Authentic.com the go-to, on-line entity for all things track and field, posted several outstanding marks from the Mt. Carmel invitational two weeks ago and then deleted them last week.
Dennis McClanahan, the retired coach of the Sun Devils and the meet director for the invitational and honcho at the San Diego section trials and finals, is attempting to get the marks returned.
No real reason was given for the deletions. Someone apparently convinced the on-line service that several results were not legitimate.
We’re leaving the marks from Mt. Carmel in until we hear further.
It may be a moot point, because many of the San Diego Section’s leading performances and those from throughout the state will be in trouble when more than 700 athletes, a few hundred coaches, and thousands of fans clog old U.S. 66 and surrounding venues as they make their way toward Arcadia High Friday and Saturday for the annual Arcadia invitational, a midseason event that generally is considered the official start of the track season.
Action was light in the San Diego Section last week, save for the Willie Banks Invitational and the usual menu of dual meets. A few athletes competed in the Stanford Invitational and at the annual Texas Relays in Austin.
Marks below in parenthesis are where the San Diego Section competitors stand in the state.
W–Wind aided.
GIRLS
EVENT
NAME
MARK
STATE
MARK
100
Shaheed, Madison
:11.87
Nowling, Calabasas
:11.40
200
Ruskovich, Scripps Ranch
:24.51w
Frost, Gardena Serra
:24.0w
400
Wright, University City
:55.64 (5)
Okonkwo, Murrieta Mesa
:55.42
800
Riedman, La Costa Canyon
2:13.54 (7)
Tomkinton, Atherton Menlo
2:10.61
1600
Fahy, La Costa Canyon
4:48.34 (1)
Lowe, Clovis Buchanan
4:49.14
3200
Fahy, La Costa Canyon
10:34.67 (6)
Ramirez, Chino Hills Ayala
10:19.42
100 Hurdles
Miller, San Pasqual
:14.95
Shearer San Jose Silver Creek
:13.52
300 Hurdles
Occiano, Mission Hills
:44.79 (10)
Glenn, Long Beach Wilson
:41.21
4×100 Relay
Scripps Ranch
:46.95 (2)
Calabasas
:46.28
4×400 Relay
Scripps Ranch
3:57.86
Eastvale Roosevelt
3:48.12
High Jump
Hickey, Coronado
5-10 ½ (1)
Glenn, Long Beach Wilson
5-8 1/2
Long Jump
Hickey, Coronado
20-9w (1)
Harris, Upland
20-2 1/2
Hardaway, Oceanside
19-0 ¾ (5)
Triple Jump
Scott, Gompers Prep
38-3
Shearer, San Jose Silver Creek
40-6
Shot Put
Atuatasi, West Hills
42-7
Ramirez, Valencia West Ranch
47-5 ¼
Discus
Cruz, Mission Hills
139-3
Budwig, Fowler
171-7
Pole Vault
Thomson, Poway
13-4 (1T)
Sommers, Westlake Village Westlake
13-4
BOYS
EVENT
NAME
MARK
STATE
MARK
100
Christon, Madison
10.45w (3)
Grubb, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame
:10.41
200
Christon, Madison
:21.32* (3)
Roberson, Upland
:21.28
400
Parker, Helix
:48.37
Strader, Valencia West Ranch
:47.27
Lippert, La Costa Canyon
:48.54
Salzman, Calvin Christian
:48.57
800
Tellez-Velasquez, San Pasqual
1:52.52 (1)
1600
Niednagel, La Costa Canyon
4:15.58 (7)
Hibbard, El Monte Arroyo
4:08.69
3200
Velasco, Fallbrook
9:07.27 (4)
Strangio, Sacramento Jesuit
8:47.97
120 High Hurdles
Jackson, El Camino
:14.95
300 Intermediate Hurdles
Solomon, Grossmont
:38.45 (6)
Roberson, Upland
:36.96
4×100 Relay
Madison
:42.69
Long Beach Poly
:40.91
4×400 Relay
Helix
3:26.69
Placentia Valencia
3:13.73
High Jump
Lugo, Canyon Crest
6-6 (T10)
Allen, Santa Barbara San Marcos
7-0
Long Jump
Luck, Mission Vista
22-5 1/2
Hemphill, Upland
23-11
Triple Jump
Mitchell, Point Loma
48-6 (2)
Hemphill, Upland
48-6 1`/4
Shot Put
Watson, Fallbrook
53-5
Viveros, Bakersfield Liberty
68-11
Discus
Lologo, Oceanside
153-1
Elbettar, Newport Beach Newport Harbor
197-4
Pole Vault
Rice, Rancho Bernardo
15-9 (3)
Wright, Lodi
16-8
Volpe, San Marcos
15-1 (T10)
Sperry, Rancho Bernardo
15-1 (T10)
2019 Week 2: La Costa Canyon’s Fahy Takes National Lead
A raft of marks, including a United States-leading 4:48.34 in the 1,600-meter run by Kristin Fahy of La Costa Canyon, punctuated the 40th annual Mt. Carmel Invitational.
