National record and marks set at Sacramento Meet of Champions

Wilson sets sophomore hurdles record; Purvis runs fastest 200 under any conditions this season.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Mitch Stephens
By
May 2, 2010, 12:00am
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – One of the big complaints around Hollywood these days is that movie trailers give away too much of the eventual big-screen show.
Ashton Purvis, shown here at Arcadia, won two events.
Ashton Purvis, shown here at Arcadia, won two events.
File photo by Kirby Lee


Every spring in Sacramento, state prep track and field friends don’t seem to mind that a long-running Northern California meet sometimes outshines the upcoming state meet. 

Once again, Saturday’s Sacramento Meet of Champions at Hughes Stadium on the campus of Sacramento City College outdid its fast and furious reputation.

One national record, three national-best performances and five new state-leading marks were set in a dizzying display of athletic prowess and achievement that has somehow now come to be expected in this 30th annual event put on by Meet Director Jerry Coleman.

“There’s just something about this place that makes you feel great. … makes you feel alive,” said St. Elizabeth (Oakland) senior sprinter Ashton Purvis, who won her fourth consecutive meet 200 meters and recorded the fastest all-conditions time in the nation this year, winning in a wind-aided 23.17 seconds.

The University of Miami-bound standout earlier in the day won the 100 in a wind-legal 11.62, just off her state-best time of 11.50 and all-time best of 11.40 set at this meet in 2007.

Purvis is the national 200 leader at 23.56.

“Every time I run here it’s very exciting,” Purvis said. “My legs felt a little heavy but I think my excitement and adrenalin carried me through.”

With about a month until the state meet, something carried many through to record-breaking efforts, including St. Mary's (Berkeley) 100 hurdler Trinity Wilson, who broke the national sophomore record with a winning time of 13.49.

She bettered the season national-best time of 13.55 shared by Wilson and defending state champion Kori Carter of Claremont (Claremont), and beat the old national mark of 13.50 set by Purvis’ older sister Julian, who is now starring at the University of Michigan.

The Purvis’ and Wilson are all products of the youth age-group program in Oakland coached by Curtis Taylor.

“He (Taylor) told me I should go under 13.5 today,” Wilson said. “I had a real good feeling I’d be running fast today.”

She and Purvis were hardly alone.

Among the other record-breakers.

* Deer Valley (Antioch) senior and Oregon-bound Chizoba Okodogbe lowered her own national-best 400 time of 53.31 by going 53.23 with little-to-no competition. Runner-up Iesha Hardiman Wilcox (Santa Clara) was almost two second behind at 55.04.

“I wasn’t thinking about a real fast time,” Okodogbe said. “It just kind of happened. I’m very pleased.”

* Jesuit (Carmichael) senior R.J. Frasier, well rested and confident, ran the state’s fastest 100, winning in 10.55, shattering his PR of 10.69. The UCLA-bound football standout also just missed his best while taking second in the 300 hurdles, finishing in 37.43.

“Normally I come into this race after a bunch of events,” Frasier said. “Normally I come in a little worn down. Not today. It felt great.”

It would have been even better had he defeated former state-leader Diondre Batson, of nearby Laguna Creek (Elk Grove). But Batson, who went 10.57 last week in the West Valley/Chico Invitational, was taking college exams and also had a school prom. Batson is also the state leader in the 200.

“Sure, I would have liked to race him,” Frazier said. “But we’ll have plenty of time to meet out in the next month.”

* Frasier was beaten handily in the 300 hurdles, but he had nothing to be ashamed off. Logan (Union City) senior Monte Corley came out of nowhere to recorded the state’s best time and the nation’s No. 2 mark this season in 36.58.

Other impressive winning marks, that would have ranked among the top 10 in the state coming into the week:

Boys 400 – Ryan Healy (Redwood, Larkspur) 48.42, which would have placed seventh coming into the week.

Boys 800 – Jason McGhee (Menlo-Atherton, Atherton) 1:53.70, No. 9.

Boys 110 hurdles – Chris Mamon (Benicia) 13.82, No. 1.

Boys 400 relay – Deer Valley 41.59, tied for No. 6.

Boys 1,600 relay – San Ramon Valley (Danville), 3:18.76, No. 8.

Boys HJ -  Nick Ridge (Jesuit) 6-9, tied for No. 3.

Boys PV – Ian Rock (Davis) 15-3, tied for No. 7.

Boys LJ – Haran Piggee (Galt) 23-2.75, No. 7.

Boys SP – Jeremy Hines (Jesuit) 61-3.50, No. 4.

Girls 1,600 – Samantha Ralstin (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills, Calif.) 4:56.20, No. 7.

Girls 3,200 – Theresa Devine (Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 10:39.25, No. 7.

Girls 300 hurdles – Ashley Cooke (Colony, Ontario) 42.53, No.  2.

Girls 400 relay – Deer Valley 47.14, No. 5.

Girls 1,600 relay – Colony 3:51.12, No. 7.

Girls TJ – Sasha Wallace (Holy Names, Oakland) 38-11.25, No. 6.

Girls SP – Chioma Amechi (Lincoln, San Francisco) 44-7, T4.

For complete results, CLICK HERE.