SOUTHERN SECTION 3-A TRACK PRELIMINARIES : El Modena’s Terry Passes Quintana, Qualifies

CAMARILLO —  Mike Terry of El Modena played the role of giant killer at the Southern Section 3-A preliminaries Saturday at Camarillo High School.

Terry, a senior, qualified for Friday’s division finals in the 200 and 800 meters, winning his heat of the 800 and placing second in the 200.

The top nine competitors advanced to the final meet, to be held at Cerritos College, with each heat winner automatically qualifying.

In the 800, Arroyo Grande’s Louie Quintana, whom Track and Field Magazine called the nation’s fastest returning high school miler, led the race until the 600-meter mark when Terry passed Quintana. Terry didn’t just pass Quintana gradually, he tore by Quintana, leaving him in his wake.

Terry won in 1 minute 54.24 seconds, which was the top qualifying time of the day, and Quintana was second in 1:56.50. Camarillo’s Bodie Minster was third in the race at 1:59.97.

Newport Harbor’s Mike Hancock, who won his 800 heat in 1:56.89, had the third--best qualifying time behind Terry and Quintana. Marina’s Alan Grant, who won his heat, and University’s David Mayeda were other Orange County athletes who qualified.

Terry was second in his 200 heat in 22.51 behind Tyrone Edwards of Nogales.

Esperanza’s Roshawn Sims was Orange County’s top sprinter Saturday. Sims had the meet’s best time in the 200 and 400. He won the second of four heats of the 400 in 49.03 and came back to run 21.66 in the 200. The closest competitor to Sims in the 400 was Lompoc’s Donnie Burks, who was more than a second slower.

In the 110 high hurdles, county runners had the top three times with Huntington Beach’s Adrian Brown leading the way. Brown won the third heat in 14.10, which was a wind--aided time, with Saddleback’s Charlie Davidson second in 14.63. Busch won the third heat in 14.55.

In girls’ events, Shelley Taylor of Edison was the leading qualifier in the 1,600, winning her heat in 5:08.68. Taylor, who came back to qualify in the 800, said her time was slow, but that she wasn’t looking to run a fast time until this Friday.

El Modena’s Kristina Dahlberg, who ran 5:09.56, Woodbridge’s Amy Robles, Los Alamitos’ Tracy Fatone and Tustin’s Liza Alexander also advanced.

Rio Mesa’s Marion Jones, considered among the best high school girls’ sprinters in the nation, was her usual best, winning the 100 (11.34), 200 (23.55) and the 400 (56.33) in the best times of the day.

Other top county runners were Los Alamitos’ Cavetra Mitchell, who won her heats of the 100 and 200, Fountain Valley’s Elinor Tolson, who had the top time of 45.55 in the 300 hurdles and won her heat of the 100-meter low hurdles and Katella’s Martha Pinto, who was second in her 3,200 heat (11:17.51).

In the field events, Katella’s Kevin Carlson, who holds the county record, was the leading qualifier in the high jump (6-6). Esperanza’s Mark Parlin, who placed second in the shotput at the State meet last season, was the top qualifier in the shotput (60- 3/4) and discus throw (179-4 1/2).