Fahy’s four-lap sizzler topped three Southern Section runners, whose chase of Fahy resulted in the nation’s No. 2, 3, and 4 best performances. No. 5 is a 4:52.4 effort by a runner from Pine Crest, Florida.
Fahy, now ninth all-time in the San Diego Section 1,600, joined two other girls entries who, in preceding weeks, took state leads.
The Scripps Ranch 4×100 relay team is No. 1 in California at :46.95, although the Falcons’ girls have been beaten by Long Beach Poly and Calabasas, Poly for the second time at Mt. Carmel.
Coronado’s Alysha Hickey leads state high jumpers at 5-feet, 10 ½ inches, and is tied for third all-time in the San Diego section. Her 20-foot, 2-inch long jump is second in the state and fourth to Gail Devers’ 20-7 in 1984.
Noah Tellez-Velasquez of San Pasqual took the boys state lead in the 800 after running 1:52.56 in a meet at Azusa Pacific.
Madison’s Kenon Christon was second in the 100 meters to Christian Grubb of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Grubb ran :10.42 and Christon :10.45 but both marks were aided by a 2.8 wind, over the allowable limit of 2.0. Grubb was clear of any breeze as he ran :20.93 to Christon’s :21.5 in the 200.
Marks below in parenthesis are where the San Diego Section competitors stand in the state.
w–Wind aided. *–No wind gauge.
GIRLS
EVENT
NAME
MARK
STATE
MARK
100
Shaheed, Madison
:11.87 (4)
Nowling, Calabasas
:11.40
Hickey, Coronado
:12.09 (T12)
Ruskovich, Scripps Ranch
:12.10 (15)
McCormick, Scripps Ranch
:12.18 (20)
200
Ruskovich, Scripps Ranch
:24.51w (3)
Frost, Gardena Serra
:24.0w
400
Wright, University City
:56.48 (8)
Okonkwo, Murrieta Mesa
:55.42
800
Riedman, La Costa Canyon
2:13.54 (6)
Tomkinton, Atherton Menlo
2:10.61
1600
Fahy, La Costa Canyon
4:48.34 (1)
Lowe, Clovis Buchanan
4:49.14
3200
Fahy, La Costa Canyon
10:34.67 (5)
Ramirez, Chino Hills Ayala
10:32.67
100 Hurdles
Miller, San Pasqual
:14.95 (T13)
Shearer San Jose Silver Creek
:14.05
McCormick, Scripps Ranch
:15.08 (T19)
300 Hurdles
Mayo, Grossmont
:45.03 (7)
Glenn, Long Beach Wilson
:42.31
Edwards, San Pasqual
:45.32 (10)
McCormick, Scripps Ranch
:45.42 (13)
4×100 Relay
Scripps Ranch
:46.95 (1)
Calabasas
:47.00
4×400 Relay
Scripps Ranch
3:57.86 (18)
Mission Viejo
3:49.50
High Jump
Hickey, Coronado
5-10 ½ (1)
Three tied
5-8
Long Jump
Hickey, Coronado
20-2 (2)
Cobb, Riverside Poly
21-2
Triple Jump
Miller, San Pasqual
37-8 ¼ (16)
Aguilar, Rancho Cucamonga
47-8
Shot Put
