MacKay Throws Weight Around

Lucais MacKay’s uneasiness with life in the big city indirectly led to Moorpark College winning its first men’s title since 1993 in the Western State Conference track and field championships at Citrus College on Saturday.

The fact that his father, Bob, is the throws coach at Moorpark also contributed to the victory.

Moorpark, led by MacKay’s victories in the shotput and discus on Saturday and in the hammer throw on April 21, totaled 170 points.

Bakersfield was second with 153 1/2, followed by Citrus and Glendale with 104.

The top six finishers in each event advanced to the Southern California preliminaries at Mt. San Antonio College on May 5.

MacKay, the top-ranked prep discus thrower in the nation in 1999 as a senior at Hughson High outside of Modesto, attended USC on a football and track scholarship as a freshman. He withdrew from school last fall after struggling in athletics and feeling out of place in the big city environment.

He was set to transfer to Boise State but changed his mind at the last minute.

“I actually had the car packed,” MacKay said of his impending move to Boise. “I had my luggage and my sleeping bags and all my warm socks. . . . I don’t think I was ready to go. I just came from a situation where I was unsure where I was and I didn’t want to go ahead and put myself in a similar situation.”

There has been nothing indecisive about MacKay’s performances this season.

He entered the WSC meet as the state leader in the shotput at 54-11, in the discus at 180-8 and in the hammer throw at 208-9.

MacKay’s meet record of 183-3 won the discus by more than 23 feet.

He won the shotput on his sixth--and final--effort with a 55-4 3/4 put that propelled him past Chris Figures of Bakersfield, who set a career best of 53-8 1/2.

“I was just working on some stuff with my coach, trying to get my right leg ahead of me,” MacKay said of his final put. “I was really trying to hit my legs on the finish. . . . I said no on the last one because I didn’t think I hit it totally, but I got my right leg into it.”

Other Moorpark winners in the men’s meet were Vaun Cleveland in the 100 at 10.62, Mike Dickran in the 800 at 1:56.00 and Joe Lochridge in the javelin at 184-4 on April 21.

Glendale scored 75 points in the 3,000 steeplechase, 5,000 and 10,000.

Jorge Lopez won the steeplechase in a hand-timed 9:31.8 and Alejandro Lemus took the 5,000 in 15:19.88 a week after winning the 10,000 in 32:14.75.

Moorpark totaled 198 points in the women’s meet to win its fourth consecutive title.

West L.A. was second with 167, followed by Bakersfield with 96 1/2 and Glendale with 82.

Shelaine Larson of Moorpark won the shotput at 44-4 1/2 and the discus at 150-8.

Teammate Erin Brzezinski won the 200 in 25.27 and placed second in the 100 in 12.38 and in the long jump at 16-3. She anchored the 400 relay team to second place in 50.67.

Kim Lorimer of Glendale won the 3,000 in 10:39.31 and the 5,000 in 18:10.24 after winning the 10,000 in a school-record 37:48.81 a week earlier.