the Mustang Relays Then and Now

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Alice George
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Track Parent and current backup timer, David Pio, left.

1 H I S T O R Y With roots in the 1950s, Mira Costa Track & Field proudly celebrates this 20th consecutive annual event with a look back at... Before becoming Mustang Relays, Mira Costa hosted an annual all-relay event that featured shuttle hurdles, as this photo from the 1971 Hoofprints yearbook recorded -- featuring MCHS Alum/longtime Track Parent and current backup timer, David Pio, left. the Mustang Relays Then and Now From balmy Hawaii to the arid Valleys of the LA Basin and the cool Beach Cities of the South Bay, the Mustang Relays draws Track & Field talent from near and far. As the event celebrates its 20 th Annual meeting today, we look back at the precursors to this spring meet, and some of the highlights along the way. standout athletes from that era? Mira Costa s very own Girls Cross Country and Distance Coach, Renee Williams-Smith! That version of the event lasted three seasons before Egan took a sabbatical from coaching until Upon his return, Pre-Mustang Relays Years As early as 1955 before there was even such a thing as Girls Track & Field, Mira Costa High School hosted an areawide track meet. In those days, the athletes competed on a dirt track and high jumpers went up and over head first and into sawdust pits. In 1957, upwards of 3,000 spectators attended the Mira Costa Relays on a Friday night. Those Relays came and went based on who was coaching and what resources were available. When Richard Egan, a Mira Costa PE teacher at the time, stepped to the helm in 1978, the Mira Costa Relays were dormant. That same year, the passage of Proposition 13 began a steady decline in school funding, decimating many athletic programs along the way. Fundraising became extremely important. In 1979, I was approached by our Vice Principal at the time, Bill Cooper, about bringing back the Mustang Relays. I decided we could have some fun and make a little money at the same time, Egan recalled. I called it the Prop 13 Relays. One of the Schools from throughout the Southland -- as well as a team from Hawaii one year -- come to compete in the Mustang Relays. Photo, Jeff Tong, MUSTANG RELAYS

H I S T O R Y The Coaches Relay -- this one above is from 2005 -- is always competitive and is a crowd (if not the coaches ) favorite. At right, MCHS Coach Calderon finishes strong in 2013.

Finally, in 1994, they were ready to bring back the meet as a spotlight and fundraiser for the Mira Costa Track & Field team. Hence, the Mustang Relays was born. In 1979.

-- Retired MCHS Coach & Athletic Director Richard Egan recalls some of the tweaks made to the events list.

2 H I S T O R Y The Coaches Relay -- this one above is from is always competitive and is a crowd (if not the coaches ) favorite. At right, MCHS Coach Calderon finishes strong in Photo: Brett Hodges Egan recalls that from 1986 until 1991 he had to work to make up some lost ground. When the late Coach Bob Fish joined him in 1991, they continued to rebuild the program. Finally, in 1994, they were ready to bring back the meet as a spotlight and fundraiser for the Mira Costa Track & Field team. Hence, the Mustang Relays was born. In I decided we could have some fun and make a little money at the same time. I called it the Prop 13 Relays. -- Retired MCHS Coach & Athletic Director Richard Egan recalls some of the tweaks made to the events list. The problem with a few of the events specifically the shuttle hurdles, throws relays and 1600 relays was that most schools didn t have four solid athletes in those areas. Sometimes it d just be two or three schools entering athletes in those events. Hence, when requests came from schools hoping to record some early official marks for sprinters and hurdlers, it made sense to do some swapping and substituting on the events list. It s a perfect opportunity for athletes to get in some good times early in the season, Singiser said, especially now that we ve got such a fast track. The Mustang Relays also boasts a Coaches Relay a favorite event for the athletes (if not the coaches themselves!) One year we had such a strong Coaches relay with [former jumps coach] Marieke Miller and [current Head Coach] Moe Russell that I think the recorded time rivaled our Varsity boys time, Singiser recalled with a laugh. Incidentally, although Singiser has taken a coaching sabbatical, he is still involved with Mira Costa Track & Field as the Voice of the Mustangs, announcing all home meets, the Mustang Relays, as well as a few other invitationals around town. Continued next page Mustang Relays on the Move While they had the talent and the support, Egan and Fish didn t have the venue. Dirt tracks were going the way of the dodo bird, but Mira Costa still had one. Hence, in the first 10 years of the Mustang Relays, the event moved around to different stadiums, calling venues such as Leuzinger High School, Long Beach State and Santa Monica City College home until the current all-weather track became a reality in In those early days, the meet was exclusively relays including field events and hurdles. There were no individual events, Egan recalled. We ran a shuttle hurdles race, and even the throws were relays [the distances were combined to determine the winner]. Steve Singiser, who coached alongside Bob Fish and Egan as an assistant ( ) and a co-head coach ( ), The legendary Mira Costa coaches relay from 2007 that allegedly challenged the varsity 4x100 time. From left, Marieke Miller, Moe Russell (Current MCHS Head Coach), former assistant Paul Adams and his son, and MCHS Pole Vault Coach Murray Mead. Photo: John Oshiro MUSTANG RELAYS 2

