Morningside Gears Up to Defend Division III Titles

Morningside High will be attempting to defend its boys and girls Division III titles in the Southern Section track and field finals at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cerritos College.

Monarch Coach Ron Tatum thinks the prospects appear good for another sweep.

“If you look at the results from last week, you’d have to say we have the potential to win the meet in both divisions,” Tatum said. “I think we’ll be very competitive in our division. I think at this point we’re the strongest that we’ll ever be.”

The Morningside boys are led by Edward Turner, who was the top qualifier in the 100 and 200-meter runs and long jump in the Division III preliminaries last week at Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills High.

He finished the 100 in 10.73 seconds, the 200 in 21.31 and leaped 23 feet in the long jump. He is ranked first in the state in the long jump with a best of 24-1.

“He’s looked beautiful this week in practice,” Tatum said. “I think he’s ready for a big meet.”

The Monarchs should also score in the 400 and 1,600 relays and the triple jump. Turner’s brother, Michael, is entered in the triple jump.

The best event for the Monarchs girls could be the 400, where they have the top three qualifiers, including LaShawn Stringer. The Monarchs’ Tai-Ne Gibson should also score in the 100 and 200. Freshman Nicole Thomas is entered in the 100 and 300 hurdles. Thomas is ranked first in the state in the 300 hurdles and also had the fastest qualifying time of 14.83 in the 100 hurdles.

Morningside will also be represented in the 400 and 1,600 relays. The Monarchs have the nation’s top time of 3:44.7 in the 1,600 relay.

“The girls have a few more qualifiers than the boys and that’s a testimony to the experience they have,” Tatum said.

Los Angeles Loyola and La Puente Bishop Amat are expected to battle Morningside in the boys’ division and Torrance is expected to challenge the Monarch girls.

Torrance has depth in the sprints with Anetra Washington and Dorlisa Good in the 100 and 200, Kim Blankinship in the high jump and Fiona Mason in the 100 and 300 hurdles and triple jump.

Washington had the fastest qualifying time of 12.09 seconds in the 100 and Blankinship is among the favorites in the high jump.

Morningside and Torrance appear to be the only South Bay schools with championship possibilities, although there are several area individuals who could challenge for titles.

In Division I, Brandon Crockett of Inglewood will compete in the 200, Dan Minami of Peninsula in the 3,200, Leandrew Childs of Inglewood in the long jump and Marquise Jones of Hawthorne in the 110 and 300 hurdles.

Among Division I girls, top qualifiers included Meshana Mays of Hawthorne in the hurdles, Jamie Artzner of Peninsula in the 800 and 1,600 and Keisha Wallace of Leuzinger in the 100 and 200.

The South Bay’s best hope in Division IV is sophomore Ricky Boyer of Serra in the 100 and 200.