2003 PREVIEW TRACK AND FIELD: LANCASTER GIRLS BETTER OVERALL TEAM HAS MORE EXPERIENCE, DEPTH; BOYS SHOULD IMPROVE.Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer Shirfa Arnold and Toni Chevalier first ran relays together at Park View Middle School in Lancaster. Desiree Butler and Lauren Johnson did the same at nearby Piute Middle School. They met as freshmen at Lancaster High and have been running relays ever since. They work so well together they broke the school record in the 400 relay last season as sophomores. ``It's like a family,'' Johnson said. ``I think the way we understand each other is what really makes us strong.'' Arnold added: ``If Lauren moved and someone had to replace her, it wouldn't be the same. We're all used to each other.'' The relay team is a microcosm mi·cro·cosm n. A small, representative system having analogies to a larger system in constitution, configuration, or development: "He sees the auto industry as a microcosm of the U.S. of the entire girls' track and field program at Lancaster. There is nary nar·y adj. Not one: "Frequently, measures of major import . . . glide through these chambers with nary a whisper of debate" George B. Merry. a senior in the group, but the predominantly junior-laden team has been together since the beginning. The girls are ready to compete for the Golden League title now. They already have proved as much, upsetting defending champion defending champion n (SPORT) → defensor/a m/f del título defending champion n (Sport) → champion(ne) en titre Quartz Hill in the first league meet. The girls finished in fourth place last season and struggled to fill each event. An infusion of new talent will make things different this year. The biggest addition is in hurdles, where sophomore Roxy Jackson has come over from basketball. Along with freshman Kimic Nicholas, Jackson will strengthen a previously barren event. Another newcomer, senior Nina Claud, will make sure the long jump and triple jump are filled. ``Last year, we just could not cover our events, plain and simple,'' coach Laura Plaisance said. ``It was such a transition year. Now we have more experience and more depth.'' The relay team forms an intimidating in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. sprint corps individually as well. Johnson holds the school record in the 200. Chevalier holds the school record in the 400. Arnold probably would have been the league champion in the 100 last season if not for what she thought was a bogus false start disqualification dis·qual·i·fi·ca·tion n. 1. The act of disqualifying or the condition of having been disqualified. 2. Something that disqualifies: illness as a disqualification for enlistment in the army. . ``They are so excellent to be around,'' Plaisance said. ``I feel they've had enough experience now that they are starting to believe in their ability. They have no idea how good they are, in a way.'' Marissa Hager anchors the distance team, having won the league title in the 3,200 last year as a freshman. Another school record already has fallen this season. Kelli Valentine, a junior thrower, set the discus discus /dis·cus/ (dis´kus) pl. dis´ci [L.] disk. dis·cus n. pl. dis·ci A flat circular surface; a disk. discus pl. disci [L.] 1. mark against Quartz Hill. The boys are a young team returning no league champions but also expect to fill every event, unlike last season. Lancaster is strong in sprint and field events, with a few good distance runners distance runner n. A runner who competes in distance races. . Seniors Daniel Allen and Mark Rodriguez Mark is an artist covering poetry, fiction and personal journalism. Early Years Mark Rodriguez was born in Los Angeles in 1980 in Cedars-Sinai Hospital to Rocky and Leticia Rodriguez. Mark was raised in Kingwood, Texas and lived there until he was 15 years of age. are expected to finish in the top three in most hurdles. J.J. Guillory, a junior, should be one of the team's top point getters, doing the long jump, triple jump, high jump and 400 relay. Other sprinters are senior Debonair deb·o·nair also deb·o·naire adj. 1. Suave; urbane. 2. Affable; genial. 3. Carefree and gay; jaunty. Broughton, junior Kelvin kelvin, abbr. K, official name in the International System of Units (SI) for the degree of temperature as measured on the Kelvin temperature scale. A unit of measurement of temperature. Love and a trio of sophomores in Andre Hunter, Effaona Damaha and Ivah Pamphile. Damaha is a transfer from Chatsworth. The distances are led by Sam Torres and Grant Hager, Marissa's older brother. ``We're pretty much filled in all events,'' first-year coach Ken Wright said. ``It's a lot different than what I heard about last year. I think we really have a chance.'' LANCASTER AT A GLANCE Team: Lancaster track and field Key returnees: Daniel Allen, Sr., hurdler; Shirfa Arnold, Jr., sprinter; Debonair Broughton, Sr., sprinter; Toni Chevalier, Jr., sprinter; Ashley Goss n. 1. Gorse. , Sr., thrower; J.J. Guillory, Jr., jumper; Grant Hager, Sr., distance; Marissa Hager, So. distance; Andre Hunter, So., sprinter; Lauren Johnson, Jr., sprinter; Kelvin Love, Jr., sprinter; Chad McDaniel, Jr., jumper; Kathleen Prieto, Jr., thrower; Mark Rodriquez, Sr., hurdler; Sam Torres, Sr., distance; Kelli Valentine, Jr., thrower Top newcomers: Nina Claud, Sr., jumper; Effaona Damaha, So., sprinter; Roxy Jackson, So., hurdler; Kimic Nicholas, Fr., hurdler; Ivah Pamphile, So., sprinter CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Lancaster's 400 relay team of, from left, Shirfa Arnold, Desiree Butler, Lauren Johnson and Toni Chevalier has been running together since they were freshmen. John McCoy/Staff Photographer Box: LANCASTER AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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