Atuatasi, West Hills
42-7 (10)
Budwig, Fowler
47-4
Lagoy, Rancho Bernardo
41-4 (14)
Discus
Atuatasi, West Hills
126-5
Budwig, Fowler
158-8
Pole Vault
Thomson, Poway
13-4 (1T)
Sommers, Westlake Village Westlake
13-4
BOYS
EVENT
NAME
MARK
STATE
MARK
B100
Christon, Madison
:10.45w (2)
Grubb, Sherman OaksNotre Dame
:10.41
200
Christon, Madison
:21.32* (2)
Moore, Westlake Village Oaks Christian
:21.28
400
Parker, Helix
:48.37 (7)
Larrier, Elk Grove Monterey Trail
:48.06
A. Lippert, La Costa Canyon
:48.54 (9)
Salzman, Calvin Christian
:48.57 (11)
800
Tellez-Velasquez, San Pasqual
1:52.56 (1)
Coleman III, Vista Murrieta
1:53.19
1600
Stanford, La Costa Canyon
4:16.90 (12)
Hubbard, El Monte Arroyo
4:07.25
Ali, Crawford
4:17.82 (17)
Velasco, Fallbrook
4:17.91 (20)
3200
Velasco, Fallbrook
9:07.27 (4)
Strangio, Sacramento Jesuit
8:47.97
Niednagel, Las Costa Canyon
9:13.3 (9)
110 High Hurdles
Jackson, El Camino
:14.95
Williams, Tracy West
:14.08
300 Intermediate Hurdles
Solomon, Grossmont
:38.45 (6)
Roberson, Upland
:36.96
4×100
Madison
:42.69 (16)
Long Beach Poly
:41.45
4×400
Helix
3:26.69
Placentia Valencia
3:13.73
High Jump
Lugo, Canyon Crest
6-6 (T8)
Allen, Santa Barbara San Marcos
7-0
Brownell, San Dieguito
6-4 (T18)
Long Jump
Luck, Mission Vista
22-5 ½ (16)
Hemphill, Upland
23-11
Triple Jump
Mitchell, Point Loma
48-6 (2)
Hemphill, Upland
48-6 1/4
Shot Put
Watson, Fallbrook
53-5 (16)
Viveros, Bakersfield Liberty
66-1 /12
Discus
Lologo, Oceanside
153-1
Johnson, Clovis Buchanan
190-0
Pole Vault
Rice, Rancho Bernardo
15-7 (3)
Wright, Lodi
16-4
2019 Week 1 Track: Christon, Mitchell, Hickey, Thomson State Leaders
Kenon Christon of Madison, Altan Mitchell of Point Loma, Alysha Hickey of Coronado, and Camryn Thomson of Poway are state track-and-field leaders from the San Diego Section, which got down to some serious competition last week after a few February and early-March meets.
Christon ran a personal best :10.52 in the 100 meters at the Elmer Runge excercise, moved to West Hills because the Patrick Henry track is being rebuilt. There was no wind reading on Christon’s 100 or his :21.32 200, second best in the state.
Thomson cleared 13 feet, 4 inches in the girls’ pole vault at the first University City “Classic”, and Hickey took the state lead in the high jump at 5-10 1/2 and moved to second in the long jump at 20-2.
Mitchell went 48-6 in his home jumping pit in a Western League dual meet against Mira Mesa.
