In Masters Meet, the Time Is Right

Southern Section athletes, coaches and officials can no longer complain they don’t get their fair share of participants in the state track and field championships.

The section that was limited to five entries per event in the state meet in previous seasons could send several more this year thanks to a new qualifying system in which athletes and relay teams can advance to the state championships by meeting a qualifying standard in section championships.

“I think it’s a good system,” Co-Coach Dave DeLong of Canyon High said. “I think the correct criteria were used in establishing the standards.”

For years, the Southern Section has determined its five representatives in the state meet based on the results of the Masters Meet, which will be held today at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

That led to talented athletes, including many from the region, being left out of the state meet.

In 1988, Bryan Dameworth of Agoura ran 9:06.88 in the boys’ 3,200 in the Masters Meet, but finished a nonqualifying seventh.

Two years later, Dave Hartman of Canyon was sixth in 9:06.28.

In 1991, Eric Spayde of Thousand Oaks ran 4:12.91 in the 1,600 but placed sixth.

Julie Harris of Canyon was another Masters Meet casualty in 1996, running 10:46.48 in the girls’ 3,200 but finishing sixth.

Dameworth, Hartman, Spayde and Harris ranked among the top nine runners in the state in their events, but were not among the 27 entries in the state meet.

“I took Dave to the state meet that year,” DeLong said. “And we saw some kid run 10:40. That was hard to watch. To see a kid get lapped while you’re sitting in the stands with a kid who ran 9:06.”

The at-large qualifying standards for the state championships at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento on June 1-2 are based on the average performance of the ninth-place finisher for the last three state meets.

That formula produced qualifying standards such as 10.79 in the boys’ 100, 9:19.02 in the 3,200 and 46-10 in the triple jump.

On the girls’ side, athletes who equal or better marks such as 56.46 in the 400, 44.34 in the 300 low hurdles and 132-11 in the discus in the Masters Meet will advance.

Seniors Seth Amoo of Highland, Jamil Smith of Palmdale and Anita Siraki of Hoover are expected to be contenders in the meet that starts with field events at 4:30 p.m. and running events at 6.

Amoo, state leader in the boys’ 200 at 20.82, is entered in that event, the 100 and 400 relay.

Smith, defending state champion in the triple jump and region record holder at 50-10 3/4, will compete in that event, the long jump and 110 high hurdles.

Siraki, defending state champion in the girls’ 3,200, will try to win her second consecutive Masters’ titles in that event and the 1,600.