TRACK AND FIELD / STATE HIGH SCHOOL MEET : After Promising Start, Washington Has Title Hopes Cooled by Injury

Just when things were going well for the Washington High School boys’ track team, its fortune took a dramatic downturn Friday, the opening day of the state track and field meet at Cerritos College.

In its quest to win the school’s first state team title in 43 years, Washington began by setting a school record in the 400-meter relay with a time of 40.95 seconds.

But the Generals’ title hopes suffered a major blow two hours later when standout sprinter Donovan Burks injured his hamstring during qualifying in the 100 meters.

Burks, the two-time City 100- and 200-meters champion, finished second to Napolean Kaufman of Lompoc in his 100 heat in 10.56 to 10.58, but pulled up near the finish.

Burks, who anchored the Generals’ 400-meter relay team, did not qualify in the 200 meters and did not run on Washington’s 1,600-meter relay team because of his injury.

Going into the meet, Washington was considered a favorite in the team title chase based on its strength in the sprints. With Burks slowed, the Generals will have to rely heavily in today’s finals on its relay teams and sprinters Sylvester Green, who qualified in the 100, and Jason Goss, who qualified in the 200. “My injury really affects our team’s title hopes,” Burks said. “I think that I will be ready to go. Somehow, we have to get some points.”

Southern Section sprint champion Andre Green of Long Beach Poly was impressive in qualifying in the 100 (10.58) and 200 meters (21.49). Green also anchored the Jackrabbits qualifying 400-meter relay team, which won the state title last year in the event.

Coley Candaele of Carpinteria, who is attempting to double in the 800 and 1,600 meters, easily qualified into the finals in both events. He had the fastest time in the 1,600 meters in 4:12.44, far off his nation-leading best of 4:06.58, and won his 800-meter heat in 1:53.86, again off his season best of 1:50.87.

In the girls’ competition, Pasadena Muir--with its injured sprinter, Inger Miller--does not look as if it will repeat as team champion.

Miller, who has the nation’s best sprint times this season but has been slowed by an ankle injury, qualified in the 100 (12.04) and 200 meters (24.23). However, Miller did not run on Muir’s qualifying 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams.

Bakersfield looks as if it’s the team to beat in today’s finals, thanks to its strength in the field events. Dawn Dumble was the top qualifier in the shotput with a toss of 48 feet 4 1/4 inches, followed by teammate Melisa Weis, who threw 47-4 1/4. In the discus, Weis led with a throw of 172-3, followed by Dumble’s 157-7.

Bakersfield is also expected to score in both relays and the 400 meters with Janice Nicholls, who was the top qualifier in 55.30.

Stealing the sprint spotlight from Miller’s injury was the performance of Marion Jones of Oxnard Rio Mesa.

Jones, a freshman who defeated Miller in the 100 and 200 meters in the Masters’ meet, was the top qualifier in both events. Her time of 11.62 in the 100 meters is an age-group record for 14-year-olds, which goes along with the 200 record of 23.70 she set last week.

Four defending girls’ state champions each qualified in their events: Felice Lipscomb of Santa Monica, in the 100-meter hurdles; Julian Yendork of Walnut, in the long and triple jumps; Twila Sims of Lompoc, in the 300-meter hurdles, and Kim Toney of Atascadero, in the 800 meters.

Track Notes

Today’s finals will begin at 5 p.m. with the field events, followed by the first running event at 6 p.m. . . . With Washington’s boys team title hopes depending on its sprinters, the other top contenders are Fallbrook, behind Brent Noon, who set a state meet record in the shotput with 73-6; Pasadena Muir, behind 400-meter runner Mike Sulcer and its relay teams, and Long Beach Poly, behind Andre Green and its relay teams. Curtis Hawkins of Carson was the top 110-meter high hurdles qualifier in 14.34. Rosetta Hunter of Locke was the girls’ top qualifier in the 1,600 in 4:59.11.