Competing No Breeze at Golden League Finals

The rain that hit Southern California on Friday afternoon bypassed the Golden League track and field finals at Cerro Coso College in Ridgecrest, but inclement weather hampered performances.

The conditions--40-degree temperatures with wind gusts exceeding 40 m.p.h.--were so bad that Jamaal Chase of Quartz Hill won the long jump and triple jump with distances of 19 feet 10 inches and 42-6 1/2. Chase has personal bests of 24-2 1/4 in the long jump and 49-3 in the triple jump.

Jerome Davis of Burroughs Ridgecrest, the proud owner of a 47.45-second best in the 400, won that event in 52.45.

Quartz Hill’s Michelle Perry and Felicia Fletcher won the girls’ long jump at 15-5 and triple jump at 29-11 1/2. They have respective bests of 17-1 1/4 and 33-10.

Quartz Hill co-coach Don Crimin said the elements were “the worst I’ve ever seen for this time of the year for a track meet.”

“There were times when kids were almost stopped in their tracks in the middle of a race,” he said. “The wind was that strong.”