DOWNEY - The Warren High School girls' track season has begun and the Lady Bears are chasing a league championship.The Lady Bears participated in the Redondo Nike Festival last weekend and finished 9th out of 25 schools that competed. The Lady Bears fielded a young team, filled with many underclassmen, and still held their own. Warren will have their first league track meet against Lynwood and Dominguez next Thursday, March 29. The Lady Bears are led by several key performers in different events. Melissa Quintero has ran 11:53 in the 3200 meter run and Yajaira Zarate has ran a 5:16 in the 1600 meter run. Danielle Rodriguez is running a 2:21 in the 800 meters and a 1:01 in the 400 meters, while former East Knight Shakura Tyler is running the 400 meters in 1:02 and the 200 meters in 26.6 seconds. Ariel Thomas is running the 100 meters in 12.96 seconds. Amy Chesser is throwing the shot put 31' feet and the discus 110' feet. Danielle Rodriguez is clearing 5'0 in the high jump and triple jumping 32' feet. Elsa Vasquez is long jumping 16'1 and Lili Lopez is running the 100 meter hurdles competitively and the 330 meter hurdles in 48.4 seconds. Assistant coaches Eric Nilsen and Ryan Pitts believe cross-town rival Downey and Paramount will provide the toughest competition. Paramount was league champion last year and will certainly be the team to beat again this year.

********** Published: March 22, 2012 - Volume 10 - Issue 49