.

He said the Cavaliers (5-2, 3-2 in league competition) were particularly hurt by Taft’s one-two finishes in the 100-meter dash and the triple jump.

“Giving up those points was like a 16-point swing in the meet,” Paden said. “After that, I knew in my heart that we were sunk unless something special happened.”

Unfortunately for Cleveland, it was the Toreadors who came through with the most memorable performances.

Morgan won the 110-meter high hurdles in a hand time of 13.9 seconds. He turned in an automatic time of 13.94 at the FloJo Memorial Arcadia Invitational on April 8.

Morgan followed his performance in the 110 highs by winning the 300 intermediate hurdles in 40.1 seconds and the long jump with a leap of 20-8.

He finished a close second to Williams in the 100 meters in 10.7.

“I knew this was going to be a tough meet for us and I like it when there’s pressure on me,” Morgan said. “It shows me if I have heart and I think I showed that I do.”

Williams, No. 1 in the state in the 200, fended off Jason Lovell of Cleveland, who ran 21.7 seconds, to win in 21.6. He took the 100 in 10.6.

Clements who won the 1,600 in 4:37.4 and the 3,200 in 10.04.0.

Taft’s girls beat Cleveland, 66-61.

Cleveland (5-2, 3-2) made it close with a come-from-behind victory in the 1,600 relay in 4:04.2 that was bolstered by a strong third leg by Danielle Stinnette, who came from 100 meters behind to put the Cavaliers ahead for good.

Cleveland swept the 100 hurdles after Daneeka Torrey of Taft was disqualified for pushing the final hurdle. Torrey won the 300 hurdles in 45.2 and the 100 in 12.1.

Taft’s Isaura Rodriguez took the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and teammate Schquay Brignac won the long jump, triple jump and high jump.

Erin Reed of Taft won the 200 and 400 and was third in the 100.