STATE PREP TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS : Brown Prepared for a Showdown

NORWALK —  Adrian Brown got a good look at Isaac Carson during the CIF State track and field preliminaries Friday and pronounced him fast but beatable.

“Let me tell you, that boy is quick,” said Brown, a senior 110-meter high hurdler from Huntington Beach High School. “That homeboy is fast. Some kind of turbos kicked in.”

Carson, a senior from Daly City Jefferson, bolted away from Brown for a comfortable victory in their heat. Carson’s time of 13.82, though wind-aided, is the fastest time in the state this year. Brown ran 14.23, just off his 14.10 personal best set three weeks ago.

Carson and Brown were the fastest qualifiers for tonight’s final at Cerritos College. Field events start at 5 p.m.; running events at 6.

“I tried to keep up with Carson because he’s the man,” Brown said. “I’ve got to get a game plan for (today). I’ve got to get out of the blocks. There’s no holding back. You’ve got to give it all you’ve got. I can’t say right now, but it’s going to be real close.”

Pressed for a prediction, Brown said, “I might pull it out. (But) I’ve never raced anyone that fast.”

Charlie Davidson of Saddleback, who had been Brown’s main competition in Orange County this year, advanced, winning his heat in 14.40. Dominique Arnold of Long Beach Wilson, who defeated Brown at last week’s masters meet, also qualified in 14.40.

Esperanza’s chances for the boys’ team championship improved when Compton, the Aztecs’ chief rival, lost Edward Hervey with a strained hamstring.

Hervey, the state leader in the 400, injured the muscle while qualifying in the final meters of his specialty and could not return for the 200. He had been expected to finish as high as third in the 200. Later, Compton Coach Alonzo Simmons said Hervey would try to run the 400 today.

Esperanza’s Mark Parlin was the leading qualifier in the discus, with a throw of 185 feet 2 inches, and the shotput (63-0 1/2). Teammate Roshawn Sims won his heat of the 400 meters in 48.46 and Trevor Lycett of Esperanza advanced in the pole vault with a leap of 15-0.

Should Esperanza win tonight, it would be the county’s first State title since Mission Viejo tied Crenshaw in 1982.

Another big story was the gusty tail wind that pushed sprinters to quick times.

Tim Martin of San Clemente rode the wind to a 10.49 clocking in the 100 meters, the fastest time in county history.

However, the wind was 2.55 meters-per-second, well above the allowable 2.0 for setting records. Martin’s 10.56 two weeks ago remains the county record.

Fifth in the State meet final last year, Martin was the fourth-fastest qualifier Friday. Unbeaten Ricky Carrigan of Compton had the fastest time, a wind-aided 10.32.

Martin also advanced in the 200, running a wind-aided 21.35. Carrigan’s 20.85 was the top qualifying mark and the third-best in the nation this year. And it was a legal mark.

State notes

Elinor Tolson of Fountain Valley won her heats in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles in a wind-aided 14.30 and 44.60, respectively. . . . Shelley Taylor of Edison ran 4:59.67 to win her 1,600 heat. She later scratched in the 800 meters because of a cold. Christy Engesser of Ocean View (2:16.70) qualified in the 800. . . . Dan Niednagel of Dana Hills (1:54.62), Mike Terry of El Modena (1:55.20) and Mike Hancock of Newport Harbor (1:55.57) advanced in the 800.

Valencia’s 1,600 relay team of Korey Alexander, Brian Manning, Kevin Alexander and Devon Edwards advanced in 3:18.75. Foothill’s team of Sean Amos, Ethan Taub, Tad Health and Aaron Taub also qualified in 3:19.71.

Kevin Carlson of Katella, the defending State champion, cleared 6-7 to qualify in the high jump. . . . Vince Church of Kennedy advanced in the triple jump (48-2 3/4). . . . Melissa McDonald of Mater Dei qualified in the high jump (5-6) and triple jump (38-8 1/4). Tammy Graham of Mission Viejo qualified in the triple jump (38-0 1/4). . . . Heather Sterlin of Mission Viejo advanced in the long jump (18-6 1/2).