Denby Sets National Mark in 100 Hurdles

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

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

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.

Monique Henderson of San Diego Morse shattered the state, national high school and U.S. junior records in the 400 meters 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 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.