Holland Is Running With a Fast Crowd

It’s hard to believe that a 17-year-old junior, Jamere Holland, is on the verge of erasing Olympic gold medalist Quincy Watts from the record book in the 100 meters at his alma mater, Woodland Hills Taft.

Holland is emerging as the fastest sprinter in the City Section since Watts ran his school-record time of 10.36 seconds in 1987.

Two weeks ago at the Pasadena Games, Holland ran a career-best 10.40 in his first 100-meter race of the season.

“I surprised myself,” he said.

Holland knows he will probably need to best Watts’ mark to win Saturday at the Arcadia Invitational because coming to town is J-Mee Samuels of Mt. Tabor, N.C., who’s the top returning 100-meter runner in the nation with a best of 10.25 seconds.

“I’m excited,” Holland said.

This is the meet fans in Southern California look forward to even more than the state championships. The first running event of the invitational session is at 5:30 p.m. at Arcadia High, and the quality of competition should be second to none.

To see teenagers performing at their best still eight weeks away from when they really need to peak tells plenty about what is at stake.

For Holland, it’s a chance to establish a reputation as the fastest teenager in California, something Watts was able to do in high school before moving on to win the 1992 Olympic gold medal in the 400 meters in Barcelona.

“It’s pretty cool,” Holland said of his gift for speed. “I’ve been fast since I was 6 years old.”

Holland won the City Section 200 last year as a sophomore, but it was his blunder at the City preliminaries in the 100 that might have been most educational. He false-started, causing immediate disqualification.

“I felt real stupid,” he said. “I had the fastest time in the City. If I had stayed in the blocks, I still would have qualified. I learned to stay focused and stay in the blocks.”

Taft Coach Brian Godsey didn’t realize Holland was capable of running so fast this early in the season.

“As good a season as he had last year, I was shocked he opened the season with 10.40,” Godsey said. “He was just starting to get his track legs. He had a great spring break of workouts. It bodes well for this season.”

At 6 feet, 175 pounds, Holland already has made in impact in football. He caught 16 touchdown passes last fall as a receiver.

As a track athlete, no one knows how fast Holland is capable of running. But the fact he’s closing in on Watts’ 100 record speaks for itself.

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If there’s one athlete who knows how to bring track fans to their feet, it’s two-time state 400-meter champion David Gettis of Los Angeles Dorsey.

The chances are good he could turn in a special performance in his first 400 race of the season Saturday at Arcadia. He has been training relatively hard, and he knows everyone will be watching to see if he lives up to his national No. 1 ranking.

“I’m definitely looking forward to see where I stand,” he said. “There’s a lot of talent in America, and they’re using me as a measuring stick. I’m hoping to start with a bang. I’m starting to feel where I was at the end of last year.”

Ready to take on Gettis is sophomore Bryshon Nellum of Long Beach Poly, who has ambitions of becoming the best in the state.

This is the final year local fans will get to see Gettis. He has signed with Baylor, where he plans to play football and run track. Not that he’s going to abandon his hometown.

“I’m always going to be a California boy at heart,” he said. “That’s my nickname. The upper classmen at Baylor are calling me, ‘The California Kid.’ ”

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The girls’ races and events at Arcadia are also filled with top performers. There’s talk that the 800-meter race could produce as many as six runners under 2:10. Sophomore Allison Stokke from Newport Harbor is creating excitement in the pole vault by establishing national records for her grade.

The best triple-jumper in America, Brittany Daniels from Tracy Merrill West, will be competing. She has jumped 44 feet 11 3/4 inches.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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Track and Field

* What: 38th annual Arcadia Invitational.

* Where: Arcadia High, 180 Campus Dr., Arcadia.

* Today’s schedule: Field events for developing standouts and the Arcadia Relays for talent ranging from national class to local powers begin at 5 p.m..

* Saturday’s schedule: The Arcadia Open, featuring athletes on the cusp of qualifying for the Invitational, begins with track events at 10:15 a.m. and field events at 10:45. The Arcadia Invitational, featuring top athletes from across the nation, begins with field events at 4 p.m. and track events at 5:30.

* Tickets: On Friday, $5 for adults and students with ID and free for children 12 and under. Adult tickets are $12 on Saturday.

* Web: arcadiainvitational.org.