Dorsey scores big in City track championships

Dorsey High turned its football players loose at Wednesday’s City Section track and field championships, and the competition was overwhelmed.

Leading the Dons to their 15th boys’ championship was 6-foot-5, 215-pound senior Rashard Clark, who plays tight end and is headed to Arizona State for track.

He turned in an individual performance that reminded Dorsey alumni of their great 400-meter champion David Gettis, who went on to Baylor and the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

First Clark took the baton on the anchor leg of the 400-meter relay team and rallied from three yards back on the final handoff to pass Taft’s anchor runner and win in 41.64.

“I love it,” he said. “I like going and getting somebody.”

In the 400, he showed his strength and stamina, winning in 47.54 to repeat as City champion. In the 200, he ran a personal-best winning time of 21.74. And he was a member of Dorsey’s winning 1,600-meter relay.

“These are my money makers,” he said, touching his legs. “It’s cool to be part of the Dorsey tradition.”

It was the 13th City title under Coach Ralph Tilley.

“It means a lot,” Tilley said. “We’ve had a lot of great athletes.”

Reginald Bell, a 6-3 1/2 standout junior quarterback for the Dons, has a scholarship offer from Tulane and now he’s the City champion in the 110 hurdles after taking up the event only last year.

“He has the potential to be real good,” Tilley said.

The 16-year-old Bell won in 14.69 seconds after not qualifying for the final last year when he was just learning the event. He was part of a 1-2-3 sweep by the Dons.

“I knew if I attacked the first three hurdles, I’d be City champion,” he said.

Junior Sam Marshall of Granada Hills won the 100 in 10.88. Dorsey’s Te’von Mitchell took the 300 hurdles in 39.13. El Camino Real’s Malik Johnson repeated as high jump champion at 6 feet 6 inches. Sophomore Steve Correa of San Pedro won the 1,600 in 4:17.30.

Taft senior Lexis Lambert repeated as girls’ champion in the 100 and 200. She won the 100 in 12.03 and took the 200 in 25.09. Freshman Danielle Nunez of San Pedro won the 800 in 2:19.86. Freshman Marrisa Williams of Palisades won the 3,200 in 11:22.05.

Palisades won the girls’ team title in a close competition with Carson and Taft.

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