Riverside North Ends With Flurry

It started out like it was going to be a disastrous night for the Riverside North girls’ track and field team Friday in the Southern Section Masters Meet at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

The Huskies stumbled on the first running event of the night when they dropped the baton in the 400-meter relay and finished in eighth place.

But they finished with a flourish.

The Huskies came through with the best time in the nation (3:39.46) in the 1,600 relay, outdueling Long Beach Wilson (3:39.64) in the final lap.

Senior Nichole Denby also was impressive, winning the 100 meters in 11.81 seconds and the 100 low hurdles in 13.92 seconds.

Denby also finished second behind Lashinda Demus of Wilson (41.20) in the 300 hurdles in 42.26.

It was a good night for Denby, but it didn’t start out that way after she dropped a pass from teammate Tracee Thomas between the first and second legs of the 400 relay.

“We didn’t cry after it happened,” Denby said. “I knew I had to keep everyone together. I’m the captain and I can’t break down.”

Denby nearly had another disaster in the 100 hurdles because the hurdles were set improperly, but she still won the event handily.

Junior Ryan Hall of Big Bear also came through with a memorable performance in winning the 1,600 (4:05.40) and 3,200 (9:02.57).

Hall’s time in the 1,600 was second fastest in the nation this season, although he said he will drop the event in favor of the 3,200 at the state meet next week.

Among the top boys’ performers was Bennie Robinson of Long Beach Poly, who won the 100 (10.63) and the 200 (21.19). Warren Rogers of Gardena Serra, who finished second in the 100 (10.69), re-injured his hamstring and did not compete in the 200.

Serra managed to win the 1,600 relay (3:13.72) without Rogers and took the 400 relay in 41.22.

intermediate hurdles (36.89).

Among the top girls were Angel Perkins of Cerritos Gahr, who won the 200 and 400 meters, and Anita Siraki of Glendale Hoover, who doubled in the 1,600 and 3,200.