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By Steve Finley
Sports Editor 

Centaur track stars shine at Bay League Finals

 

Zaire Waring will start his quest to win another CIF championship when he competes in three events in the CIF prelims Saturday.

The Culver City High School track and field teams did not score a lot of team points last Friday night at the Bay league Finals at Mira Costa high school but their individual performances lit up the night sky. Varsity runners Zaire Waring, Joelloe Trepagnier and Morgan Maddox and freshman Naomi Kim kept the Centaurs in the spotlight.

Waring won the 200 meters in fast time of 21.48 and he also won the 400 meters with a time of 48.89 on a cold night in Manhattan Beach. "I am happy with my times," said Waring after he won the 200. "I ran a good curve. When I was coming off the curve I said to myself this feels like a good race. I did what I needed to do."

The defending CIF champion in the 200 meters Waring also ran a good time in the 400 meters when he clocked 48.98. "It was an awesome feeling running one of my fastest times in the 400 in a night meet," said Waring. "It was a little chilly but once again I did what I had to do. I am a heat guy. If it's in the 80's or 90's I love it."

It should be a warm day Saturday during the CIF prelims at Moorpark high so the sky's the limit Waring. "I am hopeful I can perform to the best of my abilities on Saturday."

Being the defending champion can put a lot of pressure on some people but Waring seems to be relaxed in the moment. "It's exciting. It motivates other people to compete against me and it motivates me to keep the title that I have worked so hard to obtain. I welcome the competition."

On the girl's varsity team Trepagnier and Maddox will try to keep Culver City in the running for a CIF championship on Saturday at Moorpark high school but the star everyone was talking about at Mira Costa last Friday night was Culver City's freshman sensation Naomi Kim.

Kim won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, ran on the wining 4X100 meter relay and she ran the last leg of the 4X400 meter relay bringing Culver City back from fifth place to second with a blistering anchor leg.

If Kim continues to improve she will be running varsity next year. "It feels good but I have to be aware that other athletes work hard to so to be able to beat them because of my hard work makes me feel good as an athlete."

Kim started running track to work on her endurance and speed for soccer but she soon found out that she had a future in track. "Track was a perfect way for me to get faster and then I realized I was pretty good in track,' said Kim last Friday night.

"I think track is fun," said Kim. "Not just the races but being with my teammates. I love how supportive they are. All the love we get, it feels so nice. It's nice to have a supportive team around you even if you don't do well."

The girls track and field program is building something special behind the coaching of Rayfield M. Beaton and Jahmal Wright.

 

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