Watts Wins 2 at City Track Quarterfinals

Quincy Watts, a Taft sophomore whose reputation grows at every meet, won the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the City track and field quarterfinals Thursday at Birmingham High. He had the fastest clockings of the day in both events, a 10.73 and a 21.31.

Watts also ran brilliant anchor legs in the 400- and 1,600-meter relays.

The Taft foursome of Sean Roberts, Monty Gilbreath, Curtis Hein and Watts combined for a City-best and school-record 41.68 clocking in the 400-meter relay, easily defeating runner-up Reseda, which had a season-best 42.27.

It was Watts’ performance in the 1,600-meter relay, however, which really brought the crowd to its feet. Taking the baton in fifth place, the lanky 6-3, 185-pound sprinter ran a superb 45.8 anchor leg, which helped the Toreadors finish third in 3:22.22.

Kelley Peacock of Van Nuys, who will attend UCLA in the fall, qualified for next Friday’s semifinals in four events. She had the fastest clockings in both the 100- (14.38) and 300-meter (44.92) low hurdles and also won the second heat of the 100 meters in 12.60. Her 17-2 effort in the long jump was the second farthest of the day.

Kierstin Church of Granada Hills had the fastest times of the day in both the 100- (12.39) and 200-meter (25.74) dashes and anchored the Highlanders’ 400-meter relay team to victory in a season-best 49.72.