Brignac, Astete Try to Raise the Bar Again in City Finals

One was an age-group phenom who was well known in high school track and field circles before her freshman year.

The other was a relatively unknown middle-distance runner who took up the pole vault as a freshman in high school.

Today, Schquay Brignac of Taft High and Melissa Astete of host Birmingham are favored to become the second and third athletes to win four consecutive titles in the same event in the City Section championships.

The meet starts with field events at 3:30 p.m. Running events start at 5:30.

The top three finishers in each event will qualify for the state championships at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento on June 1-2, as will any finisher who meets a qualifying standard.

Jessica Cosby won four consecutive City titles in the girls’ shotput while competing for Granada Hills in 1997 and ‘98, and at Cleveland in 1999 and last year.

But Brignac and Astete will have more pressing matters on their minds today than joining Cosby as four-time winners.

Brignac, who has signed with Washington State, will try to lead Taft’s two-person contingent to a top-four finish.

The defending state champion in the high jump is favored to win that event for the fourth time and the long jump. She should finish among the top three in the triple jump and 100-meter high hurdles.

“I don’t think she really ranks [being a four-time winner] that high,” Taft assistant Neil Boggess said of Brignac. “It does have some significance, but it’s not her ultimate goal. . . . I would think winning state is.”

Astete, who has signed with USC, hopes to break the national outdoor high school record of 13-4 in the pole vault while leading teammates Michelle Rivera and Jessica Alas to a 1-2-3 finish.

“I think I’ve got a shot at it,” said Astete, runner-up in last year’s state championships and the region record-holder at 13 feet. “I’m feeling more comfortable jumping on the bigger poles.”

Birmingham is favored to win its first girls’ title after three consecutive runner-up finishes to Taft, but Cleveland and Dorsey could prevail if the Patriots falter.

The 400 will be a crucial event for Birmingham. Vincetta Mendola and Renee Winston had the second- and third-fastest qualifying times in the City preliminaries, with Erica McCoy tied for sixth.

Cleveland will be led by twins Michelle and Danielle Stinnette in the sprints and by Brynne Steward and Dana Rattler in the hurdles.

Michelle Stinnette is seeded No. 1 in the 100. Danielle Stinnette is seeded No. 2 in the 200, with Michelle No. 3.

Steward is the top entry in the 100 high hurdles and 300 lows, with Rattler seeded No. 3 in both races.

Dorsey will be paced by sprinter Dashonna Tripp and middle-distance runner Rayshonda Williams.