YOUTH AUTHORITY WARDS HOOKED ON TRACK, FIELD.

Byline: Andrea Cavanaugh Staff Writer

When Desiree Campbell stood up to accept a first-place ribbon for a relay race Friday, it was the first time she'd felt like a winner in years. When she was 14, she'd been sent to the California Youth Authority on murder and robbery charges.

For Campbell, now 21, the honor took her back to the time when she ran track and field in junior high school in her hometown of Oakland.

``It felt good,'' she said. ``It kind of felt like being home.''

Officials at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility in Camarillo hope their fledgling track and field program will help young women like Campbell build the skills they will need to succeed once they are released.

The track and field program in Camarillo is the only one of its kind among California Youth Authority institutions, spokeswoman Sarah Ludeman said.

Sgt. Noel Chesnut, a correctional officer who volunteers his time to coach the track-and-field program, said he has seen the wards adopt a more positive outlook in the short time since he developed the program.

``It gives them a chance to burn up some of that negative energy and turn it into something positive,'' Chesnut said. ``Track and field can take you around the world.''

Collegiate track star Angela Williams spoke to about 125 of the facility's 290 wards before the ribbons were handed out on Friday.

Williams, 24, who will make her third bid for the U.S. Olympics team in July, told the wards they could achieve whatever they wanted in life.

``We've all made mistakes,'' she said. ``I don't care what you've done. It's never too late - never. You have a chance in life.''

LaSonya Gaston, 22, of Los Angeles, said Williams' speech lifted her from the despair she has felt since she was sent to the CYA in 1998 for attempted carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon and prostitution.

Gaston, who has been returned to the CYA three times since then, for violating her parole, has three children living with her parents, two of whom were born inside the CYA after she returned to the institution pregnant.

Williams' talk buoyed Gaston's hopes for the future, which include attending college and becoming a nurse.

``Her speech helped me to see that there were other options,'' Gaston said. ``Some of her goals are like my goals.''

The track participants pay for their own shoes and uniforms out of the scant wages they earn working as firefighters, dog groomers and other jobs.

Chesnut hopes to raise the $250,000 needed to build an all-weather track inside the facility. Eventually, he would like to invite track teams from area high schools to compete with the wards there.

For some, being part of a team has given them a sense of unity they've never before experienced.

``I like coming together - the sense of being part of something,'' said Leianna Medrano, 19.

Andrea Cavanaugh, [phone]

andrea.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) Girls on the track team practice Thursday at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility in Camarillo. The only one of its kind among the state's youth facilities, the track-and-field program has a corrections officer volunteering as coach.

(2) Relay track runner Leianna Medrano, 19, leads off, followed by Laporscha Steele, 20, left, and Rachel Smith, 19.

(3) From left, Victoria Guerrero, 18, hugs Cecilia Maldonado, 18, after the track team practice Thursday.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer