Gardena Teams Could Be in Running for City Titles

For most of the season, the Gardena High girls’ track team has remained in the background as the boys’ team and standout distance runner Morris Giddens took center stage.

But the Gardena girls have an opportunity to grab the spotlight when they compete in the City Section finals at 3 p.m. today at Birmingham High in Van Nuys.

Mohican Coach Al Hearvey likes his team’s chances.

“I don’t think we’re in the driver’s seat, but we’re right up there,” he said. “I think 45 points may win it. University has a chance to get 49 or 50 points and we may need a couple of upsets to get (the title), but it could happen.”

Gardena finished second to Dorsey last year, but Hearvey is hoping his team’s improved depth will make a difference this time.

The Mohicans should be strong in the sprints and field events.

Sprint leaders include freshman Dreshionda Broadway in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and juniors Latarya McCarty in the 200 and Lavon Wade in the 400. Broadway was fourth-fastest in the 100, McCarty third in the 200 and Wade third in the 400 in the City preliminaries last week.

McCarty also anchors Gardena’s entries in the relays. The Mohicans had the second-fastest qualifying time of 49.15 seconds in the 400 relay and were fourth in the 1,600 relay in 4:11.40.

Gardena will also rely on Wade in the triple and high jumps and sophomores Kimela West in the long jump and Erica Alson in the 100 and 300 hurdles. Wade was the top qualifier in the triple jump with a leap of 37-2 3/4.

Gardena’s qualifiers are all underclassmen.

“We’re building a tradition here and if we win it this year, I think we’ll win it again next year,” Hearvey said.

Gardena’s chances of winning the boys’ title were diminished when sprinter Charles Gates suffered a hamstring injury during the Southern Pacific Conference finals two weeks ago. So the focus for Gardena today will be on the distance and field events.

The leaders are Giddens and Jose Lira in the 1,600 and 3,200, Robert Turner in the triple jump and Ronald Stewart in the high and triple jumps.

Giddens also qualified with the fastest time in the 800 last week, but decided to drop the 800 in favor of the longer distances.

“He kind of felt that he only wanted to run in two events and those are the ones that he feels most comfortable with,” Hearvey said.

Dorsey is considered the favorite to win the boys’ title.

Among other top boys competing in the meet will be Kaaron Conwright of Westchester in the 100 and 200 and Tyrone Jolly of Narbonne in the long and high jumps. Top girls include Adanna Davis of San Pedro in the shotput, teammate Nicole Kleiner in the 800 and Westchester’s 1,600 relay team.

Davis posted the top qualifying mark of 36-10 1/2 in the prelims.