Were the San Diego Section trials yesterday the “proof of the pudding” for area qualifiers who now enter the two most important weeks of the season?

Section finals will be Saturday at Mt. Carmel High, followed  by the state meet in Clovis June 6-7.

While the ancient proverb may not apply, San Diego athletes did  not come close to season standards in almost every event yesterday.

Meanwhile, 12 season bests were recorded as the rest of the state competed in divisional meets.  The Central Section held its finals.

Eastlake’s Shane Martin traversed the 110 hurdles in a fully electronic :14.48 for a 2014 best.  Dalish Dozier of Mount Miguel took the lead in the girls’ long jump at 18-11.

Two significant casualties from league meets were Helix’ 4×100 relay squad, which had a hand-timed :41.8, and Scripps Ranch’s Brian Thomas, the section leader for most of the year with a :48.18 400.

The Highlanders were guilty of a lane violation in the Grossmont Hills finals and Thomas pulled a muscle in the Eastern finals.

If healthy this week, Thomas possibly could run a leg for the Falcons’ 4×400 relay squad, which qualified.

SAN DIEGANS IN STATE TOP 10

 SAN DIEGANS VERSUS CALIFORNIA

n–nonwinning. w—wind-aided.  *did not qualify in trials.

It’s that time of year.

Fire-delayed league finals didn’t slow San Diego Section track and field athletes in their pursuit of May-June honors. Seven new state top 10 performances were recorded (see table below).

Poway’s Brandon Lucas turned a wind-assisted :10.64 100 meters and hustled to a :21.18 200 (County No. 13 all-time) in the Palomar League finals. Mission Hills Suzie Acolatse ran :11.83 in the Valley League 100.

Oceanside’s Kevin Dodds moved up in the triple jump at 48-1, with wind, while teammate Jordan Miller proffered a wind-aided 23-8 long jump.

Poway’s Charlie Bush cleared 15-9 in the pole vault  and Mt. Carmel’s Tobe Ezeokoli logged :48.16 in the Valley League 400.

Lucas and other members of  Poway’s  fine short and long relay teams sat out those events but will be action this week. Brian Thomas, the Section 400-meter leader from Scripps Ranch, scratched from the 200 after struggling to :53.87 and seventh place in the Eastern League 400.

Ill or injured, Thomas would have to get a favorable nod to be byed into the San Diego Section trials.

Although she did not break into the state’s top 10, Cathedral’s Dani White raced over the 100 hurdles in :14.28, Section No. 3 all-time, in Western finals.

White’s teammate, Hannah Labrie-Smith, No. 2 in the state 300 hurdles at :42.24,  was cut a break when Long Beach Poly’s Ebony Crear, the leader at :41.46, stumbled and fell in a Southern Section divisional meet.

Unless Crear is politicked into the Southern Section final this week, Labrie-Smith will have one less formidable  rival in the upcoming meets.

Section trials will be at Mt. Carmel Saturday.  Girls competition starts at 9 a.m., followed by the boys at 2 p.m.

State Finishers

OOPS

Overlooked in the table is Augusta Thomason of Rancho Bernardo, who is third in the state with a 12-foot, 7-inch pole vault.

Tim Danielson was convicted last week in El Cajon Superior Court of murdering his ex-wife in 2011.  His expected sentence of 50 years to life is pending.

I’d like to remember Danielson as the billiant runner who competed  for coach Harry Taylor at Chula Vista High and set San Diego Section standards in 1965-66 that still are unequaled, 48 years later.

Danielson became the second high school runner (after Jim Ryun)  to better 4 minutes in the mile in 1966 when he finished fourth in 3:59.4 behind Jim Grelle, Neil Duggan, and Dave Bailey in the San Diego Invitational of internationally-ranked runners in Balboa Stadium.

The 4-minute mile has been reached by high schoolers twice since, by New by Virginian Alan Webb, who ran 3:53.43 in 2001, and by Illinois’ Lucas Verbickas, who ran 3:59.71 in 2011.

