They Find a Way to Win Two

LONG BEACH â€”  Supposedly, it’s not a high priority to win at the Southern Section Masters meet. Athletes just want to qualify for the state meet by finishing in the top five of their events.

But Huntington Beach’s Scott Moser and Tustin’s Dominique DeGrammont didn’t look at it that way and both posted impressive double victories Friday at Veterans Stadium.

Moser, the state-record holder in the discus, won that event and the shot put and DeGrammont won the 110- and 300-meter hurdles despite injuring his left hamstring in the 110.

“My leg is fine, it’s just a strain,� DeGrammont said. “I haven’t lost in the 110 all year and I only lost once in the 300 hurdles.�

DeGrammont’s only loss was to Long Beach Poly’s Kenyon Rambo and he avenged that loss with a convincing victory Friday. DeGrammont won the 300 in 36.70 seconds and Rambo was second in 37.18. DeGrammont also won the 110 hurdles in a wind-aided time of 13.54. Rambo was second in 13.75.

“My dad wanted me to beat Rambo,� DeGrammont said.

Huntington Beach’s Scott Moser has been unbeatable all season. Friday, he won the shot put (60-0) and the discus, with a mark of 188-7 on his first throw, in wind conditions that were less than favorable.

“That throw goes 15-18 feet farther if he’s throwing into the wind,� Huntington Beach Coach Tony Ciarelli said.

Moser holds the county, section and state record at 213-11, which he set this season at the Salinas Throwers meet.

Brea Olinda’s Jim Norum also qualified for the state meet finishing fourth in the discus with a mark of 166-0.

El Toro’s Elliott Parks set a county record in the high jump last week, clearing 7-2, but needed three attempts to clear 6-8 to finish third and qualify for state. Tustin’s Lester Deraad also cleared 6-8 on his third attempt to qualify and Dana Hills’ Bryan Reese finished fifth to qualify, clearing 6-4.

Parks’s teammate, Mike Smith, qualified in both the 110 hurdles (14.25) and the long jump (22-3), finishing fifth in both events. Edison’s Ray Bardone also qualified in the long jump, finishing third (22-5).

Fountain Valley’s Travis Vandrovec won the pole vault, clearing 14-6. He missed on three attempts at 15-0. Mater Dei’s Ted Whalen and Brea Olinda’s Cameron St. Clair both missed on their three attempts at 14-6 and failed to qualify.

Trabuco Hills’ Jason Manhart tried qualifying in both the 1,600 and 3,200, but only made it in the 1,600.

In the 1,600, he made his move through the pack on the backstretch of the final lap and finished third in 4:20.48, slightly more than a second behind winner Jason Taylor of Palos Verdes Peninsula (4:19.51). Manhart finished eighth in the 3,200.

Notes

Dana Hills sophomore Devin Lindohl finished third in the 800 in 1:54.70. Costa Mesa’s Eric Soliz also qualified for state, finishing fifth (1:54.88). . . . Irvine’s Al Williams qualified in the 300 hurdles, finishing fourth in 38.20. . . . Esperanza’s Justin Birrell (55-10 1/4) and Santa Margarita’s John O’Neill (54-7 1/2) just missed qualifying in the shot put, finishing sixth and seventh. Mike Rainis of Santa Fe Springs St. Paul finished fifth (56-2 1/2). . . . Katella’s Charles Crook finished eighth in the 200 (21.60) and ninth in the 100 (10.77), failing to qualify for state. Mater Dei’s Mike McNair also failed to qualify, finishing seventh in the 200 (21.57).