Swain Shows Her Form in Victory

Treani Swain of North Hollywood Oakwood School placed second in the girls’ 800 meters in the state track and field championships last year, but she probably won’t post fast times in that event until May.

Swain, a junior, was unable to train for most of January because of tendinitis in her right knee and she had flu last month. So the San Fernando Valley Invitational at Van Nuys Birmingham High on Saturday was only her second meet of the season.

Swain, running in the tight confines of Lane 1 on a cool and at times breezy day, won the 400 in a hand-timed 56.4 seconds after roaring away from the field in the final straightaway.

“Normally, I don’t run like that,” Swain said of her strong finish. “I get out well and coast the backstretch. But it would be very difficult for me to run that way right now because I don’t have the [training background].”

Swain’s time was well off her career best of 53.71 set in 1999, but she hasn’t ruled out focusing on the 400 instead of the 800 at the end of this season.

“If I can get my [training] base back up to where we think it should be, I think I can contend for the state title in the 800,” Swain said. “If I don’t [get my base up], then I’ll focus on the 400 and hopefully contend for a state title in that event.”

In other events, Birmingham senior Michelle Rivera won the girls’ pole vault at 11 feet 6 inches, North Hills Monroe senior Arthur Sulcer won the boys’ 100 in 10.6 and Reseda Cleveland senior Antwine Barfield won the boys’ 110 high hurdles in 14.3.

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John Ortega