Track and field: L.B. Poly’s Orange provides thrills for the crowd

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I had a chance to catch up with Evant Orange, the anchor for the Long Beach Poly boys’ 400 relay team, after the Jackrabbits’ narrow victory over Compton Dominguez during Saturday’s CIF state championships at Cerritos College, and he had plenty to say.

With good reason, too, given the nature of the race.

Fans in the stands are still talking about the way Orange, somehow, someway, leaned his body, seemingly like a contortionist, to cross the finish line ahead of the Dons’ Manoah Wesson. Honestly, it was as close a finish as I’ve seen. Most in the press box would agree.

‘I thought I was going to fall at one point but I just kept going for it,’’ Orange said. ‘I knew if I stayed calm and focused, stay composed, we could get the victory. I had to find a way to win. I couldn’t let my team down.’’

-- Sean Ceglinsky

Note: For up-to-the-minute results of the CIF state championship meet, check here.