The mile,  the most famous event in the sport’s history, is seldom run.  Its currency faded when the United States went to the metric system 35 years ago.

Danielson competed in the era of  yards and hand-timed races, but we’ve attempted to measure  Danielson’s marks as if he were competing in meters and with electronic timing.

The table below shows Danielson’s best converted efforts in his final two years at Chula Vista, including  dominance of California distance aces.  He  won back-to-back state championships, by 10 yards in Bakersfield in 1965 and by 12 yards in Berkeley in 1966.

Today’s runners, with several evolutionary advantages, would have to hustle to keep up with him.

 n–nonwinning.  h–heat.

Poway’s 400-meter relay team was as hot as the 100-degree  weather at the Escondido Invitational last night.

A Titans foursome of Will James, Jarod Turnage, Brandon Lucas, and Lance Mudd flawlessly passed the baton and covered the toasty, all-weather layout  in :41.62, fourth fastest time in California this year.

It is rarefied air for the Titans, whose previous best was :42.02, and for San Diego Section squads.

No County teams  have gotten under 42 seconds since a Reggie Bush-anchored Helix quartet blazed :41 flat in 2003.  At that time there had been 18 teams which had run at least :41.44.

The Section’s all-time best is :40.66 by sprinters from University City in 1998.

High schools dropped the 880-yard relay in 1968 and went to the 440 and mile races, followed by the move to 400 and 1,600 meters with the U.S. switch from yards to meters  in 1980.

The best 880-yard relay team still is the 1963 San Diego team of Walter (Budda) Blackledge, Gordon Baker, Raymond Dixon, and Charles Sanford. That group ran a perfect half mile in 1:26.3 and won the state championship at Berkeley by almost five yards.

San Diego-area teams seldom run the now metric 800 relay.

It would have been interesting to see what the U. City and Helix squads could have negotiated in the mid-distance sprint and what that group of Cavers could have achieved in the 400.

The Highlanders, in  2003 with Bush, ran a leisurely 1:28.7 at Mt. San Antonio in an infrequent attempt at the distance.

TITANS POTENTIAL RIVALS

Poway is expected to get a challenge from Helix in the upcoming section meets.  The Highlanders have a hand time of :41.8 and a :41.97 fully automatic.

According to Athletic.net, the state leader is Temecula Great Oak at :41.33.

Mission Bay is reported second in the state with  a  :41.44.  That mark seems very  shaky, although the Buccaneers, with no history of great speed, allegedly ran ran that hand-converted time in a dual meet with Kearny at Clairemont on April 18.

Other state leaders include Upland, :41.57; Los Angeles Loyola, :41.58; Gardena Serra, :41.64; Fresno Edison, :41.64, and  Long Beach Poly, :41.76.

LUCAS BURNS

Poway’s Lucas improved the section lead in the 200 meters to :21.56, tenth fastest in the state, and threw a shot across the bow at Scripps Ranch’s Brian Thomas and Mt. Carmel’s Tobe Ezeokoli with a :48.39 in the 400.

Scripps Ranch’s Brian Thomas is the section leader at :48.18.  Ezeokoli has run :48.26.

Madison’s Doton Ogundeji continues to lead state and national shot putters and Mt. Carmel’s Derek Morton has moved in front of California 800-meter runners.

Both are expected to take on some of the nation’s best in the annual Arcadia Invitational Friday and Saturday.

Ogundeji leads the nation with a throw of 65-4 1/2 and is 10th in the U.S. and fourth in California with a 180-foot waft in the discus.

Morton took the state lead with a  1:53.60 last week in a dual meet at Westview and is fifth in the country.

The Sundevils senior showed promise last year with bests of 1:57.80 and 4:18.16 in the 1,600 meters and cranked a 1:55.65 month ago in the Mt. Carmel Field and Distances invite.

