JAMES AND COLEMAN BRING HOME STATE HURDLE TITLES

In the history of the California Track and Field Championships, only three San Diego Section girls have captured state titles.

You can make that five now after San Diego High’s Charlize James and Cathedral Catholic’s Kapiolani Coleman swept the short and long hurdle events at Veterans Memorial Stadium Saturday to share the spotlight with Helix’s Adren Parker, who set the section record in the 400-meter dash in Friday’s prelims, running 46.82.

James won the 100 hurdles in 13.95 seconds despite hitting the next-to-last hurdle with her right ankle and having to be helped off the track, eliminating her from the 300-meter hurdles.

All that did was make life a little easier for Coleman, who took the lead in the 300s coming off the turn and charged through the finish line in 42.23, a bit off her PR of 42.19 but more than enough to beat Arroyo Grande’s Daniela Ruelas, who was second in 42.37.

James could not put any weight on her ankle and needed medical help immediately after the race and when she hugged her dad, Charles James, she broke down and cried.

But before that she showed great courage in slamming the hurdle but still gathering herself to edge Stockton Lincoln’s Yvette Harris, who clocked a 14.12 after running 14.00 a day earlier. A wind that gusted to 4-5 mps was particularly tough on the backstretch.

You would think it would help the hurdlers, but it didn’t happen.

“I was going to be happy with my time no matter what it was when I won,” said James, who signed with San Diego State.

“It was very sad when I heard they disqualified Aaliyah Mccormick — we’ve had some great races. Of course, I wish she were there. It was very emotional. This was the goal all season.”

Mccormick did come back to place fifth in the 100meter dash in 11.80 seconds.

It was an especially big win for Coleman, a junior, who led the state all year but had struggled the last few weeks, especially against Torrey Pines’ Karina Janic, who seemed to have her number.

Not this time.

“I’m really excited,” said Coleman. “I achieved my goal and while I wanted to win with a PR, winning a meet like this is really good.

While I felt Daniela (Janik, Karina’s sister) coming on the final 50 meters, I knew I could bring it home.

“You keep it in perspective. I wouldn’t have felt good if I finished second and the winner had a slower time than my PR. Winning is the best.”

Parker showed the effects of two tough races the day before and placed fourth in the 400 at 47.68.

But 24 hours earlier his 46.82 was superior to the alltime San Diego Section standard of 46.85 by Morse High’s Lydell Burston in 1995. Burston was the least surprised person in the stands after Parker’s section record.

“Adren Parker will break my record this year,” Burston predicted a month ago. “He’ll really lower it next year.”

Parker, a cornerback and wide receiver in football, said the brisk wind that swirled around the track did not really affect him.

“I didn’t feel the wind,” said Parker, who is just a junior. “Coach (Rodney Van) had a plan every week and I stuck to it, I never questioned it. We ran well in the section championships to qualify for state and then bring it out.

“I knew it was the section record and we celebrated a little last night but that wasn’t the reason I didn’t run as fast (in the finals). I ran two hard races (Friday) and doing that back-to-back is tough.”

Parker came back after his section record-setting effort to anchor the Scotties’ 4x400 relay, producing a season-best 3:17.47, the second fastest time of the evening.

Asked about the future, Parker said he has lofty goals next year.

“I want a time in the low 46s,” he said. “OK, maybe something in the 45s.”

Mccormick protest

A final hearing was held before Saturday’s action where it was explained that the hurdle officials determined that Mccormick, who broke the section 100-hurdle record four times, including a state best 13.61, was responsible for a collision with Arroyo Grande’s Ruelas.

Coach Kadrina Coffee was incredulous that no video or photos were allowed in the discussion.

“They could use the CIF video, not just someone from the stands,” said the coach. “She worked hard all season and (Ruelas) went into her lane to cause the bump. We have video that shows it.”