The annual Mt. Carmel Invitational will be held Saturday on the campus of the Rancho Penaquitos school, where Dennis McClanahan stepped down after 40-plus years as head coach but still will coordinate the meet, as well as the San Diego Section finals in May.
Mt. Carmel and Arcadia, a couple weeks later, are two of the premier attractions for area competitors before the big meets in May.
San Diego Section and State leaders, with Top 10 rankings in parenthesis:
BOYS
EVENT
NAME
MARK
STATE
MARK
B100
Christon, Madison
:10.52 (1)
Moore, Westlake Village Oaks Christian
:10.54
200
Christon, Madison
:21.32 (2)
Moore, Westlake Village Oaks Christian
:21.28
400
Parker, Helix
:48.72 (7)
Larrier, Elk Grove Monterey Trail
:48.06
800
Tellez-Velasquez, San Pasqual
1:57.95
Steward, Long Beach Poly
1:54.84
1600
Velasco, Fallbrook
4:22.41
Grover, Capistrano J Serra
4:16.51
3200
Velasco, Fallbrook
9:07.27 (3)
Herold, Capistrano J Serra
9:02.53
110 High Hurdles
Jackson, El Camino
:14.95
Marshall, Berkeley St. Mary’s
:14.32
300 Intermediate Hurdles
Solomon, Grossmont
:38.45 (4)
Roberson, Upland
:36.96
4×100
St. Augustine
:43.14
Long Beach Poly
:41.45
4×400
Helix
3:26.69
Placentia Valencia
3:13.73
High Jump
Brownell, San Dieguito
6-6 (6T)
Allen, Santa Barbara San Marcos
7-0
Lugo, Canyon Crest
6-6
Long Jump
Bainer, San Marcos
22-4 3/4
Hemphill, Upland
23-11
Triple Jump
Mitchell, Point Loma
48-6 (1)
Ruotolo, Santa Ana Mater Dei
47-8.
Shot Put
Watson, Fallbrook
53-5
Duensing, Anaheim Esperanza
65-7 1/2
Discus
Lologo, Oceanside
153-1
Johnson, Clovis Buchanan
190-0
Pole Vault
Rice, Rancho Bernardo
15-7 (3)
Wright, Lodi
16-4
GIRLS
EVENT
NAME
MARK
STATE
MARK
100
Shaheed, Madison
:12.02 (5)
Nowling, Calabasas
:11.40
200
Ruskovich, Scripps Ranch
:24.97 (7)
Sanchez, Oxnard Hueneme
:24.03
400
Wright, University City
:56.67 (8)
Glenn, Long Beach Wilson
:55.45
800
Riedman, La Costa Canyon
2:14.12 (3)
Tomkinton, Atherton Menlo
2:10.61
1600
Riedman, La Costa Canyon
5:02.29
Suarez, Pasadena Mayfield
4:55.53
3200
Fahy, La Costa Canyon
10:34.67 (2)
Ramirez, Chino Hills Ayala
10:32.67
100 Hurdles
Miller, San Pasqual
:14.95
Shearer San Jose Silver Creek
:14.05
300 Hurdles
McCormick, Scripps Ranch
:46.11
Weidinger, Walnut Creek Las Lomas
:43.91
4×100 Relay
Scripps Ranch
:46.95 (2)
Moreno Valley Rancho Verde
:45.64
4×400 Relay
Scripps Ranch
4:00.20
Mission Viejo
3:49.50
High Jump
Hickey, Coronado
5-10 ½ (1)
Harper, Fresno Central
5-8
Long Jump
Hickey, Coronado
20-2 (2)
Cobb, Riverside Poly
21-2
Triple Jump
Heckman, Point Loma
37-1
Shearer, San Jose Silver Creek
40-6
Shot Put
Atuatasi, West Hills
42-7
Budwig, Fowler
47-4
Discus
Atuatasi, West Hills
126-5
Budwig, Fowler
158-8
Pole Vault
Thomson, Poway
13-4 (1T)
Sommers, Westlake Village Westlake
13-4
2018: Vince Breddell, Outstanding Kearny Sprinter
Vincent W. (Vince) Breddell III, a star sprinter at Kearny in 1969 and ’70, passed recently.