Other San Diego Section athletes who have moved into respective state Top 10’s:

Sprints and hurdles times are fully automatic.  Some better marks in parenthesis are hand timed. w–wind aided.

BOYS

100— Lucas (Poway), 10.81, Dickens (Grossmont), 10.82, Doan (St. Augustine), 10.84, LeBlanc (University City) 10.88, Brewer (Brawley) 10.90, Dosier (Monte Vista) 10.90, Hennie (San Marcos) 10.94, Miller (Oceanside) 10.95. STATE–Godin (Santa Ana Mater Dei), 10.36.

 200— Doan (St. Augustine),  21.76, Lucas (Poway), 21.85 (21.5), Dosier (Monte Vista),  22.01, Carson (Olympian), 22.04, Miller (Oceanside), 22.16, Dickens (Grossmont),  22.22, Mudd (Ramona), 22.23 (21.7), Kendrick III (Morse), 22.27, Ellis (Valhalla), 22.29. STATE–Godin, 21.03.

400— Thomas (Scripps Ranch), 48.18, Ezeokoli (Mt. Carmel), 48.26, Lucas (Poway),  48.73, Collins (Granite Hills), 49.1, DeHaven (Granite Hills), 49.46, Capoocia (El Capitan), 49.5, Jackson (Monte Vista), 49.5, Durall (Del Norte), 49.95. STATE–Kurtz (Brentwood Heritage), 47.35.

 800— Morton (Mt. Carmel), 1:53.60, Famolaro (West Hills), 1:54.63, Rhodes (Steele Canyon) 1:55.03, Alvarado (Sweetwater), 1:55.30, Greer (Valley Center), 1:55.49, Morton (Mt. Carmel), 1:55.65, Meza (Granite Hills), 1:55.75, Grant (Del Norte), 1:55.84. STATE–Haney, Bakersfield Stockdale, 1:51.97.

1600— Armes (Coronado) 4:12.09c, Morton (Mt. Carmel) 4:17.33, Greer (Valley Center) 4:19.16, Sinisalchi (Westview), 4:19.96, Tucker (Westview), 4:20.22, Fahy (La Costa Canyon), 4:20.32, Grant (Del Norte), 4:20.81. STATE–Corcoran, Villa Park, 4:06.

3200— Fahy (La Costa Canyon), 8:53.95 (Section No. 4 all-time), Braude (Torrey Pines), 9:06.01, Hansen (San Marcos),  9:24.54, Siniscalchi (Westview), 9:25.70, Montavo (Mt. Carmel), 9:30.15, Freeman (Carlsbad), 9:34.95. STATE–Haney, 8:46.80.

 110HH— Martin (Eastlake), 14.48, Johnson (Serra), 14.97, Goodloe (Steele Canyon), 15.02, Thibadeaux (Monte Vista), 15.12, Skillin (University City), 15.26, Alexander (Brawley), 15.27, Lachica (Mt. Carmel), 15.38, Grumbling (Oceanside), 15.42. STATE–Viltz, L.B. Millikan, 13.71.

300IH— Johnson (Serra), 39.34, Ramos (Granite Hills), 39.5, Goodloe (Steele Canyon) 39.84, Grumbling (Oceanside), 39.99, Tibodoux (Monte Vista), 40.05, Martinez (Sweetwater),  40.29, Lindsey (Poway), 40.29. STATE–Morris, Concord De La Salle, 36.94.

4x100R— Helix, 41.97  (41.8), Poway 42.02, Granite Hills 42.87, Monte Vista 43.08, Steele Canyon 43.17, Sweetwater 43.24, Rancho Buena Vista, 43.1, Oceanside 43.45, Madison 43.5, El Capitan 43.64, La Costa Canyon 43.65. STATE–Temecula Great Oak, 41.33.

4x400R— Granite Hills 3:20.46, Scripps Ranch 3:20.75, Steele Canyon 3:22.73, Mt. Carmel 3:23.07, Poway 3:23.50, Del Norte 3:24.23, Monte Vista 3:24.6, Sweetwater 3:25.43. STATE–L.A. Dorsey, 3:15.00.

 High Jump— Bush (Pow) 6-7, Arroyo (WV) 6-7, Patmon (PH) 6-6, Probe (Se) 6-6, Carson (BV) 6-5, Benson (PL) 6-5, Rettig (ECap) 6-4, Beebe (MD) 6-4, Dumas (ECap) 6-4, Podraza (SR) 6-2 ¼. STATE–Moore (Rialto Carter), 7-0.

Pole Vault— Bush (Poway), 15-7, Sones (Vista), 15-0, Wagenveld (Calvin Christian), 14-7, Zawadski (Patrick Henry), 14-6, Logan (Rancho Bernardo), 14-6, Rothweil (Rancho Bernardo), 14-2, Winters (Rancho Bernardo) 14-0, Martinez (Steele Canyon), 14-0. STATE–Johnson (Orange Lutheran), 16-8.

 Long Jump— LeBlanc (University City), 22-11 ½, Wiley (Steele Canyon), 22-7, Dodds (Oceanside), 22-5, Hennie (San Marcos), 22-4, Brooks (Patrick Henry), 22-2, Carter (Imperial) 22-1, A. Holder (Oceanside), 22. STATE–Moore (Castro Valley), 25-10w.

Triple jump— Dodds (Oeanside), 47-0 M. Holder (Oceanside), 45-4, Carter (Imperial), 45-0, Wiley (Steele Canyon),  44-11 ¾, Collins (Granite Hills), 43-10, Pritchard (Helix), 43-9 ½, Thompson (Calvin Christian), 43-7 ½, Davis (Sweetwater), 43-5. STATE–Moore (Castro Valley), 50-4 1/2.

Shot Put—Ogundeji (Madison), 65-5 ½ (Section No. 4 all-time), Braddock (Eastlake), 55-8, Wyatt (Helix), 54-10, Hendrickson (San Pasqual), 52-10, Hampton (Helix),  52-1, Basinger (El Camino), 51-0, Lecakes-Jones (Rancho Bernardo),  50-9. STATE 2: Katnik (Bellflower St. John Bosco), 65-4.

 Discus— Ogundeji (Madison), 180-2, Braddock (Eastlake), 168-0, Savage (Morse), 167-10, Hampton (Helix), 164-6, Gonzalez (El Camino,) 160-1. Black (High Tech High), 154-0, Wyatt (Helix) 151-10. STATE–Hudson (Lemoore Kings Christian), 188-7.

GIRLS

100 — Acolatse (Mission Hills), 11.92, Patterson (Rancho Bernardo), 12.13, Stallman (Ramona), 12.25, Johnson (Cathedral), 12.42, Ledbetter (Santa Fe Christian), 12.43. STATE–Washington (L.B. Poly), 11.38w.

200— Acolatse (Mission Hills,) 24.66, Mongiovi (West Hills), 24.79, Patterson (Rancho Bernardo), 25.22 (24.94w), Labrie-Smith (Cathedral) 25.38 (24.79w), Ledbetter (Santa Fe Christian), 25.44, Scott (Westview), 25.3. STATE–Washington (L.B. Poly), 23.50w.

400— Mongiovi (West Hills), 55.86, Labrie-Smith (Cathedral), 56.7, Leonard (Poway), 57.46, Birks (Mira Mesa), 58.08, Chadwick (La Costa Canyon), 58.11, McCarthy (Carlsbad) 58.19. STATE–Roberts (L.B. Poly), 53.37.

800— Bernd (Canyon Crest) 2:15.09, Kelly (University City), 2:16.44, Fierro (San Dieguito), 2:16.3, Buckle (San Pasqual), 2:16.3, Mongiovi (West Hills), 2:16.99, Akins (Rancho Bernardo), 2:17.9, Schall (Mt. Carmel), 2:18.27. STATE–Maxwell (San Lorenzo Valley), 2:08.84.

