Lovell Goes for Sub-47 Seconds

Jason Lovell of Cleveland High will take another crack at the 47-second barrier in the 400 meters today in the Golden West Invitational track and field meet at American River College in Sacramento.

Lovell ran a career-best 47.03 to win his second consecutive City Section title on May 24, but a strong backstretch wind held him to a winning time of 47.51 in the state championships at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento last Saturday.

He’ll face a strong field today as five entrants have run under 47 seconds, including senior Darold Williamson of San Antonio, the national leader at 46.12.

Lovell strained his left hamstring while running the anchor leg on a 400 relay in the West Valley League finals on May 11, but feels the injury might have been a blessing in disguise.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Lovell said. “And maybe the injury was a way of keeping me from running too fast too early in the season.

“That’s what happened to me last year.”

Senior Jamil Smith of Palmdale and sophomore Allyson Felix of L.A. Baptist, both state champions, also are entered.

Smith, who won his second consecutive state title in the boys’ triple jump last week, is entered in that event and in the long jump. He set a region record of 50-10 3/4 to win the triple jump in the Southern Section Division I final.

Felix won the girls’ 100 and placed second in the 200 in the state championships, and has entered those events.

Also entered are senior Mark Nevers of Oak Park in the boys’ 3,200, senior Laura Jakosky of Agoura in the girls’ 3,200, seniors Schquay Brignac of Taft and Caroline Sommers of Agoura in the girls’ high jump, and senior Melissa Astete of Birmingham in the girls’ pole vault.

Brignac is defending champion in the high jump.