SOUTHERN SECTION PREVIEW: LOYOLA CONFIDENT DROUGHT WILL END CUBS FAVORED TO WIN FIRST TITLE SINCE '84.Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News Loyola High has a track record that is hard to beat. The Cubs have won 12 league titles in a row and 87 consecutive dual meets. This season, Loyola went 7-0 in dual meets to surpass Birmingham (82) and move into third on the state's all-time list, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Cal-Hi Sports. But a Southern Section team title has eluded the Cubs, who have finished second in 1993, '94, '95 and '98. The drought for Loyola, which last won a section title in 1984, could come to an end Saturday. The Cubs are heavily favored in Division III
Division III (or DIII) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the United States. with the move of three-time champion Serra of Gardena to Division IV. It is a day long anticipated by Loyola senior team captain Rodney Diggs, who has made a promise to his teammates over the last three years to bring home a team title before he graduated. After Loyola finished fourth in 1999, the USC-bound Diggs passed on his senior football season to focus on track. ``This year, we have the best shot that we ever had,'' Diggs said. ``It will be really disappointing if we don't because we know we should do it. It is lack of discipline if we don't. This year is our revenge year. I don't think anybody can hold us back.'' The Cubs' prospects in the section finals will weigh heavily on the 6- foot-4 Diggs, whose stature and stride has been compared to Quincy Watts Quincy D. Watts (born June 19, 1970) is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Quincy Watts attended the University of Southern California where he excelled not only as an athlete but also as a wide , the 1992 Olympic 400 gold medalist from USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. and Taft High in Woodland Hills. Diggs met Watts for the first time two weeks ago at the Mission League finals, where Diggs ran a career-best 48.65 to defend his league title. ``I just had to introduce myself,'' Diggs said about Watts. ``Both of us were like `Man, we do look alike.' '' Diggs and junior Robbie Hambleton will compete in the 200 and 400 meters and are members of Loyola's 400 and 1,600 relays with Matt Ware Matthew Jesse Ware (born December 2, 1982 in Santa Monica, California) is currently an American football defensive back in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals. He was waived by the Philadelphia Eagles on September 2, 2006 and picked up by the Cardinals. . Ware, a quarterback who has orally committed to UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX and was Cal-Hi Sports' junior player of the year last fall, is also a 100 and long jump finalist. In all, the Cubs have qualified for the finals in nine of 16 events. Santa Margarita Santa Margarita ("Saint Margaret") may refer to:
``We've never been a favorite,'' Loyola coach Greg Wells said. ``We have always been the underdogs. I am trying not to get too pumped up, but this year looks like we can finally get it.'' In Division I, Littlerock is a contender for a top-five finish with senior Rodney Woods and junior Marcus Raines. Woods, the state's top returnee re·turn·ee n. 1. One who returns, as from a journey or to school after a long absence. 2. A person returning from military duty overseas. See Usage Note at -ee1. in the triple jump, has bounded a section-leading 47-9 1/2 in the triple jump and has sailed 23-3 1/4 in the long jump. Raines, who has qualified in the 110 highs and 300 intermediate hurdles, has posted the state's No. 2 mark in the high hurdles at 14.10. Junior Lashinda Demus Lashinda Demus (born 10 March 1983 in Inglewood) is an American hurdler. Her personal best time is 53.02 seconds, achieved in July 2006 in Athens. Achievements Year Tournament Venue Result Extra 2002 World Junior Championships Kingston, Jamaica 1st , a Palmdale resident who attends Long Beach Wilson, Rio Mesa junior Porchea Carroll and Palmdale senior Jerrick Holmes are other state leaders who will be in action Saturday in Division I. Demus could challenge the all-time national record of 40.18 in the 300 low hurdles after clocking the No. 3 time (40.44) en route to the 1999 state title. No other athlete in the state has run less than 43 seconds. Demus, the 1999 Track & Field News athlete of the year Athlete of the Year
Carroll, the state's fastest in the 100 at 11.60, has also advanced to the finals in the 200, long jump and 400 relay. Holmes enters the meet as the state leader at 7-0 and will try to avenge a ninth-place finish in 1999 after coming into the finals as the section leader. Holmes will also run in the 400 and 400 relay. ON TRACK What: Southern Section finals Where: Cerritos College, Norwalk When: Saturday, field events at 11 a.m, running events at 1 p.m. Why: Decides team titles in eight divisions - four boys and four girls - and champions in 128 events. Returning champions: Division I (Girls) - Anita Siraki (Hoover), 1,600 and 3,200; Lashinda Demus (Palmdale resident, Long Beach Wilson), 300 low hurdles; Porchea Carroll (Rio Mesa), long jump; Division II (Boys) - Oliver Jackson (Royal), long jump; Will Svitek (Newbury Park), shot put; Division III (Girls) - Sierra Hauser-Price (Notre Dame), 100 and 200; (Boys) - Travis Johnson (Notre Dame), shot put. Division IV (Boys) - Tom Kubler (Viewpoint), 3,200. CAPTION(S): box Box: On track (see text) |
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