1600— E. Abrahamson (La Costa Canyon), 4:51.44, Bernd (Canyon Crest), 4:55.39, Ortlieb (San Pasqual), 5:03.2, Stetson (San Pasqual) 5:08.9, Kelly (University City), 5:09.19, Akins (Rancho Bernardo),  5:10.13, Garcia (Mt. Carmel), 5:10. STATE–Wells (Quartz Hill), 4:45.10.

3200— E. Abrahamson (La Costa Canyon), 10:23.50 (Section No. 3 all-time), Ortlieb San Pasqual) 10:46.46, LaSpada (La Jolla Country Day), 10:47.43, Cope (Viata), 11:01.76, M. Fromme (La Costa Canyon), 11:16.90, S. Abrahamson (La Costa Canyon), 11:17.65. STATE–Knights (Irvine Northwood), 9:59.2.

100H— Labrie-Smith (Cathedral), 14.62, Magdalena (Olympian), 14.97, Johnson (Cathwdral), 14.99, Molter (Valhalla), 15.11, N. Martin (La Costa Canyon), 15.27. STATE–Perry (Vacaville), 13.67.

300H— Labrie-Smith (Cathedral), 42.24 (Section No. 1 all-time), Johnson (Cathedral), 44.63, Curry (University City), 44.80, Magdalena (Olympian), 44.90. STATE–Crear (L.B.) Poly, 41.46.

4x100R— Cathedral Catholic, 48.88, Rancho Bernardo, 48.95, La Costa Canyon 49.29, Morse, 49.39, Serra, 49.43, Olympian, 49.94, Valhalla, 49.94. STATE–L.B. Poly, 45.66.

4x400R— Cathedral, 3:53.33, La Costa Canyon, 3:59.50, Rancho Bernardo, 4:00.60, Poway, 4:01.30, Del Norte, 4:02.60. STATE–3:42.84.

High Jump— Curry (University City), 5-6, Callahan (Coronado), 5-5, Rowlett (Carlsbad), 5-4, Snow (Carlsbad), 5-4, Yates (Rancho Buena Vista), 5-4, Mahon (Westview),  5-4. STATE–Kieffer-Wright (South Pasadena), 6-0.

Pole Vault— Thomason (Rancho Bernardo), 12-7 (Section No. 6 all-time), Chandler (Cathedral), 11-9, Bartsch (Coronado), 11-6, Farr (Patrick Henry), 11-6, Wagenfeld (Calvin Christian), 11-2, Jackson (Ramona), 11-1. STATE–Merritt (Rancho Santa Margarita), 13-9.

Long Jump— Cromer (University City), 18-5, Kennedy (Serra), 18-4, Muhammad (La Jolla Coiuntry Day), 18-1, Shuler (Julian), 18-1, Hasselhuhn (Carlsbad), 18-1. STATE–Corrin (N. Hollywood Harvard-Westlake), 20-8 1/4.

Triple Jump— Noiseaux (Eastlake),  38-9, Rehberg (Sweetwater) 37-4 ½, Muhammad (La Jolla Country Day), 37-2, Cole (Del Norte), 36-11 ¾, Kennedy (Serra),  36-9 (37-6w), Hasselhuhn (Carlsbad) 36-5 ¾. STATE–Kwiatkowski (Santa Clara Wilcox), 41-2 3/4.

Shot Put— Osby (Escondido), 42-10 ½, Tausaga (Mt. Miguel), 42-1, Mohamed (Imperial), 40-2, Almquist (Santa Fe Christian),  39-9, Jackson (Castle Park),  39-0. STATE–Scarvelis (Santa Barbara Dos Pueblos), 53-5.

Discus— Osby (Escondido),  133-2, Dozier, (Steele Canyon), 124-11, Cabarle Escondido), 121-10, Montion (Castle Park), 120-4, Reilly (Valley Center), 120-4. STATE–Scarvelis, 172-7.

            ,