Coach Jim Cerveny’s teams, which battled Clairemont for Western League domination, were built around the swift Breddell.
Breddell was fourth in the state 100-yard dash final at Berkeley in 1970 after winning the San Diego Section championship in :09.7. He won his heat in the state trials at Berkeley in :09.7.
Breddell had a best time of :21.2 in the 220-yard dash, was a triple winner in the 1970 Western League finals, :09.8 100, :21.4 220, and anchor leg of the winning (:42.3) 440-yard relay with teammates Tony Berg, Greg Jackey, and Michael Cornell.
Breddell won the San Diego Section championship with a :09.8 100 in 1970 and finished first in the 220 in :21.4 but was disqualified because he was outside his lane during the race. Lane inspector Tony Sucec unpopularly reported that Breddell took four steps on the white line that separated his lane from that of teammate Michael Cornell.
Breddell also won the Western League 100 in 1969 and was a three-year member of Kearny’s championship 440-yard relay teams.
Thanks to Rich Peralta for notification.
Vince was an elated winner of the San Diego Section 100-yard dash final in 1970, defeating Morse’s Bill Smith.
1948 Track: Davis Brings Hilltoppers Home Despite Cut
The 880-yard relay, a frenetic and often perilous event, provided a wild conclusion to the CIF Southern Section finals at Compton.
San Diego High won the team championship, surviving rush-hour traffic and a near pileup, not unlike a wild main event of a midget auto racing card in Balboa Stadium.
The Hillers’ Charlie Davis, spiked by another runner about 100 yards from the finish line, hung on for a second place that was the difference in the team standings.
San Diego’s 20 points topped Glendale Hoover, which had 19, and Compton, which did not have a relay team and finished with 18. Fullerton was fourth with 15.
Coach Bill Patten’s seven-man squad and Glendale Hoover, led by sprint ace John Bradley, each had 16 points entering the final event.
Laguna Beach was a “surprise gun-to-tape winner but they went virtually unnoticed,” wrote the Los Angeles Times’ John De la Vega, who captured the moment.
HILLERS VS. TORNADOES
“All eyes were on the two title rivals,” said De La Vega.
“San Diego ran second most of the way while Hoover, the favorite, got two bad passes and trailed the Hillers by nine yards in next-to-last place as the anchor leg started.
“Then came the rousing finish,” wrote De La Vega.
Hillers anchorman Davis survived a cut on his leg when Inglewood’s Jack Hadley crashed in front of the fast-closing Bradley and Hadley’s shoe spikes tore Davis’ flesh.
Bradley, accelerating as he traversed the curve, had closed to within three yards of Davis as the pack turned for home. Hadley, also charging, suddenly stumbled, nipping Davis, and falling in front of Bradley.
Bradley pulled up and ran around Hadley, according to De La Vega, and then made another challenge but finished two yards behind Davis.
Champion Hilltoppers with perpetual title trophy, front row (from left): Harold Miller, Bob Van Doren, Ernie Smith. Standing (from left): coach Bill Patten, Rudy Graham, Calvin Carter, Charlie Davis, John Davis. Courtesy, John Dahlem/CIF Southern Section.
IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED?
Three published accounts of that relay race, beginning with De La Vega’s, are not in agreement.
Wrote Don King in Caver Conquest, the athletic history of San Diego High:
“Sparked by some nifty running and baton passes among Hal Miller, Calvin Carter, and Ernie Smith, the Hillers jumped into an early lead (De La Vega’s Times story said Laguna led all the way) coming into Davis’ anchor leg. But a rival runner accidentally spiked Davis in the baton exchange (the Times story indicated it happened much later).”
The San Diego Union correspondent, unidentified, reported in a “Special” dispatch:
“The Hiller quartet took an early lead, but on the last lap Davis was spiked by a rival runner. The mishap enabled Laguna Beach to take the lead, but Davis, continuing in spite of the injury, held off his Glendale Hoover rival to finish second.”
THE OTHERS…
Seven San Diego High athletes were among the fifteen from the Coast, Metropolitan, and Southern Prep leagues who qualified for the finals after loop meets and two divisional competitions.
–San Diego’s Harold Miller was not among the top five finishers in the 100-yard dash, won by Howard Bugbee of Redondo Beach Redondo Union in: 09.6.
–Miller and Davis were not among the top five in the scorching 220-yard dash, won by Bradley by less than a foot over Compton’s Bill Fell in: 21.
–Calvin Carter was fourth in the 440-yard dash, won by San Dieguito’s Don Balsley in :51.2, providing two points for the Hillers.
–Bob Van Doren won the shot put at 55 feet ¾ inch and John Davis got up for fourth at 50-10 ¾, giving the Hillers 7 points.
–Rudy Graham was a surprising second in the high jump at 6 feet, 3 inches, and picked up four points, beating among others San Diego Hoover’s Jack Razzeto, who cleared 6-5 3/4, two Saturdays before in a divisional meet at Balboa Stadium.
–Ernie Smith, the 1947 champion at 22-6 ½, was third in the broad jump at 22-1½, giving the Hillers three points and a total 16 as they awaited the relay sprint.
San Diego was one of the favorites in the relay, having run 1:30.4 and 1:30.7 leading to the finals. With an accident-free race the Hilltoppers may not have equaled Laguna Beach’s winning time of 1:29.9, but their second place finish was good for 4 points and the winning total of 20.
San Dieguito’s Don Balsley won the 440 in :51.2. San Diego’s Calvin Carter (left) was fourth.
…AND OTHERS
–Point Loma’s Bob Mahon, usually a triple winner in both hurdles and broad jump during the Pointers’ dual meet season, was disqualified along with Glendale Hoover’s Jack Davis and Beverly Hills’ Bill Storum in the 120-yard highs.
Mahon’s best time of: 15.1 would have had him in the mix in a race in which Bob Boaz of Fullerton won in :15.
–Martin Donahue of Grossmont and Kenny Holly of Escondido were unplaced in the mile.
–Grossmont’s Hal Norris was unplaced in the shot put.
–Jack Razzeto of Hoover cleared 6-2 but lost a coin toss to Dick Brombach of Long Beach Poly in the high jump. Brombach became the third qualifier for the state meet the following week in Berkeley.
–Jack Lucas of La Jolla was third in the 880, won by Wilbur Firestone of Compton in 2:00.
–Duane Pusey of Grossmont tied for third with two others in the pole vault but lost a coin toss to determine who would advance to Berkeley.
STATE MEET
–Jack Lucas was third in the 880, won by Firestone in 1:57.8.
–Don Balsley unofficially was timed in: 50.4 and finished fifth in one of two 440-yard dashes. Luther Butler of Los Angeles Jefferson and Fred Thompson of L.A. Jordan were declared co-champions at :49.2.
–Bob Van Doren’s 54-6 ¼ in the shot put was third to the national record 59-7 ½ by L.A. Washington’s Bob Cameron.
–Rudy Graham tied for third in the high jump at 6-2. Dick Brombach of Long Beach Poly and Ed Young of L.A. Jefferson were co-champs at 6-3.
–Ernie Smith did not place in the broad jump.
–San Diego was fifth in the 880 relay, behind L.A. Jordan, L.A. Jefferson, Glendale
Hoover, and San Francisco Lowell. Jordan’s winning time was 1:29.5.
–The Hilltoppers were seventh in the team scoring with 6 ¼ points. L.A. Jordan led with 22.