H I S T O R Y... C O N T I N U E D The faces have changed, but as this photo from the 2005 Mustang Relays shows, the intensity and competitive spirit (and even some of the uniforms) remain the same.

Every meet of the 2003 season was away, Singiser recalled. That was a tough year. But worth it. In late 2003 Waller Stadium debuted its stateof-the-art all-weather track.

Most of the local Bay, Ocean and Pioneer League teams participate as well as others in the LA Basin and Valleys. One year the aloha spirit even came to town.

Their track team was traveling to the mainland during spring break, and was hoping to compete against some California teams. It worked out that they were able to come to our Mustang Relays.

3 H I S T O R Y... C O N T I N U E D The faces have changed, but as this photo from the 2005 Mustang Relays shows, the intensity and competitive spirit (and even some of the uniforms) remain the same A permanent home When the time came for Mira Costa to upgrade its dirt track, the track & field team had to take its talents to the road. Every meet of the 2003 season was away, Singiser recalled. That was a tough year. But worth it. In late 2003 Waller Stadium debuted its stateof-the-art all-weather track. For the past 10 years, Mira Costa has hosted the Mustang Relays at home to between 18 and 30 teams annually. Most of the local Bay, Ocean and Pioneer League teams participate as well as others in the LA Basin and Valleys. One year the aloha spirit even came to town. I got a call from the coach at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, Singiser noted, adding that President Obama graduated from there. Their track team was traveling to the mainland during spring break, and was hoping to compete against some California teams. It worked out that they were able to come to our Mustang Relays. Sponsorships have also enabled Costa Track & Field to continue to thrive at a time when athletics funding is challenging. For the third year, Manhattan Beach-based Skechers Performance Division has sponsored Mustang Relays, ensuring a profitable day for the program. It s nice that Moe has continued what Fish and all the others started, Egan said. Incidentally, although he retired from Mira Costa in 2003, Egan is still active as the Secretary/Treasurer of Bay, Ocean and Pioneer Leagues and the official scheduler for all Five of the guys instrumental to the success of the MCHS Track and Field Program and the Mira Costa Mustang Relays, above, from left, Steve Singiser, Moe Russell and Richard Egan, circa Above right: Current Co-Head Coach Robert Calderon with late Coach Fish in May of 2012 their sports teams. Mira Costa has a great program and the Mustang Relays is a fun meet for the athletes. Because we don t have an adjacent warm-up area, all the athletes are on field for most of the meet, which adds to the fun. It s a relaxed, carnival-like atmosphere, but with strong competition. Probably one of the most carnivallike events occurred last year, as several hundred athletes from 25 different schools joined together to record a Harlem Shake video for YouTube right after the Coaches Relay (see back cover for photos). It was crazy and hilarious, Coach Russell, who ran in Mustang Relays races as a student-athlete in the 90s, said. I m not sure what Coach Fish would have thought of it, but the kids really loved it and had fun. In that spirit of sun-splashed competition, fun with teammates, and new memories waiting to happen, we look forward to the dawning of the third decade of Mustang Relays history. Enjoy Article by Cindy McMahon, MCHS Track Boosters. Special thanks to Tom Trumpler, Richard Egan, Rick Reaser and Steve Singiser Mira Costa s Drew Johnston en route to his still-standing 110 hurdles record in 2006 (14.5). He went on to run for UCLA and has coached locally. He s still competing. 3 MUSTANG RELAYS

C O A C H B O B F I S H At left: Coach Bob Fish, pictured at the 2009 Mustang Relays, passed away in November of 2012 at the age of 70 (Photo, John Oshiro).

Illustration by John McCurtain, Class of 2014, using photos by Jeff Tong.

