RUNNING : Subtracting 5 Events Adds Up for Stewart

Since Jennifer Stewart graduated from Notre Dame High a year ago, her coaches, her family members and her friends have been telling her that the heptathlon was perfectly suited to her physical skills.

And for just as long, Stewart has opposed the move, preferring to concentrate on the high jump and the javelin.

The Valley College and Advantage Athletics athlete has won the battle, at least for the time being.

“The heptathlon is definitely out of the question for her right now,” Advantage Athletics Coach Charlie DiMarco said. “Her lack of motivation for the running events--especially the 800--is too much at the moment.”

A 5-foot-8 high jumper in high school, Stewart, competing this year at Valley College, won the state junior college high jump title (5-6) and placed sixth in the javelin (131 feet) in mid-May. She improved her personal best in the javelin to 139-7 at The Athletics Congress Southern California championships in late May, then finished fifth in TAC’s Junior (19 and under) meet in Blaine, Minn., last month.

DiMarco said that the 5-foot-9, 145-pound Stewart is best suited for the javelin, but he figures she has a legitimate shot at qualifying for next year’s Olympic Trials in New Orleans in that event and the high jump. “She’s going to train all-out in both events next season,” DiMarco said, “and hopefully, qualify in both.”

Stewart, who would have to clear 6-0 3/4 in the high jump and throw 165-0 in the javelin to reach DiMarco’s goals, is not fazed by the task ahead of her.

“I think I can get both of those marks,” she said. “I definitely have a body that’s more suited to the javelin. I mean, I’m pretty big while most high jumpers are tall and lanky, but I don’t consider myself that bad a high jumper.”

Stewart, whose brother Walt competes in the high jump for Cal State Northridge, has improved dramatically in the javelin this season--adding more than 20 feet to her personal best--while her season best of 5-6 in the high jump is two inches below her personal best. She is determined, however, to give each event 50% of her training time next year.

“I like both events a lot,” she said. “Training for one gives me a break from training for the other. I think I would get bored if I only trained for one event.”

Just think how much fun Stewart could have if she trained for the heptathlon’s seven events.

Add Stewart: In an impressive display of athleticism at TAC’s Junior Women’s Elite Throws Camp in Eugene, Ore., last week, Stewart placed first in a series of physical tests ranging from the 30-meter sprint (3.92 seconds), to the overhead shotput (44-6), to the standing broad jump (7-11).

She will attend TAC’s Junior Women’s Elite Jumps Camp in Austin, Tex., July 31-Aug. 4.

Trivia question: As a high school senior in 1977, he became the only person to win the boys’ 100-, 220- and 440-yard dashes at the City Section championships.

Name this former local standout.

Distance double: Darcy Arreola of Cal State Northridge is having her finest season in the 1,500-meter run, but she plans to concentrate on the 3,000 after the 1992 season.

This came as a shock--albeit a pleasant one--to Northridge Coach Don Strametz, who had tried unsuccessfully for years to convince Arreola that the 3,000--not the 1,500--would eventually be the race best suited to her abilities.

“I used to hate that race,” Arreola said of the 3,000. “It was just so long . . . I guess that I enjoy running so much now that it’s not that bad to me. Before, I just wanted to run and get it over with, but now I’m enjoying the long runs more. I want to do the 3,000 because it’s a longer race.”

Strametz said this doesn’t mean Arreola has reached her potential in the 1,500, an event in which she ran 4 minutes 9.32 seconds to place third at TAC’s senior championships. That finish qualified her for the World Championships in Tokyo, Aug. 24-Sept. 1.

“She can run a lot faster than that,” Strametz said. “I think she’s capable of running 4:05 before the season is over, and 3:58 or 3:59 down the road.”

Mary Slaney holds the U. S. record of 3:57.12.

Keeping track: Tamika Bradfield--who has signed a letter of intent with Cal State Northridge--and Jean Harvey of Antelope Valley College placed third and fifth this week in an international juniors meet at Washington State University. Bradfield, who recently graduated from Dominguez High, timed 24.59 seconds in the 200 meters, and Harvey ran 10:07.01 in the 3,000.

Bradfield, the runner-up to Rio Mesa sophomore Marion Jones in the 100 and 200 at the state high school championships, will run in a junior meet in London this weekend, and Harvey will compete in a meet in Tallahassee, Fla.

Trivia answer: Ronnie Wayne Williams of Chatsworth High won the 100, 220 and 440 at the 1977 City championships to lead the Chancellors to a runner-up finish behind Fremont.

Williams had high school bests of 9.5 seconds in the 100, 21.0 in the 220 and 47.01 in the 440.