Bill McColl (third from left) and Malcolm Herbert finished 1-2 in the 120-yard high hurdles against Pasadena and Pasadena Muir.
RELAY MADNESS
San Diego was 3-1 in dual meets, losing an early-season, 57-47 decision to Grossmont when the Hilltoppers dropped the baton in the 880 relay, depriving them of a 52-52 tie.
Charlie Davis’ strong anchor leg, in which he caught and passed Hoover and Tucson runners, gave the Hillers a triangular meet victory in a night session before 1,200 persons at Balboa Stadium. The Hillers scored 53 points. Tucson, an Arizona power, 51, and Hoover 25 ½.
A dropped baton in the Class A relay deprived Grossmont of a clean sweep in classes A, B, and C, in the Metropolitan League finals at San Diego State.
Point Loma won the relay and the Class A title with 46 points to the Foothillers’ 42 ¾. Grossmont coach Jack Mashin dropped six varsity (A) performers into Class B, opening the door for coach Don Giddings’ Pointers.
Grossmont swept dual meet opponents in all but one A, B, and C competition. La Jolla beat the Foothillers in a Class B dual.
FOOTHILLERS TOP HILLTOPPERS
The dual meet victory over San Diego was Grossmont’s third against the Hilltoppers since 1944, rare achievements by a school not in the San Diego city limits.
Indeed, Grossmont coach Jack Mashin, who retired as football boss after the 1947 season, built a powerful program of deep and talented teams, particularly in the field events.
Grossmont led area schools with 17 ¼ points in the 27th annual Southern Counties meet at Huntington Beach High.
Point Loma’s Bob Mahon was triple threat performer.
Three Grossmont pole vaulters cleared 12 feet to tie for first and sophomore Hal Norris topped San Diego’s Bob Van Doren and John Davis in the shot and finished second.
Compton won the team championship at Huntington Beach with 29 points, riding the rapid wheels of Bill Fell, who won the 100-yard dash in :09.6, 220 on the straightaway in :20.8 and broad jump at 22 feet, 6 inches.
5/1/48
Grossmont was deprived of championships in Classes A,B, and C in the Metropolitan League meet when the Foothillers botched a baton exchange in the final event 880-yard relay.
A dropped baton did in the Foothillers an Point Loma won the relay in 1:33.9 and Class A with 47 points to the Foothillers’ 42.7/10.
SPIKE DUST
Future pro golf champion Gene Littler was one of La Jolla’s shotputters…St. Augustine fielded A, B, and C teams for the first time in the school’s 26-year history…Bob Van Doren set a San Diego school shot put record with a heave of 55-2 ¾ in the Balboa Stadium divisional meet…Van Doren unofficially bettered the mark at 55-7 1/8 in an extra trial after the shot put competition in the state meet…Van Doren also was first at Berkeley with a 46-10 3/4 toss in the non-counting 16-pound shot competition…Ernie Smith didn’t repeat as Southern Section broad jump champion but had a career-best 22-9 in the Coast League triangular dual meet with Pasadena and Pasadena Muir…Hoover’s Bill McColl, all-Southern California in football, basketball and baseball, also found time to run the hurdles for coach Raleigh Holt’s track team….
2018: Ray DeBolt Earned “First” Distinction
Coach Rudy Friberg had one star in the first season of Granite Hills, halfmiler Ray DeBolt. who ran the mile in state meet.
Ray DeBolt of Granite Hills, a new school at the east end of Madison Avenue in El Cajon, won the San Diego Section mile championship on May 27, 1961.
The victory gave DeBolt, who passed away in the recent months in Reno, Nevada, at age 75, the distinction of being the first section champion in his event.
DeBolt, who outran the field in 4:28.2 on a gusty afternoon at Kearny High, was one of 12–only event winners advanced–who went on to the state championships at East Los Angeles College the following week.
DeBolt did not place among the top five in the state meet but his 4:26.8 time was a personal best and was the fifth fastest ever by a San Diego-area runner.