Poly Boys, Wilson Girls Out to Defend Titles

Boys’ teams from Long Beach Poly, Ventura, Gardena Serra and Carpinteria, and girls’ teams from Long Beach Wilson, Santa Margarita, Atascadero and Pasadena Poly will defend their division titles today at the Southern Section track and field meet at Cerritos College.

Field events begin at 11 a.m., running events at 1 p.m.

The Long Beach Poly boys and the Long Beach Wilson girls are two-time defending Division I champions.

Long Beach Poly lost sprinters Darrell Rideaux and Kareem Kelly from last year’s team, but Bennie Robinson has stepped in to help fill the void. The Jackrabbits are expected to be challenged by Cerritos Gahr, Anaheim Esperanza and, perhaps, Littlerock.

Wilson’s girls are led by Lashinda Demus, the defending state champion in the 300 intermediate hurdles.

Wilson, however, is an underdog to Riverside J.W. North, which barely lost to the Bruins in last year’s section finals, then went on to win the state championship two weeks later.

North features senior Nichole Denby, the defending state champion in the 100 high hurdles.