Longtime Mira Costa teacher and coach Robert Bob Fish passed away after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving behind a legacy of humor, devotion and kindness that belied

A champion of the gifted athlete as well as those who never won a race, Fish poured his life into the young people he coached and taught.

4 C O A C H B O B F I S H At left: Coach Bob Fish, pictured at the 2009 Mustang Relays, passed away in November of 2012 at the age of 70 (Photo, John Oshiro). Last March, Mira Costa dedicated the Mustang Record Wall in his honor, created memorial patches, and a student honored him with a photo-illustration (bottom of page). Illustration by John McCurtain, Class of 2014, using photos by Jeff Tong. Coach Fish Remembered Just after Thanksgiving of 2012, the Track & Field community lost one of its greatest champions. Longtime Mira Costa teacher and coach Robert Bob Fish passed away after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving behind a legacy of humor, devotion and kindness that belied that loud, gruff voice we still miss so deeply. In the wake of his death, the Mustang family dedicated the brand new record wall to our beloved Fish. A champion of the gifted athlete as well as those who never won a race, Fish poured his life into the young people he coached and taught. With a photographic memory, he often identified a personal record even before the athlete realized it. He applauded effort and commitment, and bred that in his athletes. As the inscription of the memorial plaque reads, In his 24 years of service to Mira Costa High School, he taught us that in both life and athletics, it s not where you finish, it s how hard you work to get there. We will never forget him. -- Cindy McMahon MUSTANG RELAYS 4

A T H L E T E S O F T H E M E E T MustanG Relays honors Outstanding Performances Photos: Tom Trumpler Above left: 2012 winners, Nick Rivera of Rowland and Kayla Ferron of Redondo and the late Coach

Keiko Hector of Palos Verdes (above, center) was the 2011 winner, pictured with Coach Fish and PV Coach Renee Capozzola.

Coach Ed Austin Award Winners Female Athlete of the Meet Year Athlete School Meet Performance 2013 Kayla Ferron Redondo 1st DMR, 1st 4x800 2012 Kayla Ferron Redondo 1st 1600, 1st 4x800, 1st 4x400

5 A T H L E T E S O F T H E M E E T MustanG Relays honors Outstanding Performances Photos: Tom Trumpler Above left: 2012 winners, Nick Rivera of Rowland and Kayla Ferron of Redondo and the late Coach Bob Fish. Both set meet records for the 1600M, which still stand. Ferron was also a member of the record-setting 4x800 and 4x400 relays that year and repeated as the Austin Trophy winner in Keiko Hector of Palos Verdes (above, center) was the 2011 winner, pictured with Coach Fish and PV Coach Renee Capozzola. Allison Reaser, at right, won the first two Austin Awards and still holds the Mustang Relays Long Jump Record. Coach Ed Austin Award Winners Female Athlete of the Meet Year Athlete School Meet Performance 2013 Kayla Ferron Redondo 1st DMR, 1st 4x Kayla Ferron Redondo 1st 1600, 1st 4x800, 1st 4x Keiko Hector Palos Verdes 1st 100H, 1st HJ, 2nd 300H 2010 Allison Reaser El Segundo 1st 100H, 1st LJ, 1st 300H Five years ago, the Mira Costa Coaches began the tradition of choosing a Male and Female Athlete of the Meet. The trophies are named after two wellknown men in the Track & Field community, Ed Austin and the late Bob Fish. The Coach Ed Austin Award is presented to the outstanding female athlete of the meet. Ed, a former Track Coach at Mira Costa, is currently a Track Meet Official. He was also the head track coach at Redondo and has been a CIF and college track starter for over 50 years. He is one of the most respected names in track and field in the South Bay. The outstanding male athlete s trophy is the Bob Fish Cup named after the late legendary Robert Bob Fish, who coached MCHS Track and Cross Country for 22 years. He was also at times the Athletic Director and a teacher. His passion for athletes of all abilities fueled his love for coaching. He passed away in November of 2012 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. -- CM Photo by Jeff Tong 2009 Allison Reaser El Segundo 1st 100, 1st 100H, 1st LJ, 2nd 300H Coach Bob Fish Award Winners male Athlete of the Meet Year Athlete School Meet Performance 2013 Brandon Hasson Culver City 1st 4x100, 1st 4x Nick Rivera Rowland 1st Malik Felton Servite 1st 100, 1st 4x100, 1st 4x Chris Nicholls Servite 1st 100, 1st 4x100, 1st 4x Carl Houston Cerritos 1st 100, 1st 4x100, 1st 4x200 MUSTANG RELAYS 6

