Denby Establishes National Mark

For as long as Nichole Denby of Riverside North can remember, it has been in the back of her mind.

But Denby didn’t want to discuss the possibility of a record until after it happened Saturday at the state track and field finals.

Denby established a national high school record of 13.20 seconds in the 100-meter low hurdles to lead North to its second consecutive state girls’ title before a crowd of 11,623 at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

She surpassed the mark of 13.23 seconds set by Dominique Calloway of Lakewood, Colo., in 1996.

“I didn’t expect that,” Denby said. “I was hoping for a state record. I just didn’t expect that.”

Denby competed despite a sore right hamstring that she suffered Friday in the preliminaries.

Denby finished second in the 300 low hurdles (41.59) and fourth in the 100 meters (11.94).

After the meet, it was debatable whether the senior was more excited about setting a national record or watching the Huskies win another championship.

“It feels great to go out with a national record and a state title,” said Denby, who will attend Texas in the fall. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

The Huskies, who also won the 1,600 relay in 3:41.11 behind a brilliant anchor leg by sophomore Tracee Thomas, finished with 45 points to defeat Berkeley by 16 points.

In the boys’ division, Gardena Serra won its first state title with 38 points to outdistance runner-up Long Beach Poly (24).

The Cavaliers were led by sprinter Warren Rogers, who performed well despite injuring a hamstring last week at the Southern Section Masters Meet.

Rogers, who has signed with UCLA, broke quickly and defeated Bennie Robinson of Long Beach Poly (10.55) to take the 100 in 10.42.

The start was essential for Rogers, who has a reputation as a slow starter.

“I’m usually behind in the 100, so it was really surprising,” Rogers said. “You have to have a good start and I finally got it this weekend.”

Rogers also ran the second leg on Serra’s winning 400 and 1,600 relay teams. The Cavaliers won the 400 relay in 40.97 and the 1,600 relay in 3:12.94.

“Words can’t describe how good I feel,” Rogers said.

The Cavaliers, who finished second in 1998, were bolstered by Steven Smith’s second-place finish in the 300 intermediate hurdles (36.76). Trevor Jones of Newport Harbor won the event in 36.60.

Monique Henderson of San Diego Morse turned in a brilliant effort in the girls’ 400 meters.

The junior shattered the state, national high school and U.S. junior records with a time of 50.74, more than two seconds ahead of second-place Angel Perkins of Cerritos Gahr (53.01).

She broke the junior and national high school record of 50.87 that was established by Denean Howard of Granada Hills Kennedy in 1982.

Henderson, who won the event for the third consecutive year, also exceeded the Olympic qualifying standard for the event.

It was also faster than Meikele Barber of South Carolina, who won the NCAA women’s title Saturday in the 400 in 51.14.

Henderson also won the 200 in 23.19.

Lashinda Demus of Long Beach Wilson won the 300 hurdles in 40.41 and finished fourth in the 100 hurdles, Liz Morse of Corona Del Mar won the 800 in 2:08.16 and Anita Siraki of Glendale Hoover took the 3,200 in 10:18.50.

In the boys’ division, Eagle Rock’s Rhuben Williams defended his title in the shotput (63-2 1/2).