Felix Runs to Head of Class at Arcadia

By STEVEN HERBERT

April 15, 2001 12 AM PT

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

ARCADIA — Sophomore Allyson Felix of L.A. Baptist High ran the fastest time in the nation this year in the girls’ 200 meters after winning the 100 on Saturday night at the Arcadia Invitational.

But she downplayed the achievement.

“I know people are going to be coming up,” Felix said. “I know I still have a lot of work to do, but it’s good to see where I’m at right now.”

Felix’s 200 time of 23.48 seconds moved her to fifth on the all-time region list. Marion Jones, former Thousand Oaks standout and three-time Olympic gold medalist, set the national record of 22.58 in 1992.

Angel Perkins of Gahr, the national indoor record holder, finished second in 23.83.

“I felt strong and she really made me run,” Felix said. “I felt like my start was pretty strong. That’s normally my worst part of the race, so I try to focus in on that. I felt really strong at the end of the race, too.”

Felix won the 100, running 11.83 into a 1.0 meter head wind, .01 slower than the state-best time she has run twice this season.

Defending champion Porchea Carroll of Rio Mesa was second in 12.02.

“I got out decent and she was right beside me basically the whole race, so that pushed me,” Felix said.

Schquay Brignac of Taft successfully defended her girls’ high jump title. The defending state champion was among three jumpers to clear 5-foot-8, getting the victory based on fewest misses.

She missed three times at 5-10, which would have matched her personal record, set in eighth grade.

“I feel good jumping at 5-10,” Brignac said. “I think it’s more of a mental block right now. I’ve been training hard and I think it at the end, the whole package will come together.”

Brignac came closest to clearing 5-10 on her final jump, clipping it with her leg.

“I carried myself over the bar and grabbed my leg to catch it,” Brignac said. “Other than I felt pretty good at it. I just wish I had another jump.”

Emily Forsythe of Crescenta Valley was among five jumpers to clear 5-6, but placed eighth, lowest among the group, on the basis of most misses.

Melissa Astete of Birmingham won the girls’ pole vault at a region-record 13 feet, equaling the top mark in the state this year of Jamie Kolar of Long Beach Poly.

Jason Lovell of Cleveland won the boys’ 400 in a state-leading 47.58. Jose Galeana of Littlerock was second in 48.01.

“I just wanted to get off nice and easy,” said Lovell, defending City Section champion. “I knew it was kind of windy, so I didn’t want to spend too much at the beginning. I was right where I wanted to be at the 200, made my move at the top of the curve, and tried to hold on and it worked.”

Defending state champion Chris Morgan of Taft won the 110 high hurdles in 14.00.

State champion Anita Siraki of Hoover was second in the 3,200 in 10:16.79, her second-fastest time, trailing only last year’s 10:14.2.

State champion Jamil Smith of Palmdale was second in the triple jump at 47-8.