6 M U S T A N G R E L A Y S R E C O R D H O L D E R S Event F/S Girls F/S Boys Varsity Girls Varsity Boys 100 / 110H Whitfield (LB Wilson) Manuel (LB Wilson) Liehr (PVHS) Johnston (MCHS) IH Whitfield (LB Wilson) Invitational Varsity 100M Invitational Varsity 1600M Distance Medley Relay Huber (Pasadena 2005 Wilson (MCHS) MEET RECORDS Mira Costa 13: Antelope Valley 10: Cousar (LB Wilson) Pearson (LB Wilson) Ferron (Redondo) 4: Redondo 12: Yowell (North Torrance) Nicholls (Servite) Rivera (Rowland) 4: : X 100M Relay LB Wilson Peninsula Long Beach Wilson Culver City X 200M Relay LB Wilson 1: Peninsula 1: Long Beach Wilson 1: : X 400M Relay West Torrance 4: Peninsula 3: Redondo 4: : X 800M Relay Palos Verdes 10: : Redondo 9: : X 1600M Relay Mira Costa 22: : Mira Costa 21: : Long Jump Rodriguez (V. Murrietta) 15'9" 2007 Lloyd (Vista Murrietta) 21'01" 2007 Reaser (El Segundo) 18'3" 2010 Almond (St. Paul) 22'7" Triple Jump Rodriguez (V. Murrietta) 34'5" 2007 Wesson () 42'9" 1998 Liehr (PVHS) 38'9.5" 2007 Norris (Millikan) 45'10.5" 2011 High Jump Smuckler (MCHS) 5'2" 2000 Seabury (Quartz Hill) 6'6" 2011 Rasmussen (QHHS) 2002 Avery (Culver City) 2008 Barnes (North Torr) 2009 Guitare (West Torr) 2010 Davis (LB Wilson) 2013 Blanchard (QHHS) '4" Till (South Torrance) 6'7" 2006 Pole Vault DiPressi (Quartz Hill) 10'0" 2009 Barr () 13'6" 2009 Morioka, West Torrance 12'6" 2011 Contreras () 16'0" 2004 Shot Put Jessie Enisco (MCHS) 33'8" 1999 Beerer (Cresenta Valley) 50'4" 1999 Burrell (North Torrance) 45'2" 2010 Daou (Santa Monica) 57'3.5" 2010 Discus Murray (Mira Costa) 105'11" 1999 Kopfer (Magnolia) 132'1" 2000 Burrell (North Torrance) 135'3" 2009 Budincich () 176'09" MUSTANG RELAYS

7 P A R T I C I P A T I N G S C H O O L S MIRA COSTA HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD IS HAPPY TO WELCOME THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS TO TODAY S MEET, THE 20TH ANNUAL MUSTANG RELAYS Artesia High School, Lakewood Bishop Montgomery, Torrance Brea Olinda High School, Brea Centennial High School, Compton Crescenta Valley High School, La Crescenta Culver City High School, Culver City El Rancho High School, Pico Rivera El Segundo High School, El Segundo El Toro High School, Lake Forest Frontier High School, Bakersfield Inglewood High School, Inglewood LA Jordan, Los Angeles La Serna High School, Whittier Long Beach Wilson, Long Beach High School, Los Angeles Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach Notre Dame Academy, Los Angeles Palos Verdes High School, Palos Verdes Estates Quartz Hill High School, Quartz Hill Redondo Union High School, Redondo Beach Rowland High School, Rowland Heights Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica Saugus High School, Santa Clarita South Torrance High School, Torrance Torrance High School, Torrance Vistamar High School, El Segundo West Ranch High School, Santa Clarita West Torrance High School, Torrance Wildwood High School, Los Angeles MUSTANG RELAYS 7

2009 SCHEDULED ELECTIONS (AS OF JULY 20, 2009)

2009 SCHEDULED ELECTIONS (AS OF JULY 20, 2009) Page 1 of 7 COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES REGISTRAR-RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK PREPARATION DIVISION 2009 SCHEDULED S (AS OF JULY 20, 2009) JANUARY 13 SAN FERNANDO CITY SPECIAL RECALL 1268 DECEMBER 29 JANUARY 20 INDUSTRY