SUBMITTED
BY GREGG DODDERIDGE
Fred
Worstein ended his storied YHS track career at the state meet. On
June 4th and 5th, Badger sprinter Fred Worstein completed arguably
the greatest track career in YHS history.
Worstein culminated his senior season by participating in the CIF
state track meet at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, the site of the
upcoming USA Track and Field finals for the 2004 Olympic games in
Athens. The CIF State Track and Field Championships has showcased
some of the finest high school track athletes in the U.S.
The meet has seen a who’s who of Olympians. Past winners include
Marion Jones (four time champ in the 100/200), Bob Mathias, Rafer
Johnson, Jim Hines and Tommie Smith. Many multi-sport athletes have
also won gold. Ex-Raider running back Napoleon Kaufman (Lompoc High
100/200, 1990), Henry Ellard (Hoover High long jump, 1979), Bobby
Bonds, (110HH and LJ, 1964), Lynn Swann, (long jump, 1970). The
list goes on and on! Just making state is an honor.
Worstein, coming off his second straight Valley title qualified
for the 100 and 200. It was Worstein’s third state meet. In order
to qualify for the state meet, each section sends the top 3 finishers
in each event. The first day of competition is reserved for qualifying
for the finals on the next day. Overall, there are four heats for
each race, with nine athletes in each heat. There were 36 participants
in the 100/200 trials, with only nine openings for each final. In
his previous three meets, Worstein had not qualified for the finals.
This year, he vowed it would be different.
“I was nervous in past years. This year, I had my heart set on making
the finals in both events. Worstein came into the meet as one of
the fastest sprinters in the state. He held off all challengers
in the Central Section all year. “State is so different than any
meet you will run, stated Worstein. “You can’t have a letdown. You
have to be at your best and be totally prepared.”
Worstein showed he was ready. Worstein ran a blazing 10.60 100 meter
taking second in his heat. This was after a false start, which eliminated
pre-race favorite Wopamo Osaisai, of Pinole Valley. Later, Worstein
put together another great performance in the 200 running 21.62
earning a spot on the 200 final. It was the first time in YHS history
that an athlete made it to the finals in two events.
In the finals as in all track meets, the 100 meters is the marquee
event. The field was loaded. The Valley weather had also heated
up, it was well into the 90s, affecting all runners. In the trials,
Kenny O’Neal of Skyline in Oakland ran a blistering state and personal
best 10.34. O’Neal, who is headed to Florida State on a football
scholarship, vowed to do it again. He did, running the exact time
as the trials to become state champ.
Worstein, who got lane eight, had a decent start.
He usually can pull ahead at 70 yards but could not catch a fast
field. Worstein placed seventh, with a time of 10.71, just missing
a medal.
The finals were run on Saturday and they were magical. There were
some incredible performances. Prior to the 100 final, Kevin Craddock
of James Logan High in Union City set a state meet record in the
110 High Hurdles with a time of 13.39.
It was also the fastest time in the nation this year.
Later, Craddock took the 300 low hurdles with another national leading
mark of 35.5. In the 200 Worstein ran in lane nine.
After rounding the curve he was still in decent position, but down
the straight away, Worstein cramped and finished ninth with a time
of 22.7. It was the end of a long two days of competition and an
awesome career at YHS.
Worstein plans on continuing his track career at the College of
Sequoias in Visalia.
He will be joined by friend and rival Rodney Oliver of Clovis East,
who led his 4x100 relay to a sixth place medal at state.
“I have no regrets. I accomplished my goals. I wanted to make finals.
I know I am one of the fastest runners in the state and I am looking
forward to improving in college.”
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