Carl Lewis says good-bye at his last Mt. SAC Relay
Campus Times
April 25, 1997
More than 9,000 spectators came to Hilmer Lodge Stadium to see one of
the world's greatest track and field athletes who will soon bid a farewell
to the sport. In his honor, t-shirts with his face were sold at the meet.
Carl Lewis, nine-time Olympic gold medalist, made his final Mount San
Antonio College Relays appearance April 20.
Running under Santa Monica Track Club, he won 19 events at the Mount
Sac Relays alone, and though he will hang up his track shoes at the end
of the season, he has set out to make this last year fun.
"It's strange," said Lewis. "It's rare when you say you're
never going to do something again."
Lewis started out the day anchoring the winning 4x100 meter relay with
Mike Marsh, Leroy Burrell and Floyd Head. They crossed the finish line with
a time of 38.50 seconds. That time also broke the old meet record of 38.63
held by the Santa Monica Track Club in 1989.
He came back and ran the second 200 meters with a 20.0 second split
of the 200, 200, 400, 800 meter sprint medley, sealing another victory with
a time of 3:12.75 seconds.
After each race, the team jogged a victory lap while fans came running
to get Lewis' autograph."It's been a great day and the fans have been
great," said Lewis.
Lewis still holds the stadium record in the long jump of 28 feet 5 inches,
set in 1987. He contributed to the stadium record of the 4x200 meter relay
which is also the world record.
Marsh won the 100 meters in 9.87 seconds breaking his old record of
9.93 set in 1992.
Tim Montgomery (Asics) and Maurice Greene (HS International) also sprinted
under 10 seconds (9.98) and (9.99) respectively. Jon Drummond (HS International)
placed fourth at 10.04 seconds.
Other Olympians at the meet included the 400 meter sprinter twins, Calvin
and Alvin Harrison (ran on the U.S. mile relay). They combined with Jason
Rouser and Anton Pettigre (Lipkis/Peterson Team Nike) to form the winning
4x400 meter relay clocking 3:01.33 .
Quincy Watts, Martin Black, Marlin Canon and Anthony Maybank (HS International)
followed closely behind in the 4x400 meter relay placing second with 3:01.53.
The Harrisons also competed in the 400 meters invitational with Calvin
placing third (45.59) and Alvin placing fifth (45.94). The winner of the
400 meters was Charles Gitonga (Reebok) crossing the finish line in 45.07
seconds.
Joe Greene (Goldwin TC) soared to 27 feet-9 1/4 inches to claim the
gold in the long jump.
Balazs Tolgyesi (New Balance T.C.), Shaun Benefield (Powerade AC) and
William Best Western State) fought out the last 150 meters in the 800 meters
invitational to a first, second and third place finish.
Tolgyesi came in at 1:46.33, Benefield at 1:46.33 and Best a with a
time of 1:46.95.
The noisiest event was the men's 110 meter high hurdles. 13.51 seconds
won this event and Eugenen Swift (Vector Sports Management) claimed that
title.
On the women's side, Melissa Morrison (Reebok) tied the stadium record
of 12.86 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles invitational. Tonya Lawson, Christie
Gaines, Inger Miller and Cheryl Taplin (Nike) joined to form a 4x100 meter
relay. They came out victorious with a time of 43.54 seconds.
Gaines, Lawson and Miller returned to the Mt. SAC Relays to run the
4x200 meter relay with Nicole Green (Nike). They sealed the title and a
new stadium record of 1:33.40.
Chryste Gines (Nike) breezed through the 200 meters invitational with
a winning time of 22.91 seconds.
The 800 meters proved to be exciting as Michele Dimuro-Ave gutted out
a win in 2:02.50.
Susan Tiedire-Greene (Goldwin TC) was in a class by herself in the long
jump. She leaped to a 22 feet 1/4 inch victory. While Jackie Edward (Vector
Sports Management) placed second at 21 feet 2 1/2 inches.
In the womens' discus, one of the Division I nationally ranked competitor
Suzy Powell (UCLA) threw her way to a victory of 194 feet 7 inches.
The relays ended with the women's 4 x400 meeter relay. Sharon Allen,
Kaltouma Nad, Tina Paulino and Vida Nsaiah started and finished the race
leading. They clocked a time of 3:32-69.
The 400 meters invitational was won in a time of 52.39 seconds by Shanelle
Porter (Team U.S. West).