THE PREPS / ERIC SHEPARD : Redlands Senior Makes Fast Rise to the Top

Pat Johnson’s rise to the top of the track and field world has been almost as fast as his sprint times this season.

Johnson, a senior at Redlands High, did not take up the sport until last year, and then a hip injury sidelined him for much of the season. Although he has raced only 16 times, Johnson leads the nation in the 100 meters, with a time of 10.42 seconds, and 200, with a 20.70.

“I don’t know why I never thought about going out for track earlier,� he said. “Some of the (football) coaches at school noticed my speed and encouraged me to give it a try. I’m just out there having some fun.�

The hip injury healed in time for Johnson to compete in the Citrus Belt League Championships last season, and he eventually qualified for the Southern Section and State meets.

Johnson placed fourth in the State 200, in 22.04, but it was not until the Inland Empire Championships at UC Riverside 10 days ago that Johnson put everyone on notice. He upset Bryan Howard of Moreno Valley Canyon Springs in the 100 and 200, clocking the nation’s leading prep times in both events. Howard, a junior, is the defending State champion in the 100 and was second in the 200.

“Bryan and I are good friends, but I noticed he didn’t call me last week,� Johnson said. “I’m just out there running as fast as I can and I’m not really thinking about him or anyone else. Right now, this is something I’m trying not to take too seriously.�

Johnson and Howard face a rematch in the Arcadia/Foot Locker Invitational Saturday night at Arcadia High. The meet, one of the most prestigious of the season, features top athletes from 15 states.

Another record-setting performance by Johnson might cause him to second-guess his decision to sign a football letter of intent with Oregon in February. The wide receiver said he did not want to risk waiting on a track scholarship in case he suffered another injury.

“I faxed the (Oregon) football coaches a story on the Inland Empire meet, so I hope they passed my times along to the track coaches,� Johnson said. “I would like to compete in both sports there.�

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One of the most attractive events at Arcadia figures to be the boys’ high jump, featuring the nation’s top three competitors.

Heading the list is Jeremy Fischer of Camarillo, who leads the pack with a jump of 7 feet 4 inches. Fischer, a senior who signed with Wisconsin, set his personal mark of 7-4 in the recent Santa Barbara Easter Relays.

“I don’t like to set height records, but it would be great if I could go 7-5 or 7-6 before I graduate,� he said. “Since I’m only 5-9, that’s really jumping over my head.�

Fischer, who finished second in the State meet last year, will face Art Lloyd of Rialto Eisenhower and Rodney White of Indianapolis Pike, among others. Lloyd jumped 7-2 in a dual meet last month, and White has cleared 7-0.

The national prep record of 7-5 1/4, set by Dothel Edwards of Athens, Ga., in 1984, is likely to be broken this season.

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Keep an eye on freshman Obea Moore of Pasadena Muir, one of the youngest competitors at Arcadia.

Moore, 15, will run in the 800 and 1,600 relay. He has clocked a 1:54.78 in the 800 and anchors the team’s 1,600 relay team, which has the second-fastest time in the nation at 3:14.10.

“If I’m going to have a chance at all in the 800, it is going to have to come from the heart,� he said. “But I’m not running to place fourth. I’m going out to win it all.�

Moore had a glittering junior high career, breaking 2 minutes in the 800 when he was 12 and running 47.16 seconds in the 400 last year.

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After sitting out three games last week, pitcher Randy Wolf of Woodland Hills El Camino Real returned to the mound Wednesday and led his team to a 14-7 victory over Thousand Oaks in the championship game of the Thousand Oaks tournament.

“Today, I just wanted to do it for dad,� Wolf said.

The most valuable player in the City Division 4-A last season was referring to James Wolf, who died of a heart attack on March 27. He was 56, and had attended all of El Camino Real’s games.

Randy Wolf, who has signed a letter of intent with Pepperdine, sat out a doubleheader last Monday and attended Tuesday’s game against Quartz Hill, but did not play.

Against Thousand Oaks, Wolf hit a home run and improved his record to 4-1.

“That kind of got me in the heart a little bit,� teammate Justin Martin said of the homer.

Services for James Wolf were held Friday, and the family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the school’s baseball program.

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Irvine Woodbridge center fielder Alison Johnsen and shortstop Carrie Brown were injured when they collided while going after a fly ball in a softball game against Santa Ana Mater Dei on Saturday.

Johnsen was knocked unconscious for a minute, and Brown suffered a broken left fibula. Both were taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and hospitalized overnight for observation. Johnsen is expected to be sidelined for two weeks.

After a 29-minute delay, umpires suspended the game until Monday. Mater Dei was ahead, 6-0, in the third inning at the time of the collision and eventually won, 11-2.

Johnsen caught the short fly, but Brown could not stop and hit her teammate in the temple with her knee.

Alan Dugard, Woodbridge’s coach, said it was the worst collision he has seen.

“They’re both going to get anything that’s hit. Unfortunately, both were going full tilt when they hit,� he said. “Losing a game means nothing; losing kids, that’s tough.�

Times’ Top 20 Baseball Poll

The Times’ top 20 preseason high school baseball poll, with teams from the City and Southern Sections.

School Sect. Div. 1993 Rec. 1. Simi Valley SS I 27-4 2. Bishop Amat SS III 27-1 3. Chatsworth City 4-A 20-7 4. Hunt. Beach SS I 13-15 5. Capo Valley SS I 14-10 6. El Camino Real City 4-A 24-2 7. St. John Bosco SS III 14-10 8. Gahr SS II 22-7 9. Troy SS II 19-6-1 10. Corona SS III 18-8-2 11. Ayala SS I 17-4 12. LB Wilson SS I 17-9 13. Cres. Valley SS I 12-12 14. Mater Dei SS I 20-5 15. El Segundo SS III 20-7 16. San Marino SS IV 23-3 17. Nogales SS I 6-16 18. Fountain Valley SS I 23-5 19. Diamond Bar SS I 22-5 20. Bell City 3-A 21-4