2003 PREVIEW TRACK AND FIELD: LOSSES HURT TITLE HOPES ACADEMICS, ABANDONMENT COST PALMDALE BOYS' TEAM.Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer Palmdale High might have been able to contend for the Golden League boys' track and field title this year. But that dream died before the season started. The returning Falcons, coming off a second-place finish Noun 1. second-place finish - a finish in second place (as in a race) runner-up finish finish - designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the , saw a lot of missing faces in preseason practices. The loss of top athlete and state competitor Derek Hagan Derek Steven Hagan, Jr. (born September 21, 1984 in Northridge, California) is an American football wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Dolphins in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. was expected. He graduated. What was not expected were the academic eligibilities and abandonment by key athletes. ``We had a lot of high hopes for this year's team,'' coach Jeff Leeds said. ``But, due to some unexpected misfortune, the boys' team will be on the low end of the league. I guess a lot of people didn't care to come out or be eligible. It's not really hard to be eligible.'' JaVonte Holmes took over for Hagan, now a receiver at Arizona Arizona (âr'əzō`nə), state in the southwestern United States. It is bordered by Utah (N), New Mexico (E), Mexico (S), and, across the Colorado R., Nevada and California (W). State, in football. He won't be able to do the same in track because of grades. But many of his football teammates just decided not to do track this year. Top sprinters LaRon McIntyre, Sean Edwards and Adrian Adrian, Roman emperor Adrian, Roman emperor: see Hadrian. Adrian, city, United States Adrian, city (1990 pop. 22,097), seat of Lenawee co., SE Mich., on the Raisin River; inc. 1836. Jenkins aren't competing. Palmdale graduated a deep group of throwers, but were expecting back Trent Gunn. But he didn't come out. ``It can be disappointing at times, but I try not to let it get to me,'' said sprinter Ryan Frasier, one of the few seniors to return to the team. ``I think it's more frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: than disappointing. We could have had a great year. Now we'll probably struggle this year, but there is a lot of talent that will probably be good in the future.'' One area where the team remains strong is with its high jumpers
Many freshmen will be counted on to contribute immediately, including Zack Moore, already the team's best hurdler. ``We have a lot of young kids,'' Leeds said. ``It's a shame that we have to put them on varsity already.'' The boys are weakest in distances, which is a strength for rivals Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley and Highland. The girls usually suffer in the distances also. But there is a new crop of distance runners distance runner n. A runner who competes in distance races. that could push the team up into championship contention. Freshmen Nadia Elizondo and Kari Kennedy, as well as sophomore Barbara MacLaren, all are in their first year running track for Palmdale. Each ran cross country in the fall and fared well. ``All of a sudden, we have something in the distances,'' Leeds said. ``Distance has been our main deficiency as long as I can remember.'' Hurdler Dominique Holland returns for her senior year. She won the Golden League title as a sophomore but missed last season because she was academically ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. . Palmdale has an established sprinter in junior Krystal Quinn. Quinn excels mostly in the 400. Freshman Talia Ainsworth already has proven to be the team's best short sprinter, finishing second at the Antelope Valley Invitational in·vi·ta·tion·al adj. Restricted to invited participants: an invitational golf tournament. n. An event, especially a sports tournament, restricted to invited participants. Adj. 1. . ``I think we're going to have a good team,'' Quinn said. ``The main thing I like is our attitude. We can't have anybody slacking this year because I think that's what happened last year. Some girls weren't taking it seriously. We've been talking about it in practice lately and I'm seeing a much-improved attitude toward everything.'' PALMDALE AT A GLANCE Team: Palmdale track and field. 2001: Boys second place, girls tied for third in Golden League. Key returners: Tunve Balola, Jr., jumper The simplest form of an on/off switch. It is just a tiny, plastic-covered metal block, which is pushed onto two pins to close that circuit. It is used to select a myriad of functions on a printed circuit board or on a peripheral device. ; Jelani Carter, So., distance; Jarreau Flowers, So., jumper; Ryan Frasier, Sr., sprinter; Dominique Holland, Sr., hurdler; Krystal Quinn, Jr., distance. Top newcomers: Talia Ainsworth, Fr., sprinter; Nadia Elizondo, Fr., distance; Christyn Kelling, Fr., sprinter; Kari Kennedy, Fr., distance; Barbara MacLaren, So., distance; Zack Moore, Fr., hurdler. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Jarreau Flowers took the Golden League high-jump title as a freshman last year, and Palmdale remains strong in the event. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer Box: PALMDALE AT A GLANCE (see text) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion