Felix Wins 50-Meter Sprint in a Hurry

Junior Allyson Felix of North Hills Los Angeles Baptist High blasted to an outstanding 6.43 to win the girls’ 50-meter dash in the Los Angeles Indoor Invitational at the Sports Arena on Saturday night.

The time ties her for seventh-best on the all-time indoor list--a place she shares with Marion Jones. Last year, Felix won the 100 at the state meet and last summer won the World Youth Championships at Hungary, establishing her as the best under-17 short sprinter in the world.

Finishing behind Felix were Long Beach Poly sophomores Shalonda Solomon (6.50), Jasmine Lee (6.56) and Chanda Picott (6.69).

Rachel Viau of Arroyo Grande won the girls’ pole vault at 12 feet 6 to equal her personal best from last year and break the meet record of 12-2, set in 1995 by former national outdoor record holder Melisa Price of Kingsburg. The effort tied her for 10th-best on the all-time national indoor list.

“I was expecting to go 13-0 but this sure is a nice birthday present,” said the Oral Roberts-bound Viau, who turned 18 on Saturday.

In the distances, Jenny Aldridge of Santa Rosa Maria Carillo, Jenna Timinsky of Encinitas San Dieguito, Billy Nelson of Taft in the Central Valley and Jeremy Johnson of Albuquerque Manzano were impressive.

Aldridge won the mile in 4:54.19, the second-fastest time in the nation this year.

Timinsky, who has signed with UCLA, won the 880 in 2:13.6 to rank fifth on the yearly national indoor list.

“I almost didn’t come to the meet,” Timinsky said. “I’ve been sick all week, but I said ‘what the heck.’”

Nelson won the two-mile in 9:14.5, a time that ranks fifth nationally indoors. Johnson handed the best California had to offer, winning the boys’ mile in 4:18.16.

In the shotput and discus, which were held at USC, Noah Bryant of Carpinteria won the boys’ shotput with a nation-leading outdoor mark of 63-51/2. Junior Billie Jo Grant of Arroyo Grande won the girls’ discus at 145-1.

Aaron Corbett of Huntington Beach Edison cleared 15-0 on his first attempt to win the pole vault and upset defending state champion Mike Landers of Merced Golden Valley, who also cleared 15-0 but did so on his second attempt.

Kaylene Wagner of Goleta Dos Pueblos won the girls’ high jump at 5-8 for the fourth-best indoor jump in the nation this year.

Jerred Morgan of La Quinta won the boys’ discus at 178-2.