Another Career Takes Shape for Porter

Ramal Porter of Birmingham High claims he runs track to stay in shape for football. But after winning the fifth and final heat of the boys’ 500-yard race at the L.A. Invitational indoor track and field meet Saturday at the Sports Arena, it’s clear his future is bright in both sports.

In an event he doesn’t even like, Porter ran a little more than three laps on the 160-yard oval in 1:00.7, finishing ahead of Erby Houston of Gahr (1:00.9), Raphael Asafo-Agye of Don Lugo (1:01.9) and West Valley League rival Jason Lovell of Cleveland.

Porter had 31 receptions for 690 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

“I really don’t like this race, I just run it because I’m pretty good in it,” said Porter, who vomited several times while getting a rubdown 30 minutes after his race. “I actually prefer the relays. My stomach is upset because I was nervous beforehand and then I went as hard as I could.”

Despite finishing runner-up to Lovell in the 400 meters in a dual meet last season and again in the City Section championships, Porter had one advantage Saturday. He ran the 500-yard race as a sophomore last year while Lovell, who ran the 400 meters in 47.5 at an all-comers meet at Cal State Northridge on Jan. 13, was competing indoors for the first time.

Porter’s previous experience paid off when he got off to a fast start.

“I planned on running the first half hard, pacing myself on the second lap and then finishing strong on the third lap,” Porter said. “The key on a track with raised turns is to compensate when running around the curves and pick it up on the straightaways.”

Lovell’s rhythm was thrown off rounding the first curve when Michael Hilbe of Chandler, Ariz., stumbled right in front of him.

Lovell was unable to recover his stride and finished fourth in 1:03.0.

“I thought I had good position on the first lap, then the guy from Arizona fell and spiked me in the leg,” Lovell said. “After that, I kept sliding and I couldn’t get any speed.”

Porter’s time was the second-fastest of the competition, five-tenths of a second behind DeAngelo Davies from San Diego University City. Jose Galeana of Littlerock (1:00.9) finished second behind Davies in their heat and Mark Pratt of Taft was fourth in the first heat in 1:04.5.

Emily Forsyth of Crescenta Valley won the girls’ high jump with a career-best of 5-7.

Natalie Stein of North Hollywood finished third in the girls’ two-mile with a time of 11:12.4.

Liza Pasciuto of Murrieta Valley was first in 11:09.4 and Emily Vince of Peninsula overtook Stein on the final turn to place second in 11:11.6.

“I’ve run against her before in cross-country with similar results,” Stein said. “It’s hard to be serious about running good times here because the distances are different. But I wanted to run here just to stay sharp.”

Sophomore Treani Swain of Oakwood ran 2:21.1 to finish second in the girls’ 880 behind Jenna Timinsky of Sandiegito Academy in Encinitas (2:20.3).

Robert Kubler of Crespi won his heat in the boys’ rated mile in 4:30.1 and Eric Amdisen of L.A. Baptist finished second in his heat in 4:34.9.

Chris Wells-Anders of El Camino Real was fourth in his heat in the boys’ 880 in 2:01.1.

Porchea Carroll of Rio Mesa was ninth in the long jump with a mark of 16-10 and fourth in her 50-meter heat in 6.62 seconds.