Ivie makes his run

NORWALK -- For Kyle Ivie and Carolyn Brown, running in Saturday’s CIF

Southern Section Track and Field Championship was probably the least

stressful aspect of their respective days at Cerritos College’s

Falcon Stadium.

It was during lengthy waiting periods on the infield grass

following their races in the Division II final that the nerves and

tension began to mount for two of the area’s most celebrated

athletes.

Ivie was admittedly more confident than Brown, as the Burbank

senior knew that despite finishing fourth in a loaded boys’

1,600-meter field, he had almost assured himself a spot for Friday’s

Master’s Meet -- the top nine competitors in Southern California --

at Cerritos College.

Brown, a veteran of CIF championship, Master’s and state-meet

competition during her four years at Burroughs, didn’t know what to

make of her chances in the girls’ 800, despite dropping almost four

seconds from her preliminary time to take fifth.

So after the results were finally made official, Ivie’s hopes were

validated, and Brown’s worst fears were confirmed.

Ivie’s time of 4 minutes 14.07 seconds was good for sixth-fastest

overall, but Brown’s mark of 2:14.79 seeded her a painful 10th, just

0.08 behind Division IV champion, and ninth-qualifier, Treani Swain

of North Hollywood Oakwood.

“It was really close and I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

But more than likely I didn’t make it,” said Brown, just moments

after her race and before she had learned the unfortunate news.

“I knew I had to stay up with the pack, but then I died the last

50 [meters], maybe more.

“There might have been more pressure because I know I can make it

[to the Master’s Meet] and because I’ve had the experience [of

competing at the state meet], but things happen. I did my best and

that’s all I can ask.”

As for Ivie -- one of five locals competing Saturday, along with

Burroughs’ David Brooks in the 300 intermediate hurdles and Tulyah

Gaines in the triple jump, and Bellarmine-Jefferson’s Camille

Napolitano in the shot put -- he thinks his best is yet to come.

And judging by his effort against some of the state’s elite

Saturday -- five of the top nine in Southern California are from

Division II -- the Chico State-bound talent appears ready to take his

shot at qualifying in the top five and earning a trip to the state

meet June 6 and 7 at Cerritos College.

“It feels really good to be at this point and I couldn’t be

happier,” said Ivie, who passed four runners to move up to fifth with

200 meters to go, before putting together an amazing kick to surpass

Placentia Valencia’s Juan Robles in the final 50 to secure fourth.

“I know where I’m at and where I need to be. I felt really good

[after the race] and that’s why I’m looking to go 4:12 [at the

Master’s Meet].”

Unfortunately, every local athlete who competed couldn’t share the

same sentiment as Ivie.

Brooks appeared to be in good position to earn a top-three finish

in Division II and possibly challenge for a Master’s berth with 100

meters to go, but a hurdle was knocked down in the lane next to him,

altering his rhythm just enough to result in a fifth-place finish --

19th overall -- in 39.69.

“I tried to speed up, but it took me off stride,” said Brooks, who

will attend Weber State on a football scholarship in the fall.

“I wanted to get to [Master’s] and run a 37.9 [which would have

been the second-fastest qualifying mark]. I worked hard this week,

but when it came down to it, I didn’t execute.

“It makes me feel bad for myself and my coach, because he put in a

lot of time and I appreciate him coming out and supporting me.”

Despite a great deal of support from their respective families,

Gaines and Napolitano couldn’t get past the competition.

Gaines entered the Division II final with a 36-feet-8 effort -- a

mark that, had she duplicated it, would have earned her a trip to the

Master’s Meet -- but the junior only managed two clean jumps, the

best of which was 35-7, resulting in a sixth-place finish.

Napolitano entered the Division IV shot put with a mark of 33-11,

but couldn’t match that success, throwing 33-3 3/4 to take eighth.